If you have been a recent victim of a crime, then there is a very good chance that you'll be entitled to make a criminal injury compensation claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
CICA – Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Great Britain has in place the oldest compensation scheme for people who suffer criminal injuries as victims of crimes, with the first version having been introduced in 1964. Based along the lines of a personal injury compensation claim, the CICA compensates victims of violent crime who have suffered any:
• injury, whether that be physical or mental, as a result of being the victim of a violent crime
• possible loss of earnings that the victim may endure as a result of such criminal injury
• bereavement suffered as a result of a loved one having died as the victim of a violent crime.
Since 1996 the CICA has adopted a fixed tariff criminal injury compensation scheme as set out by parliament in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995 for those who are entitled to make a criminal injury claim.
Making A Compensation Claim
If you plan to make a claim to the CICA for criminal injury compensation, then you'll need to show that you have suffered either physical or mental harm as a result of having been the victim of the violent crime in question.
Note that you need to show that a crime took place, you do not need to show that a conviction resulted from the crime you are claiming took place.
If you have grounds to believe that you have a criminal injury claim, you can obtain a compensation form from a personal injury solicitor, which you then need to compete and return.
The CICA then acknowledges receipt of your form and should process the claim. Keep in mind that this can be a lengthy process and can take anywhere up to 18 months after you have submitted the criminal injury compensation claim.
Also, as the scheme is for victims of violent crimes, the minimum compensation payable under the scheme is £1,000 and the maximum amount of compensation is £250,000.
Moreover, keep in mind that if you have made a claim for compensation under the scheme and are not satisfied with the initial compensation awarded for the criminal injury you suffered, you are entitled to submit a request to have a review of your criminal injury claim within 90 days of your original award being made.
If you still don’t like the award after this review process has been completed, then you can appeal your criminal injury compensation claim to the Panel of the CICA within 30 days of the outcome of the appeal process. If the Panel of the CICA award still does not satisfy you, you then have the right to appeal your claim to the High Court.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you have been the unfortunate victim of a crime, you should speak to a criminal injury solicitor as soon as you can following the event. In part this is because the criminal injury compensation scheme is only for those who are the victims of a violent crime.
On the other part, you need to make sure you do this so that you can get the advice from your criminal injury solicitor as to any alterative compensation you may want to seek.
Any alternative compensation claim you do instigate will be based on a civil action for personal injury. As a personal injury claim can be expensive, if you believe you may have a case for personal injury compensation but do not have the funds to pay a costly solicitor, you should talk with a no win no fee solicitor to see if there is any chance they will represent you in your claim.
And Finally...
Finally, as well as being the oldest criminal injury compensation authority in the world, with over 80,000 cases a year paying £200 million in compensation, the CICA is also one of the highest rewarding criminal injury claim boards in the world.
It's easy to seek criminal injury compensation and gain maximum results without the hassle, costs and confusion. Discover the 12 revolutions of criminal injury claims at http://www.100percent-compensation.co.uk/articles/criminal-injury-compensation.html
Saturday, June 6, 2009
A Whiplash Injury Claim Is NO BIG DEAL... Or Is It? (by Mumtaz Shah)
Are you aware of how important your compensation for a whiplash injury can be? Too often, a whiplash injury claim is overlooked or is under-compensated. It is often considered minor, but is it really? After all, you've suffered an accident, been injured even if the injury is 'just' whiplash.
Do you realize what a whiplash injury is?
A whiplash typically causes injury to your neck. Do you think a neck injury is minor?
Plenty of accident claim solicitors will try to tell you a whiplash injury won't bring much accident compensation, if any. Do you believe them? If you do, it's because you don't understand the long-term consequences of the injury. If you've been in an accident and suffered, you'd better start to understand how serious a neck injury can be. Overlook the importance of a whiplash accident claim, and you could be in for a very unhappy life.
15 Years Of Hell
Here's a story that will get you thinking twice about the importance of a whiplash neck injury claim.
It was a simple matter. A car accident. She was a passenger in her husband's car. Someone stopped suddenly in front of him, and he rear-ended them.
The accident was technically his fault, because he should have left more space between his car and the one in front. But the man's wife was not at fault. She was just a passenger, an accident victim.
The driver of the car he rear-ended apparently didn't have appropriate accident insurance, so he left the accident scene quickly, before the police arrived. The car wasn’t going very fast at impact. It was rush-hour traffic.
Even so, the car engine was damaged by the accident impact, so that was the end of the car. But no accident injuries to the passenger or her husband, the driver. Or so they thought.
The day after the accident, both husband and wife awoke with stiff backs and some pain extending from the neck all the way down the length of the spine. Accident insurance paid for a visit to the doctor, where they were diagnosed with 'whiplash'.
Whiplash, Yeah... Whatever!
Here's where the story gets bad. The doctor said whiplash was a minor injury and they'd recover; end of story.
But it wasn't.
Two years later, the woman developed a problem with her wrist. It was almost as if her wrist was injured, but she'd done nothing to cause an injury. Gradually she realized the problem involved her shoulder as well. She developed occasional numbness from neck to hand, for no apparent reason.
