Criminal Injury Claims

If you have sustained an injury as a result of criminal behaviour, you should contact a solicitor to help you make a criminal injury and abuse compensation claim. Seeking legal support can compensate you for time taken away from work during your recovery.

The expert criminal injury claims solicitors at JMW understand the difficulty you are facing at this moment, and we will work with you to ensure your criminal injury claim is successful. We have vast experience in sympathetically, sensitively and successfully handling cases of this kind, including claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

To find out more about criminal injury compensation, contact our team of expert solicitors today. Simply call us on 0345 872 6666 or fill in our online enquiry form and we will get back to you at a time that is convenient for you.

How JMW Can Help

A criminal injury can involve suffering physical and psychological harm, and this makes it all the more important that you have access to the support you need. Making a claim for criminal injury compensation may be the last thing on your mind, but our solicitors are here to help you through the process with minimum hassle. There is usually a time limit that applies to these types of claims, so it’s important to contact a legal specialist as soon as you are ready.

The criminal injury claims team at JMW Solicitors will make the claims process as straightforward as possible for you, as we understand recounting incidents like these can be incredibly distressing. We will collect information and evidence that can help strengthen your case, giving you the best chance of a successful outcome.

Throughout the process, we will keep you updated on the progress of your case and the next steps you will need to take. Our aim is to make the claims process as easy as possible for you, and we handle all cases with the sensitivity and diligence they deserve.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) Claims

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is the government agency responsible for handling claims from people who have been physically or mentally injured as a result of being a victim of violent crime in England, Scotland or Wales. 

When a criminal injury claim is made on your behalf, it is the CICA who will pay your compensation award, although a solicitor will still handle the process of making a claim on your behalf.

A CICA compensation award will cover:

• The abuse suffered
• Any injuries sustained
• Psychological damage
• Cost of any therapies following abuse

Even if an offender has not been caught or identified, crime victims' compensation can still be paid out by the criminal injuries compensation board.

Criminal Injury in the Workplace

We specialise in a range of criminal compensation claims, and one of the most common includes assaults in the workplace. Unfortunately, it is not unknown for employees to be assaulted at work. This can happen to almost anyone in their place of work but is more common among care assistants, nurses, security guards, and prison officers.

We all expect to be kept safe at work; however, attacks in the workplace can and do happen. Employers have a duty of care to safeguard their workers and do everything possible to keep them from harm. If your employer has put you at risk of foreseeable or preventable injury, or has not adequately protected you, a compensation claim may be brought for the pain and suffering caused.

Your employer may be held responsible if you are assaulted at work if:

• They ignored previous violent behaviour from a co-worker, patient or client who later attacks you
• They have left you to work alone, leaving you in a vulnerable situation
• You have not been given adequate training to deal with hostile situations
• You have not been provided with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)

To pursue compensation for an incident where you were assaulted at work, get in touch with our solicitors today to make a criminal injury compensation claim.

Who can claim compensation for a criminal injury?

You might be able to claim criminal injury compensation if:

• You were the victim and suffered an injury
• A close relative died and you are looking to claim on their behalf
• You witnessed a crime happen to a relative that resulted in injury
• You were required to pay for medical care or funeral fees for the victim

This can be a complex area of law to get to grips with, and we would urge you to seek the advice of a solicitor if you think your claim may match the circumstances we have outlined above. Even if you have suffered some form of abuse, but are unsure about what to do or whether you can make a claim, our solicitors will be able to advise you of the next steps in confidence.

How do I make a criminal injury compensation claim through CICA?

To start a claim, you must have:

• The crime reference number
• The name of the offender (if known)
• The contact details for any doctors who have provided treatment
• The date of any court case 

Our solicitors will then take care of the rest by liaising with the CICA.

What is the criminal injuries claims process?

The first step in making a criminal injuries claim is to call us - when you do, we will have a short telephone consultation to understand your situation, inform you as to whether we can help and how we will go about doing so.

To be able to claim CICA compensation, you must first apply for the CICA scheme. This can be a complex process, especially if you are dealing with injuries that you have sustained. As part of the claims process, our team will help you through the application process and ensure you are set up to receive a fair amount of compensation.

Following this, we will need to gather evidence of your injury. This is an essential part of making a successful criminal injuries compensation claim as it will help us to make our argument in court. Evidence may include witness statements, photos or videos, medical reports or police reports. We will work with you to gather this information to ensure you have the best chance of claiming compensation.

We will facilitate any necessary communication on your behalf. This means we will communicate with the CICA, any experts we bring in, and the other party where applicable, so you do not have to worry about dealing with anything that may induce trauma or stress. 

We will advise you on any proposed awards made by CICA and whether these are reasonable based on the medical evidence. 

Is there a time limit for making CICA compensation claims?

Typically, claims for compensation following a personal injury must be made within three years of the injury taking place. However, in the case of CICA claims, you may have to bring your claim within two years of the injury. For clarification, speak to our personal injury team today.

How much compensation could I receive following a criminal injury?

The amount of compensation you will receive largely depends on the severity of your injuries. There are certain criteria for an award of compensation set out in CICA’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. If you satisfy the criteria, the amount of compensation you receive will be assessed from a set of tariff awards available.

Compensation amounts can also be determined by any expenses incurred as a result of your injuries, such as time taken off work, medical treatment, care requirements, and so on. Our solicitors will be able to advise on the amount of compensation you are likely to receive following a criminal injury.

Why Choose JMW?

The expert criminal injury solicitors at JMW are experienced in dealing with sensitive subjects, and are not only dedicated to bringing you the justice you deserve, but will do so in a way that brings the least amount of stress to you. Our legal services are well placed to deal with those who have incurred severe injuries, mental trauma and financial damages due to violent crime.

Recognised by the Legal 500, our firm is well-known throughout the country for our successes and our service to people across many areas of the law. If you or someone you know has suffered a criminal injury, you may be at further risk, which is why it is vital that you employ a solicitor you trust to represent you properly and effectively.

Can I make a no win, no fee claim?

At JMW, all our personal injury claims are bound by our no win, no fee agreement. This means that you are under minimal financial risk when making a claim with us, as we will only expect you to pay your legal fees to us if we are successful in securing compensation for you.

If you are concerned about our costs, these are calculated based on the amount of compensation awarded to you.