CICA or Criminal Injury Compensation Authority allows the victim of criminal injuries to make compensation claims. These claims yield a return of monetary compensation, which can be used by the victim to cover the medical or psychological treatment costs of the injuries.
You can acquire representation for a criminal injury claim in Scotland from solicitors with experience in the field. These individuals can reflect on the details of the case, and formulate a strategy to present your claim with credible evidence. If you wish to learn more about the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority, you can refer to the following guide.
What is the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA)?
The Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-regulated scheme to help the victims of violent crime in Britain. The personnels appointed by the CICA reflect on all the compensation cases and subsequently, make a judgement on whether or not the compensation should be rewarded. The relevant members administer, investigate and determine the end results of all criminal injury cases.
With that said, the regulations of the scheme, as well as the value assigned to each type of claim, is based on the amount allocated and set by the Parliament. The volume of the compensation is calculated by referring to the tariff of the injury. However, the amount can vary from case to case, depending on the severity of the injury, as well as the presence of physical or psychological trauma, which was directly caused by the incident.
4 Important Tips For Victims Of Criminal Injury
The Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) has laid down some foundations for making a criminal injury claim. Typically, you are provided with a two year period, from the date of the incident, to make a claim. However, in extremely rare cases, when reliable evidence can be presented to justify the delay, the claim can be taken into consideration.
If you wish to submit a criminal injury claim, take advantage of the four following tips.
1. Submit a claim as soon as possible
If you have been a victim of criminal injury, you can make a claim within two years of the incident. However, it is recommended to make a submission at the earliest convenience. After the two-year period expires, the claim would not be considered.
Taking this into consideration, you must avoid making the mistake of waiting for the court hearing’s outcome. The criminal cases in courts can last a few years, which can close your window for submitting a claim. Essentially, CICA does not require the proof of conviction, as this authority functions quite independently to the court conviction cases. Therefore, you can make a claim by providing all the relevant information related to your case.
However, it is important to note that the compensation amount is only paid to the innocent victim of a criminal injury. Therefore, hiring a solicitor to prove your innocence in the incident can strengthen the case.
2. Ensure that the injuries are covered by CICA
Before submitting a claim to CICA, it is essential to make sure that the injuries you have suffered from are covered by the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA). For instance, if the criminal attack only left minor bruising, a black eye or symptoms of anxiety, the case would not be given much consideration. Keeping this in mind, you must educate yourself on the injuries that are covered by this authority.
For this purpose, you can schedule a consultation session with criminal injury solicitors. You may research your options to find a service provider who offers free consultations. The criminal injury solicitors can guide you on whether your case has value. They may also provide a detailed instructions on the measures you need to take, before making a compensation claim.
3. Certify that a statement has been made to the police
Prior to making a claim, you are required to give a statement to the Police regarding the assault. CICA has made it obligatory for individuals to provide evidence of a police statement with their compensation claim. This document is essential as it increases the authenticity of the claim.
However, if certain restrictions have prevented you from making a police statement at the time of the assault, you must follow up with the police to provide your statement later. The claim would not be considered eligible without a police statement.
4. Provide medical reports from Psychiatrists or Psychologists for mental health claims
Criminal injuries can often result in psychological trauma. While CICA does provide compensation for mental health issues, you are required to present evidence, in the form of patient reports, from an authorised psychologist or psychiatrist. With this evidence, the prevalence of the trauma can be established, thus making you a viable candidate to receive compensation.
CICA has created an advantageous platform for victims of violent crime. If you have suffered a criminal injury, communicate with a solicitor to make sure that your case is eligible for making a claim.