The whiplash accident long forgotten, she tried to think of an immediate cause of injury and couldn't find one. She went on with her life, unaware that the numbness from neck to hand had anything to do with the injury two years earlier.
As time went on, she developed more problems – various types of health issues that seemed to have no apparent cause. She still didn't think to tie any of these problems in with the car accident from years before, and the whiplash injury the doctor said was 'No big deal'.
Dealing With The Pain
Finally, on top of all her health problems that no one could diagnose, she developed severe neck pain and numbness in her head. It was worse every time she tried to drive. Even though her back and neck felt painful as she sat behind the steering wheel – the same way she felt after her whiplash injury – she didn't once think about the accident that caused the injury. After all, she believed it when her doctor said the whiplash injury was minor, of no consequence.
But there were consequences, serious health consequences. Increasing disability. Trouble staying focused at her job, because of the constant numbness from neck to hand. Pain in her neck and shoulders every time she tired to use the computer or tried to drive. She was afraid half the time of getting into another accident because of the numbness, afraid her neck problems would cause a blackout as she sat behind the steering wheel.
The Relief
When she was finally unable to drive even down the street with the pain in her neck, she finally went to see a new doctor. He asked her, 'Have you ever been in a car accident?'
She thought about it and remembered: 'Yes. Fifteen years ago'.
'What happened?' the doctor asked.
She shrugged. 'It wasn't a big deal. I suffered a whiplash injury'.
The doctor's eyes widened.
'What do you mean it wasn't a big deal? Don't you realize the injury you suffered fifteen years ago is causing all of your problems today?'
This is a sad story, because this woman never thought of a whiplash compensation claim. That injury caused one problem after another that severely impacted her ability to work and her quality of life. The impact of the whiplash injury continued over many years, and the problems intensified. All because of an accident that caused whiplash.
Living With The Consequences
Over the long term, this woman was disabled by her injury. Is that really 'no big deal', as the doctor who examined her after the accident claimed? Shouldn't she have claimed accident compensation for her neck injury, looking ahead to see that she might suffer long-term consequences?
A whiplash injury is NOT minor!
It's an injury to the neck, which is a critical part of the body. It's through the neck that all neural messages and nutrient-giving blood cells travel to and from the brain and the rest of the body. It can have a severe long-term impact… and it's not necessarily apparent right away.
Your Decision
This doesn't mean all whiplash injuries will have severe long-term consequences. But how will you know what compensation you might be entitled to unless you consult with a competent professional – an accident claim solicitor who has seen the consequences of neck injury and knows whether or not you have a valid accident claim? A claim solicitor who can direct you to take the right steps to handle your injury claim efficiently and fairly.
If you've suffered a whiplash neck injury, don't just write it off as 'no big deal'. It might be a bigger deal than you think. Investigate your whiplash accident claim options. Because if the day comes when your injury causes long-term problems, and you can no longer hold a job as a result of your accident years earlier, you will not want to be without the compensation you were entitled to.
It's easy to make an whiplash injury claim, if you ask! The 12 'Revolutions' were created to put all your compensation in your pocket. Learn more at http://www.100percent-compensation.co.uk
Do you realize what a whiplash injury is?
A whiplash typically causes injury to your neck. Do you think a neck injury is minor?
Plenty of accident claim solicitors will try to tell you a whiplash injury won't bring much accident compensation, if any. Do you believe them? If you do, it's because you don't understand the long-term consequences of the injury. If you've been in an accident and suffered, you'd better start to understand how serious a neck injury can be. Overlook the importance of a whiplash accident claim, and you could be in for a very unhappy life.
15 Years Of Hell
Here's a story that will get you thinking twice about the importance of a whiplash neck injury claim.
It was a simple matter. A car accident. She was a passenger in her husband's car. Someone stopped suddenly in front of him, and he rear-ended them.
The accident was technically his fault, because he should have left more space between his car and the one in front. But the man's wife was not at fault. She was just a passenger, an accident victim.
The driver of the car he rear-ended apparently didn't have appropriate accident insurance, so he left the accident scene quickly, before the police arrived. The car wasn’t going very fast at impact. It was rush-hour traffic.
Even so, the car engine was damaged by the accident impact, so that was the end of the car. But no accident injuries to the passenger or her husband, the driver. Or so they thought.
The day after the accident, both husband and wife awoke with stiff backs and some pain extending from the neck all the way down the length of the spine. Accident insurance paid for a visit to the doctor, where they were diagnosed with 'whiplash'.
Whiplash, Yeah... Whatever!
Here's where the story gets bad. The doctor said whiplash was a minor injury and they'd recover; end of story.
But it wasn't.
Two years later, the woman developed a problem with her wrist. It was almost as if her wrist was injured, but she'd done nothing to cause an injury. Gradually she realized the problem involved her shoulder as well. She developed occasional numbness from neck to hand, for no apparent reason.
