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Criminal Injuries Compensation

Have you been an innocent victim of a violent crime or assault? Speak to our specialist criminal injury solicitors to find out if you’re eligible to make a no win, no fee claim.

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Key points for making an injury claim

The most important things to remember when making a criminal injuries compensation claim:

You can apply for criminal injury compensation through the government led Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

  • In most instances you must apply to the CICA within two years of the incident that caused your injuries. This time limit can be extended if there are exception reasons for applying outside of 2 years.
  •  Compensation ranges from £1,000 to £500,000.
  • You can claim on a no win, no fee basis. We charge a fixed fee of £500 or 40% inclusive of VAT (whichever is greater) from your compensation. Our fee stays the same, regardless of how long your claim takes or how much work is involved.

What are criminal injury claims?

If you have been the innocent victim of a violent crime or assault, you may be entitled to compensation for the physical and emotional harm you have suffered. Criminal injury claims are made through the government-run Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

We understand that being involved in a violent incident can be devastating and may leave lasting trauma. But Express Solicitors are here to make the process of claiming as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

Our dedicated team of criminal injury lawyers has extensive experience in handling CICA claims. We manage your application from start to finish, providing clear guidance at every stage. 

If required, we will represent you at any hearings. If the CICA makes a decision we believe is incorrect, we can submit a review on your behalf and appeal the outcome to the Tribunals Service.

Whatever happens, our team is trained to handle every case with care, sensitivity and respect.

How do I start a criminal injuries compensation claim?

Getting started is straightforward. Simply contact us using the form or phone number below. Our team of criminal injury solicitors will offer you a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if you may be eligible for compensation. If your claim progresses, we will explain how much compensation you might expect, outline any costs involved, and guide you through the process of making a claim with the CICA.

To begin, you will need to:

  1. Provide a brief overview of the criminal incident and any injuries you suffered.
  2. Share your police or crime reference number. If you do not have this, you can request it from the police.
  3. Give details of any healthcare providers involved in your treatment, such as your GP, hospital, or counsellor.
  4. As long as you have cooperated with the police during their investigation and can supply us with this information, we can start preparing your application.

Get the best legal team on your side

  • Over 1,000 years of combined legal expertise
  • Leading criminal injury lawyers
  • We’ll strive to get you more compensation than anyone else
  • We win the cases other firms can’t
  • Fully independent, and fully regulated.
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Our criminal injuries team

At Express Solicitors we have a team of criminal injury solicitors who are experts in their field, working closely with CICA to secure you the compensation and justice you deserve.

Over the years, we’ve supported clients across England and Wales in securing compensation through the CICA. We take the time to work closely with each client and their family, ensuring they receive the guidance and support needed to rebuild their lives.

Craig
Newton

Partner - Head of Criminal Injuries Compensation

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Claire
Reddicen

Associate Chartered Legal Executive

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Rebecca
Adjei

Trainee Solicitor

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Michael
Wharton

Trainee Solicitor

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Can I make a criminal injuries claim?

A criminal injury claim can be made by you or a loved one if you have experienced:

  •   An injury in an act of violence in England, Scotland or Wales (including both physical and mental injuries)
  •   Domestic abuse
  •   Sexual abuse
  •   Abuse of the elderly
  •   Child abuse in a care home setting
  •   Child abuse in a school setting
  •   Patient and hospital abuse
  •   Psychological trauma from witnessing a violent crime involving a loved one
  •   Injury sustained while taking reasonable steps to prevent or stop a crime

Even if the person responsible was never identified, arrested, or convicted, you may still be entitled to claim compensation.

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Is there a time limit on making a criminal injuries compensation claim?

It is important to remember that an application for compensation from the CICA must be made within two years of the date of the incident that caused your injuries, or within two years of reporting the incident to the police if the claim relates to physical or sexual abuse suffered as a minor, which was not reported until you were an adult.

In some cases, this two-year time limit may be waived if the applicant can demonstrate exceptional circumstances that prevented them from applying earlier. For example, this might apply if you were physically or mentally unable to manage a claim, or if you were advised by a police officer not to submit a claim until after the conclusion of a trial.

Our team has extensive experience representing clients who are making ‘out of time’ applications to the CICA and understands what is required. We will support you through every stage of the claims process and present your application to the CICA in the strongest possible way to help achieve a successful outcome.

