
Sexual Abuse and Violence FAQ
Our specialist Abuse Claims Solicitors are often asked lots of questions about sexual abuse and violence. In this article, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear.
Abuse Claims Solicitor
If you have experienced physical or sexual abuse and wish to make a claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation (CIC) Scheme, contact our Abuse Claims Solicitors for free legal advice and a no-obligation discussion.
A person can be awarded compensation under the scheme if:
The Criminal Injuries Scheme is a scheme administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) designed to compensate blameless victims of a crime of violence (including abuse).
The CICA will ask whether you have looked into claiming compensation from the person who injured you or their employer if appropriate, and pursued it if there was a likelihood of success. A person may be required to provide information to the CICA that they have attempted to obtain a payment from other sources such as insurance payments and made an application for benefits. There is no need, however, to await the outcome of other claims before you apply. We can, of course, also help you to claim compensation through the civil courts, which may be a better option. The application is made online via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority website.
If you’ve reported physical or sexual abuse to the police but this did not result in conviction, you may still be eligible for an award under the Criminal Injuries Scheme. While this might not be the same as seeing your abuser being punished for their actions, it does amount to some acknowledgement from the State of what you’ve been through.
The CICA will make enquiries of the police and ask them what steps you have taken to report the crime and if you have co-operated.
For more information see Criminal Injury Abuse Claims.
If you were an adult when the incident of abuse occurred, the application should be made as soon as possible and within 2 years of the incident.
If you were under 18 when the incident of child abuse occurred, and it was reported to the police before your 18th birthday, you have until your 20th Birthday (2 years from becoming an adult) to make your claim.
If it was reported to the police after your 18th Birthday then the application should be made within 2 years of the first report to the police. You will only qualify if the evidence means your claim can be determined without further extensive enquiries. However, if an application is made close to the time of the incident, it will be easier to provide evidence of the crime.
The time limit for making an abuse claim can only be extended if there are exceptional circumstances that meant an application couldn’t have been made earlier, and if the supporting evidence means it can be determined without a CICA claims officer carrying out extensive enquiries. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will sometimes want to see medical evidence to support any argument.
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