The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

Criminal injuries compensation is rewarded to the victims of violent crimes. The state can provide people with compensation if they have suffered physical, mental or emotional harm due to a criminal injury.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority receives applications for damages sustained due to violent offences and the defendant does not have to have been prosecuted or even identified.

Whitestone Solicitors have a team of legal experts that can guide you through the process of applying for criminal compensation and can make sure you receive the money you deserve.

Damages sustained in Great Britain that are serious enough to warrant £1,000 are eligible for criminal injuries compensation. Applications must have been made within two years of the crime in most cases, but if it was not reasonable for the claim to have been made beforehand, applications may still be submitted.

There are 25 different levels of compensation that can be achieved, ranging up to £250,000, with the highest possible amount £500,000 after expenses and other losses have been considered.

Unlike other claims for compensation, there will not be two different sides of the argument in the court, as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a publicly-funded body that has been established to provide support to people who have suffered injuries as a result of violent crime.

Rewards can be reduced or refused in certain situations, such as the criminal record of the claimant, any failure to cooperate with the police or other authorities, delays in reporting the offence and behaviour before, during or after the event in which the claimant was injured.

You must have reported the incident to the police within 24 hours of it occurring and received some form of documented medical attention for injuries sustained in the crime.

Harm sustained before August 1^st 1964 will not be applicable, nor are any damages that have already received compensation in any other scheme.

Actions that occurred outside of England, Scotland and Wales that resulted in the injury or those that took place before October 1^st 1979 when the injured person was in the same family and household as the individual who committed the crime are also not applicable for compensation under this scheme.

Many cases can take a very long time, occasionally lasting significantly longer than a year, so legal representation is very useful when claiming criminal compensation.

When you apply to Criminal injuries compensation after a criminal action, a case worker will be assigned to you and legal advice may be wanted.

Whitestone Solicitors can help you if you have been the victim of a violent crime. Call us today on 0800 8 10 10 10 to find out the help you could be eligible for.  We can advise you on the best route to take for your criminal compensation claim with our team of specialist legal advisors and will give you expert recommendations on how to proceed in your case.

If you have any questions about making a claim for criminal injury compensation, do not hesitate to call us today on 0800 10 10 10 to receive professional Criminal injuries compensation advice.