Domestic violence is an unfortunately common problem in many communities. Victims of this kind of abuse are often isolated from others and live in fear, believing that the abuse is their own fault and that nobody would believe them if they spoke up about it. Getting away from a domestic abuser and reporting this crime to the police is a huge and difficult step, but this is necessary to have an official record of what happened to you and to seek justice against the abuser. Once you have done this, you can make a claim for domestic abuse compensation.
This is a collaborative post.
Can I Claim Compensation For Domestic Abuse?
If you are a blameless victim of one or more incidents of domestic violence resulting in a long-term physical or psychological injury, then it is likely that you will be able to claim a financial compensation award through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 2012 Scheme. Depending on the circumstances of the domestic abuse and the severity of the injuries, you could receive at least £2,000 and up to £8,200. You must first obtain a Crime Reference Number by reporting the abuse to the police before you can apply for the CICA scheme. The case does not have to go to court or secure a conviction against the abuser.
How To Start A Domestic Abuse Compensation Claim
CICA claims can be a long process, and reliving the trauma of your experiences of domestic abuse can also be tough. You may not want to submit a claim if you are not sure that your application would be successful. If this is the case, then you can contact a criminal injuries solicitor for advice on your case. To start the process, you must make your compensation claim within two years of reporting the crime to the police. It is better to do this as soon as possible, because it can take several months for CICA to process your claim and decide on the amount of compensation you are entitled to. Bear in mind that they may reject your claim in the end. You could get professional help with submitting your claim to try and avoid that.
What You Need To Make A Domestic Abuse Compensation Claim
To make a successful CICA compensation claim, you must cooperate fully with the police and be able to prove that your own actions did not contribute to the injuries you suffered. Your abuser must also not be able to benefit from any compensation award. The outcome of any criminal trial should not affect your compensation claim. The best way to make a strong claim is to report the crime as soon as possible and then submit a claim as soon as possible after that. The police report is necessary to substantiate your claim. You can provide more supporting evidence such as the following if you have it to prove that your account is true:
Prescriptions for treatment for injuries
Medical records of injuries
Photographs of injuries
Copies of abusive texts or e-mails
Witness statements
If you do not have extra supporting evidence such as the above, that does not mean that you won’t be able to make a successful claim. A solicitor could help to make sure you get justice.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post with CICA. This post has been pre-written.
