Making a claim to the CICA

Claim your award from the CICA

Claim your award from the CICA

If you have been a victim of a crime of violence then you make an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for an award for compensation in relation to your injuries and limited financial losses.

Who can claim?

The CICA scheme is available to anyone, regardless of whether they are a British citizen or not, who has suffered as a result of a crime of violence that occurred on the UK mainland (this includes aircraft, hovercrafts and ships). It does not for example cover a British citizen knifed in a Spanish nightclub or similar.

The crime must be a crime of violence and been intended as such; examples are assault, rape etc. It can include dog bites if the dog was used as a weapon or if its owner let the dog loose knowing it was a threat and risk to others.

Being run over by a car can be a crime of violence but only if it was deliberate and the car was being used as a weapon.

To find out if you have been a victim of a violent crime and are entitled to make a claim to the CICA speak to Cohen Cramer Solicitors:

  • call: 0113 224 7804 (24 hours)
  • email: enquiry@cohencramerpi.co.uk
  • pop your details into the contact box at the bottom of this page and we will get back to you

To be eligible for an award you must:

  • Report the incident to the police within 48-72 hours maximum but the sooner the better
  • Give full cooperation to the police; if you say you don’t want to make a statement the CICA are likely to refuse an award
  • Cooperate with the CICA and assist them with their enquiries
  • Have limited or no previous convictions – your award can be reduced to reflect any convictions before or after the incident and application

What can be claimed?

Awards are made by the CICA for any mental and physical injuries sustained in the incident.

The CICA have a set ‘one size fits all’ tariff scheme so that the same level of compensation is paid regardless of the age or sex of the applicant.

  • The CICA make payment for multiple injuries on a sliding scale basis:
  • You receive 100% of the award applicable to your most serious injury
  • You receive 30% of the award applicable to your second  most serious injury
  • You receive 15% of the award applicable to your third most serious injury

There is no further payment and the award is taken to include compensation for mental damage unless the mental damage is greater than the award for the physical injury

You can also claim for limited financial losses:

  • Lost income; if you are unable to work or have time away from work as a result of the incident or for treatment then you can apply for payment to cover your losses although you are not entitled to recover for the first 28 weeks so if you are off work for 40 weeks you can only claim for 12 weeks.
  • Lost pension can be recovered
  • Funeral costs if the incident leads to death

Gratuitous care, if provided by family and friends, can be the subject of an award at the current post tax rate for such care,

To get your claim started or to have a chat to see what we can do to help, get in touch with us today:

  • call: 0113 224 7804 (24 hours)
  • email: enquiry@cohencramerpi.co.uk
  • pop your details into the contact box at the bottom of this page and we will get back to you

For the Quality Legal Service you deserve.