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Personal Injury Solicitors
Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim (CICA)
"Compensating victims of violent crimes"
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a Non-Departmental Public Body which administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
The scheme allows financial awards to be made:
To recognise the injuries, physical and mental, caused by a crime of violence. This can include abuse in the family, with some exceptions.
In certain circumstances, to compensate for past or future lost earnings or special expenses caused by such a crime.
For bereavement as a result of a crime of violence, including, in some cases, compensation for the lost earnings of the person who has been killed.
The scheme deals with injuries suffered in Great Britain - that is, England, S
Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme.
There are time limits for bringing a claim which can be waived in certain circumstances. It is important to get advice as soon as possible.
In addition, there has to have been a criminal case and conviction, but not always.
How The CICA Process A Claim:
When the completed application form has been received, the CICA will then normally make enquiries of the police, doctors and hospitals and any other organisations or people with relevant information about the applicant's claim.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict how long the enquiries will take.The police, doctors and hospitals may take some time to provide the CICA with reports. The CICA may have to go back to them for further information.
If an offender has been identified and is to be brought to trial, the CICA will usually need to wait for the trial verdict before deciding the applicant's application for compensation. There are two main reasons for this. First there is some danger that the CICA might seem to be prejudging the trial issues if they make (or refuse) a compensation award before the trial concludes. Second, issues may arise at the trial which are relevant to the compensation claim. They may work either in favour of or against the applicant, but they view it would clearly be wrong to settle the claim without knowing about such matters.
The first decision is made on paper and if the applicant disagrees with the CICA's decision, the applicant is entitled to ask for it to be reviewed by a more senior officer within the Authority or proceed to a hearing.
Funding a CICA Claim
It is possible to obtain Legal Help for a CICA claim provided that the client is either on benefits or a low income. If Legal Help is not available, then the client would be treated as a private client, either choosing to pay as the claim progresses or have the Solicitors costs deducted from any compensation recovered.
To make an application to the CICA, an application can be downloaded from their website www.cica.gov.uk