Whether physical or sexual, abuse can leave physical and mental damage that affects a person throughout the whole of their lives. Most people find that they are unable to report the case when it happens, because of fear or shame, and this makes judging abuse claims very difficult. Tracking down the offenders and being brave enough to face them can be extremely challenging but it also brings the potential of financial compensation.

Typically, compensation claims for victims of abuse are levelled at individuals in civil cases or against local authorities. However, it is not always possible for the victim to be able to track down the offender; they may have been unknown to the victim or they may have moved on or passed away. This does not necessarily mean that the victim has lost their opportunity to seek financial compensation for the abuse. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority offers a means of claiming compensation for these victims.

The CICA is a government scheme that provides compensation to victims that are unable to claim from the offender. They pay a majority of the total amount that is deemed suitable for the level of injuries that a person suffers. While this may not be as high a figure as awarded in civil cases, with an experienced and skilled solicitor or lawyer it is possible to ensure that the victim receives an amount that is reasonable and fair considering their injuries and level of abuse.

It isn’t strictly necessary to have legal representation when pursuing a claim through the CICA but there are many documented instances of claimants receiving considerably more once they have instructed a solicitor. Even those that have started the process and received an offer can enrol the services of a professional solicitor to enjoy a more realistic and reasonable package.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a government scheme that provides compensation payments for victims of violent crime. People that suffer personal injury as a result of a period of abuse may be able to successfully claim compensation for the physical and mental injuries that they suffer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Topper is the litigation manager at Stocks Legal Personal Injury Solicitors and is highly experienced in all types of personal injury cases. He is highly focussed on client care and getting the maximum compensation that is available for his clients and their families. He rightly sees personal injuries as a real must for the English legal System as without a proper compensation system, many injury people can be left with no support or ongoing medical treatment. If you have any questions about this article or would like to speak to Mike Topper please call him on 0800 988 9055 or click here to send him an email.

CICA Criminal Injury Claims General PI NewsAug 6th, 20130 comments