Criminal Injuries Compensation (CICA) Calculator
By Stephen Moreau. Last Updated 23rd August 2023. If you have been injured in a crime of violence, then you may be able to claim criminal injury compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA are a government agency that awards compensation to those who have been criminally injured.
In this guide, we offer advice on the steps to making a criminal injury claim. For those seeking a CICA compensation calculator, we also look at CICA tariffs for insight into how much compensation you may receive if you submit a successful claim to the CICA for a psychological injury or physical injury. This guide also addresses the time limit for making a criminal injury claim to the CICA and discusses the benefits of claiming with the help of a No Win No Fee solicitor.
For more advice on claiming for criminal injuries, you can speak to our advisors for free. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions. You can get in touch with our team by:
- Calling us on 020 3870 4868.
- Speaking to us using the live chat window in the bottom right corner.
- Starting your claim online through our website.
Use a CICA Calculator Tool
Services And Information
- What Is A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?
- What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
- No One Was Caught Or Convicted, Could I Claim?
- Can I Use A CICA Calculator?
- When Could I Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries?
- Criminal Injury Claims For Sexual Assaults
- How Much Time Do I Have To Make A Criminal Injury Claim?
- Criminal Injury Claims – Do I Need Evidence?
- Can Criminal Injury Claims Be Handled On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Other Information On Using A CICA Calculator
What Is A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?
Criminal injuries can vary in nature and severity and can be caused by different types of incidents, such as assault or sexual abuse.
Some violent attacks could cause relatively minor physical injuries like scrapes, cuts and bruises. More severe attacks may cause lacerations, fractures, a broken wrist or a fractured jaw. In the worst-case scenarios, an attack could be fatal.
A violent attack may not only cause physical injuries to a victim. Such crimes can also have an impact on the victim’s mental state. Compensation for criminal injuries may therefore also include things like PTSD, anxiety and other forms of psychiatric damage.
If you do suffer such injuries, then you may have grounds to claim criminal injury compensation. Some may seek out a criminal injury compensation calculator to get a better understanding of how much they could claim for their criminal injuries.
You could make a criminal injury claim against a vicariously liable party, such as an employer or institution whose negligence led to you being assaulted. Alternatively, if there are no other channels through which you could pursue a claim, you could be entitled to make one through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). In the next sections, we’ll not only explain more about how the CICA works, but also discuss the CICA tariff system and potential CICA compensation amounts.
What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
The CICA scheme was set up by the government so that victims of violent crime could receive compensation for their injuries. It covers crimes that occur in England, Scotland and Wales that are reported to the police. Those who are victims of crime and have been sufficiently injured can claim through the CICA when there is no other avenue to be awarded compensation. If the perpetrator was caught and convicted and possibly had the means to pay compensation then they would pay any compensation owed. If the perpetrator was never caught or convicted or had the means to pay compensation then the victim could claim compensation through the CICA.
The payment amounts for different injuries can be found in the CICA tariff. There are flat fees listed in this tariff for a number of different injuries of varying severity. It covers a range of physical injuries, including those that may result from violent crimes such as assault. It also covers the repercussions that may result from crimes such as sexual assault. It’s not just physical injuries that are covered by the CICA tariff; psychological injuries can also be taken into consideration when calculating a compensation claim.
Special Expenses
As well as payment for your injuries, a claim made through the CICA can also cover something known as special expenses. This can cover any direct financial losses you have incurred as a result of the incident.
However, the CICA will only consider special expenses applications if you can prove that the expenses could not have been sourced free elsewhere and were entirely necessary. It’s also important that your injuries left you unable to work for more than 28 weeks.
Loss of Earnings
In order to claim loss of earnings, you need to show that you lost earning potential for over 28 weeks because of your injuries.
You also need to show that you were employed at the time of the incident and that you had an established work history for the 3 years immediately leading up to it. If you don’t have an established work history, then you need to be able to provide a suitable reason as to why. This might include being in full-time education or acting as a carer.
A criminal injuries compensation calculator may not collect enough of this information to give you an accurate valuation of your claim. Get in touch with us today for a more accurate valuation.
No One Was Caught Or Convicted, Could I Claim?
