What all Takes Account of Criminal Injury Claims?
Every injury claim is unique and so the compensation and settlement process for each is done in a different manner. Any physical or mental damage that is caused due to a criminal offence comes under the category of criminal injury and requires special attention for compensation claims.
If you have been a victim of crime and have suffered from personal injuries as a result, then you may be entitled to file a criminal injury claims.
How to determine that the damage is subject to Criminal Injury Claims?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authorities have defined several parameters for qualifying an injury to fall in the category of criminal injury claims.
For seeking compensation for criminal injuries, the victim must have :
• been assaulted or injured physically and/or mentally
• been injured seriously enough to qualify for at least the minimum compensation
• received documented medical attention injuries
• been a dependant of a victim who died as a result of a crime
• reported the incident to the police within 48 hours of the incident
For the damages to be qualified for criminal injury claims, these should be of certain degree of severity that can be assessed by the Criminal Injury Board.
The enormity of injuries is done through various levels of criminal compensation, wherein the maximum pay out is £500,000, which includes all losses, whether physical or mental.
The criminal board offers compensation for both physical assault and mental anguish, depending on the severity of the ordeal. A documented medical report in this regard is essential, as the trauma needs to be recognized and classified for compensation. The ideal way is to get all the medical tests done that are recommended by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authorities.
A related case that had hit the headlines recently was of a teacher who won £280,000 for a criminal assault done by a pupil in the school.
The teacher was jumped over by a 13-year-old student in a school for children with learning and behavioral difficulties.
The boy had placed her in a headlock, the force of which made her hit the window, wall and finally the ground.
This forceful attack damaged her shoulder nerves and impacted her spinal cord.
This damage did not only affect her physical health, but also caused post traumatic stress disorder, wherein she faced concentration problem due to frequent flashbacks of the assault.
Due to this incident, she could not continue with her profession and was thus given a handsome amount for the case settlement. She is believed to be among the highest awardees of criminal injury claims.
Updated on 9/24/2009