Legal Aid is not and never has been available for CICA applications. We deal with compensation claims to the Criminal Injury Board on a no win not fee basis. We are an independant claims company with no connection to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. If your application is unsuccessful you will not pay us a single penny. Our claims are completely risk free and no expenses are paid by you during the claims process. Our experts will provide vigorous and committed representation to ensure that you receive fair and equitable compensation for your injuries. If you would like free advice without obligation, just use our helpline or complete and send the contact form. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for our advice.

A No Win No Fee arrangement – also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) – works on the basis that your solicitor is only entitle to be paid if you win your case and you receive compensation. If your case does not succeed then your solicitor will lose any fees that could have been earned and will also have to write off any expenses. You will not be asked to fund or finance your claim at any point during the proceedings and our claims are completely risk free for you. The Criminal Injury Board does not make any contribution towards legal costs and we only make a charge in the event of a satisfactory outcome resulting in payment of compensation.

Compensation payable by the authority is determined by a tariff scheme that determines the value of a claim based on the type of injuries sustained which are classified into 25 distinct bands. In the event that there are multiple injuries, only the three worst injuries will be considered with the major injury being paid at full value, whereas the second and third injuries will be compensated at a reduced percentage of the tariff value. The maximum sum that can be awarded for injuries is capped at £250,000. Other claims, such as lost wages or loss of earning capacity for longer than 28 weeks and medical expenses, may also be eligible for compensation, with a further cap, again at £250,000. The overall total maximum CICA claim amounts to £500,000.

If criminal activity results in death, there are several classes of people, outlined in the 2001 scheme, including dependents and close relatives, who are able to claim an award. The amount of award paid upon death for a sole claimant is £11,000 however if there is more than one claimant the amount reduces to £5,500 per applicant. In addition a person who has paid the funeral expenses can claim a reasonable amount to cover those expenses.

A claim to the Criminal Injury Board must be presented within two years of the incident however in the interest of justice this time constraint may be waived at the sole discretion of the claims officer.

The CICA is entitled to consider each individuals character and behaviour before during and after the assault. Unspent convictions are taken into accopunt and the the CICA can reduce or refuse a payment if it is deemed inappropriate to compensate an applicant from public funds.