Insurance, Claims & Accidents

If an individual has suffered an injury as a result of a violent crime then he or she may be able to apply for compensation to the Government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. This body was established by the Government in 1964 and is a non-departmental body which administers compensation to victims of violent crime throughout the UK, on the basis of common law damages.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was established in 1996 to administer a new tariff-based scheme. All claims received after April 1996 received awards in accordance with this new scheme. The scheme is not intended to fully compensate the victim, but rather it is an expression of public sympathy to the victim. The level of award differs from general damages in civil proceedings in that awards are calculated using a strict tariff and there are 25 tariff levels ranging from £1,000 to £250,000. There are 200 injury groupings for which the scheme pays out compensation and claimants can find the details on the website www.cica.gov.uk.

To qualify for an award the injury suffered has to be the direct result of a violent crime, trespass on a railway or the attempted apprehension of a criminal which must have taken place in Great Britain (including the Channel Tunnel). To make a claim the culprit does not have to have been apprehended or convicted although if this is the case it makes the process easier. Claims must also be made within two years of the incident.

If an individual wishes to seek compensation from the perpetrator of the crime then the police must be informed. The individual cannot apply for compensation directly and on no account must he or she contact the culprit. The police will pass the information to the CPS who will inform the court. The offender will pay compensation through the court not directly to the victim.