The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

If you have suffered an assault, with no prospect of successfully obtaining any compensation from the perpetrator, then you still have another option available to you. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is the Government sponsored scheme established to compensate victims of violent crime.

With compensation available up to £500,000, the CICA scheme can be a lifeline for those who have been injured in a violent crime through no fault of their own.

In order to qualify for compensation under the scheme, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Make an application within 2 years of the assault, unless exceptional circumstances made that impossible, or by a child’s 20th birthday.

• The crime needs to have been committed in England, Scotland or Wales.

• You need to be a resident of the UK.

• The assault must be reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable.

• You should not have any unspent convictions which resulted in a custodial sentence or Community Order.

Claims are accepted by the CICA for mental or physical injury following a crime of violence, sexual or physical abuse, fatality or after witnessing a crime of violence to a loved one.   In addition to the CICA awarding compensation for the injury suffered, the CICA will also consider claims for loss of earnings after 28 weeks of sickness absence as well as some other limited expenses such as physical aids required, property damaged in the assault, adaptations to accommodation and certain care costs.

Whilst you cannot recover the cost of legal representation under this scheme, we consider it is strongly advisable to seek assistance from a solicitor to ensure you receive all the compensation and expenses to which you are entitled.  A solicitor can also assist with the appeals procedure if you are dissatisfied with the award made to you. 

 At Barker Son and Isherwood LLP, we are pleased to accept instructions on a contingency fee basis, where we agree to take an agreed proportion of any compensation awarded to you in the event the claim is successful.   We are also able to consider acting on an hourly rates basis for claims already submitted to the CICA scheme.

If you have been the victim of an assault, then our Head of Personal Injury, Deborah Lewis, will be pleased to meet with you and assist in seeking the compensation under the CICA scheme to which you are entitled and deserve.