You can still make a CICA claim if the person responsible for your injuries or abuse isn’t caught. The CICA scheme states that you are still eligible to be compensated for the experience you have been put through.
You must, however, cooperate with the police as fully as you can. This includes reporting the case to the police in the first place. If you do not report what happened to the police, then you won’t be eligible to claim compensation through the CICA. You also shouldn’t intentionally withhold or alter the details of the incident. If you do, it could affect the outcome of your claim.
Can I Use A CICA Calculator?
As we have stated, you could make a claim through the CICA if you have been injured in a crime of violence. Before you make a claim through the CICA, a compensation calculator may be able to help give you a clearer idea of how much you could receive in compensation.
Alternatively, you could refer to the table that we have listed below. The amounts listed have been taken from the CICA Tariff of Injuries, which is set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. If your claim is successful, the amount listed that relates to your injury is the amount you will receive.
| Injury | Details | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arm | The dominant arm has been lost. | £55,000 |
| Major Paralysis | Paraplegia that is minimal. | £27,000 |
| Leg | One leg has been lost below the knee. | £33,000 |
| Non-consensual penile penetration of someone at any age. | The assault will have resulted in serious internal bodily injuries. | £22,000 |
| Chest | A chest injury that requires a thoracotomy with one or more organs needing to be removed or reapired. | £16,500 |
| Ankle | One ankle has been fractured and it results in a continuing significant disability. | £11,000 |
| Mental Injury | A disabling mental injury, as confirmed by a professional, that lasts between 2-5 years. | £6,200 |
| Sexual Assault of someone at any age | Non-penile penetrative sexual assault or oral-genital acts. | £3,300 |
| Lung | One lung has been punctured. | £1,800 |
| Fractured Jaw Bone | The fracture will require an operation but there will be a substantial recovery. | £1,500 |
Additionally, you could claim special expenses. Some examples of what you could claim for under special expenses include:
- Any equipment that you relied on as a physical aid that was damaged in the incident, such as hearing aids.
- Equipment needed to cope with your injuries, such as a specially adapted car.
- Adaptations to your home that help you cope with your injury, such as a ramp or stairlift.
You will need to prove that all of these costs were necessary and directly resulted from your injury. They also cannot be available for free elsewhere.
Contact our team of advisors today if you have any questions about using a compensation calculator for your criminal injuries claim. Our advisors are available 24 hours a day and could offer you free legal advice regarding your claim.
When Could I Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries?
In order to be eligible to make a claim for compensation for your criminal injuries through the CICA, you must be able to meet the following requirements::
- The incident must have been reported to the police.
- You must adhere to the time limits. We look at these later in this guide.
- The incident must have happened in England, Scotland, Wales or another relevant location, such as a ship registered to one of these countries.
- You must have been injured in a crime of violence, such as a physical attack, an act or omission of a violent nature that causes physical injury, a threat against a person resulting in fear of immediate violence, sexual assault or arson.
If you would like to discuss making a claim through the CICA for a psychological injury, or to see if you could be entitled to compensation for assault, please get in touch with one of the advisors from our team.
Criminal Injury Claims For Sexual Assaults
A solicitor may be able to help you win compensation if you have been the victim of rape or sexual assault. Rape legally means that someone’s mouth, anus or vagina has been penetrated by a penis without their consent. When the penetration has taken place with something other than a penis, it is known as assault by penetration.
Sexual assault is classed as an act of violation in the form of a sexual act. Not all sexual assault involves violence.
The amount of compensation you could be owed for rape or sexual assault is dependent on a number of factors. For instance, if you were the victim of sexual abuse on multiple occasions over a long period of time, this could lead to a higher amount of compensation. You could also potentially claim more through the CICA for any psychological injury related to your sexual abuse or assault.
Historic Sexual Assault Compensation Claims
Historic sexual assault is when an adult comes forward regarding sexual abuse they experienced as a child under 18. It is also known as non-recent abuse.
Whilst any physical damage may have healed, the psychological side effects can affect someone who has experienced childhood sexual abuse for the rest of their life.
