Criminal injuries compensation for being abused by a family friend increased from £11,000 to over £69,000 after CICA review
If you need guidance on claiming compensation after being abused by a family friend or simply require expert assistance with a CICA review then contact our free legal helpline.
We were contacted by Mss A, a woman in her late 20s about claiming compensation. When she was just 11 years old she had been the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a family friend. This abuse persisted over the course of many months. Miss A felt unable to tell anyone at the time what she was going through. She felt guilty and ashamed. She simply did not know what to say.
A couple of years later, she gained the confidence to confide in others about the abuse. She was supported by her family to report the abuse to the police, but unfortunately the abuser did not face justice.
Miss A continued to suffer the after effects of the abuse. As she grew up, she struggled with anxiety, low mood, poor self-esteem and difficulties in her own early romantic relationships. She was troubled by thoughts that the man who had abused her had escaped justice. However, she thought there was nothing she could do about it.
It was not until she was in her late 20s that she made contact with our specialist team of lawyers, having read about our work online.
Abuse expert Elizabeth Duncan listened to Miss A’s story and guided her on the options available. Elizabeth suggested that an application should be made to the government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme.
Miss A was outside the time limit for a CICA application to be made. The usual time limit where the police were involved before a child turns 18 is that the CICA application should be made by the person’s 20th birthday. However, Elizabeth felt confident that given Miss A’s ongoing psychological difficulties as a result of the abuse she had endured, and her frequent need for medical treatment as a result, she could successfully argue that the case involved exceptional circumstances and the time limit should be extended.
The CICA application was duly submitted and Elizabeth successfully argued that the time limit should be extended with the support of medical evidence.
However when the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority made its decision it only awarded Miss A £11,000. It appeared to Elizabeth that the CICA had not taken full note of the impact the abuse and subsequent psychological ill health had had on Miss A’s ability to undertake employment. Elizabeth considered the requirements of the scheme and advised Miss A that an application for review of that decision be made.
Elizabeth’s judgement was proved to be correct. Following the review the CICA increased its offer of compensation from £11,000 to £69,225. This improved offer was accepted by Miss A.
Miss A’s case shows that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority do not always make the correct decision when awarding compensation and that specialist legal advice can dramatically increase what survivors of abuse receive, which is so important to helping them rebuild their lives.
If you have been abused by a family friend or suffered any other type of harm as a result of criminal conduct then contact our CICA compensation experts. Call our free helpline in total confidence on 0333 888 0446, or if you would prefer to deal with things online then simply e-mail brief details to us and we will get straight back to you.