Step 1

Get in touch with us by phone or by completing the form below.

Step 2

We offer a free consultation call to discuss your claim. We will assess your case with confidentiality and sensitivity, and provide you with straightforward advice.

Step 3

If your claim is valid, we will take on your case on a no win, no fee basis. 

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Free Consultation

You can contact Express Solicitors for a free consultation with no obligation, where we will take the time to understand your claim and offer clear, helpful guidance on your next steps.

No-Win-No-Fee

We can assist you on a no win, no fee basis, so you will only need to pay us if your claim is successful and compensation is awarded. We charge a fixed fee of £500 or 40% inclusive of VAT (whichever is greater) from your compensation. Our fee stays the same, regardless of how long your claim takes or how much work is involved.

Trained Experts

Our specialist team of criminal injuries lawyers are highly trained and handle sensitive cases with both care and consideration. Collectively, they have many years of experience managing CICA applications and securing the compensation that clients deserve.

How much compensation can I claim for a criminal injury?

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may be entitled to compensation ranging from £1,000 up to £500,000, depending on the seriousness of your injuries.

The amount awarded varies according to the nature of the injury. Some typical examples of compensation amounts include:

  • Strained neck or whiplash lasting over 13 weeks: £1,000
  • Fractured jaw: £1,500
  • Noticeable facial scarring: £2,400
  • Skull fracture requiring surgery: £4,600
  • Loss of a front tooth: £1,500
  • Funeral expenses: up to £5,000
  • Bereavement payments: up to £11,000
  • Repeated sexual assaults over more than three years: £22,000
  • Non-penetrative sexual contact over clothing: £1,000

Speak with our criminal injury solicitors for more information and to find out how much you might be entitled to claim.

How to apply for a review of a criminal injuries compensation claim

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) rejects a significant number of claims, and even when compensation is awarded, they can sometimes make the wrong decision, meaning the amount offered is lower than it should be.

Once a decision has been made on your application, you will need to decide how to proceed. If your claim is rejected, you can either accept the outcome or request a review. 

Likewise, if you receive an offer but believe it is too low, you have the option to accept it or challenge it by applying for a review. If you are unsure about your next steps, it is strongly recommended that you seek legal advice to ensure your rights are protected.

We can submit the review application on your behalf and handle all communication with the CICA. Our team will work hard to secure the compensation you deserve.

How to appeal a CICA decision 

Our team of solicitors can help you appeal a decision made by CICA.

If you have submitted a review application to the CICA and you are still unhappy with the decision you have received or the reasoning behind this, you can then launch an appeal.

We can help you prepare an appeal and represent you at an appeal hearing. At this stage, expert legal advice is crucial to getting the outcome you desire.

Frequently asked questions

Why use a solicitor for your CICA criminal injury compensation claim?

While you can submit a CICA claim yourself, our experienced solicitors have dealt with thousands of similar cases and can use their expertise to ensure your claim is handled correctly, giving you the best chance of securing the maximum compensation.

How long does criminal injuries claim take?

The CICA does not operate to a fixed timeframe and the length of the process can vary depending on the complexity of the case, the amount of evidence required and the severity of the crime and injury. However, they aim to reach a final decision on ‘standard’ applications within one year. From our experience, more complex cases typically take around 24 months to conclude. Our team will support you throughout the entire process, keeping you informed every step of the way.

Can a child make a criminal injury claim?

Yes, under the CICA scheme, children are entitled to compensation. However, an adult must submit the application on their behalf and act as what is known as their ‘litigation friend’. The CICA requires the adult to provide evidence of their relationship to the child. If the incident took place during childhood, it can still be reported after the age of 18. From the date it is disclosed to the police, there is a two-year window in which to make a claim to the CICA.

Why choose Express Solicitors?

At Express, we have over 20 years experience in handling criminal injury claims. No matter how tricky the case, we treat every claim with the utmost care and empathy. Our mission? To get you the justice you deserve for your suffering.

With our no win, no fee arrangements, you can pursue your criminal injury compensation claim without stressing over upfront costs or legal fees.

We’re proud of our ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot and our accreditation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). It shows just how committed we are to professional integrity and making our clients happy.

So, why wait? Reach out today to kickstart your criminal injury compensation claim and see how much you might be entitled to.

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