If you have suffered an injury as a result of a crime of violence, you may be able to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
The CICA is a Government agency set up to pay compensation to victims of crimes of violence as an expression of public sympathy.
In order to succeed in obtaining compensation, you need to have complied with certain requirements set out by the CICA. For example:
- The application to the CICA must normally be made within two years of the date of the crime of violence (however there are exceptions to this rule);
- The crime of violence must be reported to the police by you as soon as possible after it has occurred; and
- You must assist the police as far as possible to bring your assailant to justice.
There are stringent requirements in making an application to CICA and so this can be a complicated process. Issues such as the effect of injuries upon you and working out your loss of earnings, the effect of compensation on your entitlement to state benefits and whether you should obtain your own medical evidence all need to be taken into account, so you should seek legal advice and make your claim as soon as possible.