Victim of a violent crime? If you’ve been injured due to a violent crime, you may be entitled to compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). We understand how difficult this can be, and we’re here to guide you through the process with sensitivity, clarity and expert legal support.
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A criminal injury claim allows victims of violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales to seek compensation for physical or psychological harm. These claims are made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) – a government-backed scheme – rather than through the courts.
Compensation is designed to recognise the impact a crime has had on your health, wellbeing and ability to move on with your life. In some cases, close family members of someone who has died as a result of violent crime may be eligible to claim.
Even if the person responsible was never caught or convicted, you may still be able to claim. However, unless the circumstances are exceptional, you should make your claim for compensation within 2 years of the date of the incident.
Unsure if you’re eligible for compensation under the CICA scheme? You may have a valid claim if the following circumstances apply:
Not sure if you have a claim? Our specialist SRA-regulated lawyers have extensive experience supporting victims of violent crime. Get in touch to discuss your circumstances and how we can help.
You can contact us online or by phone. We’ll listen carefully, explain how the process works and answer any questions – there’s no pressure to proceed.
We review the circumstances of the crime, confirm it was reported to the police and assess whether your injuries meet the criteria set by CICA.
We guide you through the process, helping you collect and submit the required evidence, such as police reports, medical records and any supporting witness information.
Your claim is submitted directly to CICA. They assess the application and determine whether compensation should be awarded, based on their eligibility criteria.
If your claim is successful, compensation is awarded based on the severity of your injury and its impact. If the decision is disputed, we can advise you on next steps. The process can take several months, longer for more complex cases, but we’ll keep you updated throughout.
Criminal injury compensation is assessed using a fixed tariff set by the compensation authority. Awards are based on factors such as the severity of the injury, psychological impact and loss of earnings. Every case is considered individually, and we’ll explain how any award is calculated so you know exactly what to expect.
After a violent crime, pursuing compensation can feel daunting, especially when you’re already dealing with the emotional and physical impact. As a modern law firm, our mission is to make justice accessible, providing calm guidance and expert support when you need it most. We make the criminal injury claims process clear, more supportive and less overwhelming. When you partner with us, you benefit from:
Yes. You can still make a claim as long as the crime was reported to the police and you have a crime reference number.
In most cases, criminal injury claims must be submitted within 2 years of the incident. Some exceptions apply, particularly where trauma has delayed reporting, so it’s always worth checking.
No. A compensation claim is separate from any criminal investigation or prosecution and will not interfere with it.
No. Criminal injury claims are usually handled directly with the compensation authority and do not involve court proceedings.
We’ll explain funding clearly before you proceed. Claims are handled on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there’s no upfront cost and nothing to pay if your claim isn’t successful.
Justice should never feel out of reach. With clear guidance, expert support and a transparent process, we make it simple to pursue your claim.
Check if you have a claim