How To Claim Compensation For Domestic Violence

In this guide, we will discuss when you could claim compensation for domestic violence through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Additionally, we will share the criteria you must meet and the evidence you will need to be able to make a claim through the CICA. We will also provide examples of the compensation you could receive following a successful claim.

compensation for domestic violence

Compensation for domestic violence claims guide

Furthermore, we will discuss the benefits of making a claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel and how they could help you with your claim.

We understand that you may have some questions that this guide may not cover. If so, you can contact our team of friendly advisors. They are available to answer your questions 24/7 and could offer you free legal advice for your specific claim.

To discuss your claim with an advisor today:

Select A Section

  1. How To Claim Compensation For Domestic Violence
  2. How Does The Law Define Domestic Violence?
  3. What Evidence Is Needed To Prove Domestic Violence Compensation Claims?
  4. Estimating Amounts Of Compensation For Domestic Violence
  5. Get Help Claiming For Domestic Violence With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  6. Learn More About Criminal Injury Claims

How To Claim Compensation For Domestic Violence

The CICA are a government-sponsored executive body that handles criminal injury claims for people who have been injured in a crime of violence. This includes claims being made for domestic violence. 

To be able to claim compensation for domestic violence through the CICA, you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • You must have been injured in a crime of violence. Some examples of incidences that the CICA define as a crime of violence include sexual assault, physical attacks and arson. 
  • The incident must have occurred in England, Wales or Scotland. Or it must have occurred in another relevant place, such as a ship that is registered to one of the countries mentioned above.
  • Your claim must be made within the relevant time limits. In the next section, we will discuss what these are.

What Time Limits Apply To Criminal Injury Claims?

You will generally have 2 years to start your claim when you are claiming through the CICA. This time limit will start from the date you reported the incident to the police. You are expected to report the incident right away unless you can prove that you were unable to due to exceptional circumstances.

Additionally, exceptions can be made to this 2-year timeframe if you can prove that you were unable to begin your claim within this period due to exceptional circumstances.

Contact our advisors today to see whether you still have enough time to claim compensation for domestic violence. Furthermore, they could inform you of the time limits for claims being made for children and answer questions such as ‘how long will my criminal injury claim take?’

How Does The Law Define Domestic Violence?

Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviour that scares, controls, hurts or degrades another person in a family or relationship.  If you experienced domestic abuse, this could result in physical and psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as physical injuries such as head injuries and broken bones such as a broken collarbone or a broken back. If you have been injured due to domestic violence, you could make a claim through the CICA for compensation.

Contact one of our advisors today if you have any questions about claiming compensation for domestic violence in a criminal injury claim. They could also answer questions such as ‘I have suffered sexual abuse by my husband, can I make a claim?’

What Evidence Is Needed To Prove Domestic Violence Compensation Claims? 

You will need certain pieces of evidence when pursuing a claim through the CICA. These are:

  • Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
  • A police reference number to show that you reported the incident. 
  • Medical evidence about your injury.

It is important to note that when you are claiming through the CICA, they will be able to liaise with the police for information regarding the incident. This is why it is particularly important to provide a police reference number. 

Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about claiming compensation for domestic violence through the CICA.

Estimating Amounts Of Compensation For Domestic Violence

When making a claim through the CICA, your claim could have two heads. Firstly, you could claim compensation for the injuries you have suffered in the crime of violence.

You could refer to the table we have created below as an alternative to a criminal injury calculator. The amounts listed have been taken from the tariff of injuries stated in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. 

Edit
Injury Notes Compensation
Arm Paralysis or equal loss of function of the non-dominant arm. £27,000
Foot The tarsal bone in both feet have been fractured, resulting in a continuing significant disability. £13,500
Facial Scarring. Will result in a serious disfigurement. £11,000
Severe Physical/Domestic Abuse of an adult. A persistent pattern of severe abuse that lasts for 3+ years. £8,200
Severe Physical/Domestic Abuse of an adult. A repetitive pattern of violence, that results in a minor disfigurement. £5,500
Serious Physical/Domestic Abuse of an adult. Irregular pattern of physical assaults that result in healed wounds, scalds or burns with no disfigurement. £2,000
Mental Injury A disabling mental injury lasting 2-5 years, as confirmed by a professional prognosis or diagnosis. £6,200
Face A dislocated jaw that results in a continuing significant disability. £3,500
Hand One hand has been fractured, resulting in a continuing significant disability. £3,500
Eye A blow out or other fracture of the orbital bone cavity that contains the eyebrow that requires an operation. £2,400

Special Expenses

Additionally, you could claim special expenses; special expenses are certain costs that you have incurred as a result of your injuries. Under special expenses, you could receive compensation for the following:

  • Home adaptations, such as a stairlift that, help you cope with your injury.
  • Equipment you relied on as a physical aid that was damaged in the incident, such as your glasses.
  • The costs for care that relate to your bodily functions or food preparation.
  • Equipment you need to cope with your injuries, such as special kitchen equipment or a mobility car.

However, in order to claim these under special expenses, they all must be necessary costs that were directly caused by your injury. They must also not be available for free anywhere else.

Furthermore, you could claim back a loss of earnings as part of your claim.

Contact our advisors for more information on the criteria you must meet to be able to claim for a loss of earnings. They could also advise you on whether you could make a claim if you have suffered domestic or sexual abuse by a family member or other person.

Get Help Claiming For Domestic Violence With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

You can discuss your potential claim with one of our advisors. If they believe that you could be eligible to make a claim, they could connect with an experienced solicitor from our panel, who could help you with claiming compensation for domestic violence.

They have experience handling various different criminal injury claims, such as those for sexual abuse by an ex-partner as well as for domestic violence. Furthermore, if one of the solicitors from our panel agrees to take on your claim, they could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee agreement. 

When making a claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor, you generally are not required to pay your solicitor anything up front or during the process of your claim for their services. Additionally, you will not have to pay them for the services they have provided if the claim is not successful. But, you will have to pay them a success fee if the claim succeeds. A success fee is a legally capped amount deducted from your compensation award.

Contact one of our advisors today if you have any questions about making a criminal injury claim with a solicitor from our panel.

Talk To Our Team

If you still have any questions about claiming compensation for domestic violence through the CICA, you can contact our advisors. Our friendly team is available 24/7 to answer your questions regarding criminal injury claims. Additionally, they could provide you with free legal advice for your specific claim and could connect you with a solicitor from our panel who could help you with claiming compensation.

To discuss your claim with an advisor today:

Learn More About Criminal Injury Claims

Additional articles by us about criminal injury claims:

Further information and resources:

Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about claiming compensation for domestic violence through the CICA.

Writer AI

Publisher NC