If you were the victim of a violent crime, suffered a sexual assault or you were abused over a period of time, you could be entitled to file a Criminal Injury Compensation Claim. There are specific criteria that must be met to file a CICA claim and it is always a good idea to seek professional advice from legal experts before doing so. With this said, you can download a CICA claim form from various websites, including the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and LegalExpert.co.uk.
To find out more about downloading a CICA claim form, please read on.
Downloading a CICA Form
Many websites request private and personal information about an incident that left you injured whether you suffered physically or psychologically. If you prefer to download the form without providing the information, you can do so at the LegalExperts.co.uk website which allows you the time to go over the form before deciding how you would like to proceed. However, there is a time limit associated with CICA claims which is two years from the date you were the victim of a violent crime or some other incident that left you seriously injured whether physically of psychologically.
Information Needed When Filling Out Your Criminal Injuries Compensation Application Form
You would need to gather all the information relevant to your claim which includes evidence that you “ordinarily” reside in the UK, a medical report provided by a doctor or health specialist, witness statements and the police report of the incident that left you injured whether physically or psychologically. Without all the evidence and proof needed, your CICA claim may be turned down by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority simply because you did not provide all the information required to qualify under the Scheme.
Gathering all the information needed to file your claim takes time and a lot of effort at a time when you are feeling vulnerable. This is when professional legal support can help you through what is often the complex process of gathering medical reports, police reports and witness statements, all of which would be requested by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Getting Help Filling Out a CICA Claim Form
There is a comprehensive guide which provides all the information needed to file a CICA claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. The guide provides information on what is needed to prove eligibility, residency, what the Scheme covers, and the tariffs associated with compensation payouts anyone who has suffered at the hands of a third party might receive whether they were the victim of an act of violence, abuse, sexual assault or other crime that left them either psychologically or physically injured.
You can get help filling out the form either by visiting the Victims’ Information Service website, by contacting Citizens Advice or by seeking professional advice from LegalExperts.co.uk who would work with you on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you would sign a Conditional Fee Agreement with a solicitor who specialises in criminal injury law. The contract would stipulate a percentage that you would pay to the solicitor who represents you and who handles a CICA claim on your behalf.
Is There a Cost Involved in Filing a CICA Claim Form?
Filing a CICA claim is free, although if you do need a medical report provided by a specialist, there may be a cost involved. However, this should not be more than £50 and in many instances, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority may pay this cost for you if the amount is over £50, providing you can prove that you cannot afford to pay the cost of your specialist medical report yourself. However, should the CICA choose to pay this expense on your behalf because you cannot afford to pay it yourself, the amount would be deducted from the compensation pay out you are awarded should your CICA claim be successful.
Getting Medical Evidence of Your Injury
If you have trouble getting the medical evidence needed to prove your claim, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will do everything possible to help you where they can. The same can be said when you choose to use LegalExperts to file your CICA claim. A criminal injury law solicitor would work closely with you making sure you are put in touch with a health expert who specialises in your injuries, whether physical or psychological. This ensures you have the necessary medical report needed when filing your CICA claim.