Criminal Injury
For the victim of a crime, the after-effects can stretch way beyond the moment of the crime itself. The physical and psychological trauma could last for weeks months or years and, in extreme cases, the rest of the innocent victim’s life could be blighted. That’s why someone who has suffered in this way has every right to claim the compensation which will go some way toward helping them rebuild their life.
The crime in question may seem, at first glance, to be fairly minor, such as having a wallet picked from your pocket, or it could be something which is obviously going to have a dramatic effect, along the lines of a severe physical beating. No matter what the precise details of the case, however, there is simply no overestimating the long term effect it might have and therefore the innocent party involved has every right to make a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was created in 1996 as a form of financial safety net for people who have been the innocent victims of crime. Financed by the government, the scheme means it is possible for anyone who meets certain criteria to claim compensation for any injuries, physical or mental, which they have received. People who can make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority include:
- Innocent people who have been injured during a crime perpetrated by someone else.
- People who are suffering long term psychological trauma after witnessing a crime perpetrated by someone else.
- People who have lost a loved one due to a crime.
- People who are suffering mental stress and trauma caused by the effects of a crime on somebody close to them.
If you wish to pursue a compensation claim it is not actually necessary to know the name of the person who perpetrated the crime, or even for somebody to have been convicted. As long as it can be demonstrated that a crime actually took place, that you were an innocent bystander and that the effects of this crime have been both long term and detrimental, then you will be able to make a strong case for criminal injury compensation. The precise amounts of money awarded by the CICA differ widely, and depend upon the precise circumstances of both the crime that was committed and the exact nature of the injuries suffered.
Criminal Injuries claims are often very complex. It may be obvious that a crime has taken place, indeed prosecutions may have followed, but the effect it has had on you, and the particular nature of your injuries may be debatable. That’s why it’s vital that anyone seeking compensation for criminal injuries seeks out the help of a lawyer who is an expert in the field. Our injury lawyers will take every detail of your case, and argue on your behalf that you receive the compensation due to you. Every penny of what’s awarded will go straight to you, covering your immediate expenses and helping you to live the rest of your life.