The psychological repercussions of sexual abuse can take the form of:
- Difficulty maintaining relationships
- Substance abuse issues
- Poor physical health
- Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
- Emotional difficulties, anxiety, depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Whilst a compensation payout cannot undo the pain and suffering that you’ve experienced as the result of abuse, it could help make your life easier in the aftermath. Get in touch with our team today to see whether you’re entitled to claim.
How Much Time Do I Have To Make A Criminal Injury Claim?
Below, we’ve included some information on the timescales for claiming compensation. This information won’t be provided in a criminal injuries compensation calculator and is important information for you to be aware of before you start your claim.
General Time Limit
Usually, the time limit for making a claim to the CICA is two years from the date of the incident. However, this can be extended in some circumstances.
In order to make a claim outside this time limit, you must show that there were exceptional circumstances that prevented you from making a claim earlier. You should also be able to provide enough evidence on your case that a CICA claims officer won’t need to carry out further extensive enquiries.
The CICA won’t accept not knowing that you were eligible to claim as a reason to extend the application time limit. It’s best to get the process started as soon as possible.
Child Abuse/Historic Sexual Assault
If the injured person is under the age of 18, then a parent or guardian can claim on their behalf provided that the incident has been reported to the police. The Scheme can make special provisions regarding the timescale in cases such as these. However, it will be easier to determine that you suffered injury as a result of a crime the closer to the date of the incident the application is made.
If you turn 18 and the incident has been reported to the police but no one has made a claim on your behalf, you will have until your 20th birthday to claim. If the crime wasn’t reported, you have 2 years from the date that you report the accident to claim.
However, you must again be able to provide sufficient evidence for your case that a claims officer will not be required to investigate further.
Would the CICA calculator work for a child’s injuries?
The CICA tariff that is in place applies to children as well as adults. However, an adult would have to lodge the claim for the child. They would need to prove their relationship with the child. If you would like to learn more about claiming for a child, we could help.
Criminal Injury Claims – Do I Need Evidence?
If you are thinking about claiming through the CICA for your psychological injury or physical injury, you may wonder what types of evidence you will need to submit. When you make a criminal injury claim through the CICA, they might ask for:
- Your police reference number.
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
- Medical evidence.
- Evidence of any special expenses that you may be claiming.
If you need any help with the claiming process, you can get in touch with an advisor from our team. If you have valid grounds for a claim, they could put you in touch with one of the specialist criminal injury solicitors from our panel. They typically offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis.
Can Criminal Injury Claims Be Handled On A No Win No Fee Basis?
If you want legal representation but are concerned about the cost associated with it, a No Win No Fee arrangement may be of interest to you. Our panel of solicitors can offer representation on a No Win No Fee basis, provided your claim has a good chance of success.
A No Win No Fee arrangement is a contract between you and your solicitor that outlines what conditions need to be met in order for them to be paid. It means that you won’t be asked to pay them anything before your claim begins, or in the event that it’s unsuccessful.
If your claim is successful, then a legally capped success fee will be deducted from your compensation settlement. This means you’ll always receive the majority of the compensation that you’re awarded.
As we’ve already mentioned, there’s no legal requirement to have a solicitor represent you in making a claim through the CICA. You are well within your rights to pursue a claim yourself with the help of a criminal injuries compensation calculator. However, you will find that the process is often less stressful and easier with legal representation. And with a No Win No Fee agreement, you aren’t faced with the prospect of large legal fees for an unsuccessful claim.
For more information on a No Win No Fee policy, or for answers to any other questions, get in touch with us now:
- Call us on 020 3870 4868.
- Speak to us using the live chat window in the bottom right corner.
- Start your claim online through our website.
Other Information On Using A CICA Calculator
We have included some additional information regarding claiming. We’ve chosen not to include a criminal injuries compensation calculator, as these don’t always give accurate claim valuations.
- A helpful guide on non-recent child abuse.
- Government advice on claiming due to a violent crime.
- Differences between rape and sexual assault.
- Our guide to can you sue on behalf of someone else.
- Making a fatal accident claim.
- Slip, trip and fall accident claims
- There Were No Witnesses To My Accident, Can I Still Claim?
- How Do I Get More Money From an Injury Claim?
Thank you for reading our CICA calculator guide.
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