Criminal Injury
What to do if you suffer a criminal injury
After an accident, there are a number of things you can do in the initial period to preserve and record all physical or verbal evidence available, especially where the evidence may not be obtainable at a later date, or where circumstances may change.
As time passes, it becomes more difficult to investigate a claim, so if you have been the victim of an accident, please check below for further advice. The sooner you begin the claim the better, while the information is fresh and evidence still available.
Criminal Injury
If you have been the victim of assault, you only have two years to claim for compensation (unless the incident took place when you were a child in which case your application will be considered in its own merit.)
It is essential that you report the incident to the Police as soon as possible, and take all reasonable steps to ensure your co-operation with the Police in their investigations.
Injury Claims should exceed £1,000 in value and will be determined according to the level/scale of your injuries. Therefore it is important to attend for medical treatment as soon after the incident as possible, as these records will be vital in determining the extent of your injuries and your prognosis. It is also a good idea to arrange for photos of your injuries, as it is very likely that the Criminal Injuries Board will need to use these in conjunction with the medical report at a later date.
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Keep your Receipts! It is important to keep a written record of all financial losses arising from the incident. These will include loss of earnings, travel expenses, medical expenses, miscellaneous losses, and damaged clothing. Sometimes a claim can include an element for time incurred by family and friends looking after you. The basis for this part of the claim would be that otherwise assistance would need to be provided by the State.
Please Note
The Criminal Injuries Board will be unlikely to consider cases where the applicant has unspent criminal convictions, or has failed to cooperate fully with the police. This latter scenario may arise if there is a delay in reporting the incident (without good cause) or if the applicant has refused to provide a statement for prosecution.
