Do I need a solicitor for a cica claim?
- March 6, 2015
- mmassen
- Comments Off on Do I need a solicitor for a cica claim?
If you are considering making a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) you will want to know about the costs incurred in making application.
It is correct to say that you are not required to have a solicitor acting on your behalf and the CICA are happy to deal direct with the injured party and will assist with the completion of the required paperwork to get your claim started.
So why instruct a solicitor and pay them a percentage of your fees – it is worth noting that solicitors don’t get their fees from the CICA and so need to retain a share of your award if the claim succeeds – when you could do it yourself.
Without being glib there are a lot of things in this world that you can do yourself but are best paying someone else to do; while you may cook your own dinner to save paying for a meal in a restaurant would you do your own roof tiling to save money on builder’s fees ?
Solicitors know, or should know, what they are doing and do it to a point whereby they maximise your claim that you may not be able to.
Here at Cohen Cramer we have the knowledge and experience to make sure that you recover all you are due. The CICA will assist but will not go out of their way to pay your money and so you need the knowledge and experience of a good solicitor to make sure that all symptoms are recognised and all expenses recovered. This is particularity true in matters relating to sexual assault where there may be long-term psychological issues to be taken account of and reports obtained.
Likewise you may be grateful for legal assistance if the matter is refused and a reduced award offered; a good solicitor will know what and how to challenge an adverse decision and the percentage taken (usually 25%) may well be justified, after all 75% of something is better than 100% of nothing.
To see what your claim may be worth speak to us and we will tell you straight whether you need a lawyer or not and, if you don’t, we will point you in the right direction so that you can make the claim yourself.
Get in touch today:
- call Mike Massen on 0113 224 7804
- email mike.massen@cohencramer.co.uk
- pop your contact details in the box at the bottom of this page and we will get back to you
Mike Massen on applying for a review of a CICA decision
Mike Massen appears on News 24 to discuss the CICA