The whiplash accident long forgotten, she tried to think of an immediate cause of injury and couldn't find one. She went on with her life, unaware that the numbness from neck to hand had anything to do with the injury two years earlier.
As time went on, she developed more problems – various types of health issues that seemed to have no apparent cause. She still didn't think to tie any of these problems in with the car accident from years before, and the whiplash injury the doctor said was 'No big deal'.
Dealing With The Pain
Finally, on top of all her health problems that no one could diagnose, she developed severe neck pain and numbness in her head. It was worse every time she tried to drive. Even though her back and neck felt painful as she sat behind the steering wheel – the same way she felt after her whiplash injury – she didn't once think about the accident that caused the injury. After all, she believed it when her doctor said the whiplash injury was minor, of no consequence.
But there were consequences, serious health consequences. Increasing disability. Trouble staying focused at her job, because of the constant numbness from neck to hand. Pain in her neck and shoulders every time she tired to use the computer or tried to drive. She was afraid half the time of getting into another accident because of the numbness, afraid her neck problems would cause a blackout as she sat behind the steering wheel.
The Relief
When she was finally unable to drive even down the street with the pain in her neck, she finally went to see a new doctor. He asked her, 'Have you ever been in a car accident?'
She thought about it and remembered: 'Yes. Fifteen years ago'.
'What happened?' the doctor asked.
She shrugged. 'It wasn't a big deal. I suffered a whiplash injury'.
The doctor's eyes widened.
'What do you mean it wasn't a big deal? Don't you realize the injury you suffered fifteen years ago is causing all of your problems today?'
This is a sad story, because this woman never thought of a whiplash compensation claim. That injury caused one problem after another that severely impacted her ability to work and her quality of life. The impact of the whiplash injury continued over many years, and the problems intensified. All because of an accident that caused whiplash.
Living With The Consequences
Over the long term, this woman was disabled by her injury. Is that really 'no big deal', as the doctor who examined her after the accident claimed? Shouldn't she have claimed accident compensation for her neck injury, looking ahead to see that she might suffer long-term consequences?
A whiplash injury is NOT minor!
It's an injury to the neck, which is a critical part of the body. It's through the neck that all neural messages and nutrient-giving blood cells travel to and from the brain and the rest of the body. It can have a severe long-term impact… and it's not necessarily apparent right away.
Your Decision
This doesn't mean all whiplash injuries will have severe long-term consequences. But how will you know what compensation you might be entitled to unless you consult with a competent professional – an accident claim solicitor who has seen the consequences of neck injury and knows whether or not you have a valid accident claim? A claim solicitor who can direct you to take the right steps to handle your injury claim efficiently and fairly.
If you've suffered a whiplash neck injury, don't just write it off as 'no big deal'. It might be a bigger deal than you think. Investigate your whiplash accident claim options. Because if the day comes when your injury causes long-term problems, and you can no longer hold a job as a result of your accident years earlier, you will not want to be without the compensation you were entitled to.
It's easy to make an whiplash injury claim, if you ask! The 12 'Revolutions' were created to put all your compensation in your pocket. Learn more at http://www.100percent-compensation.co.uk
How Do I Choose a Good Personal Injury Lawyer? (By Matt Clarkson)
Personal injury cases are serious matters. They often involve grave injury, permanent disability, and even death. Victims depend on the personal injury lawyer to recover financial damages that are required to cover their medical treatments, replace permanently lost income, and compensate for their pain and suffering.
Without a qualified, experienced personal injury lawyer, their chances of receiving fair compensation plummet. That's why it’s really important that, if you’ve been a victim of personal injury, you choose the right personal injury lawyer to represent you. Here are a few things to consider when making your selection:
Choose an attorney who specializes in personal injury
Your personal injury lawyer should be able to accurately assess the merits of a personal injury case, approximate its monetary value, and determine the best strategy for pursuing it. He or she should also have extensive experience in the field. Your personal injury lawyer should also who keep current with the latest developments in personal injury law.
Choose a personal injury lawyer experienced in dealing with insurance companies
Insurance company lawyers represent most personal injury case defendants. These corporate lawyers seek to pay out the least amount possible, so an inexperienced personal injury lawyer may be at a disadvantage in these negotiations. Therefore, choosing a personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of successful negotiations is essential.
Choose a personal injury lawyer with trial experience
Although most personal injury claims are settled out of court, personally injury lawyers sometimes obtain favorable settlements by threatening to take cases to trial. The defendants are often willing to pay out more money to the plaintiffs to avoid expensive trials, negative publicity, and the chance that a court would award the plaintiffs more money. In this case, experience is key: if your personal injury lawyer has never won cases in court, the defendant in your lawsuit may not take the threat of going to trial seriously.
Personal injury cases are brought about by physical injury or mental anguish caused by actions or negligence of another party.
Personal Injury cases can include Auto Accidents, Defamation of Character, Product Defects and Medical Malpractice to name just a few. In order to be sure if your personal injury case has validity in the eyes of the law, contact a legal professional in your state.
If you suffer accidental personal injury or damages through the fault of another, that person or business is legally responsible (liable) and can be required to pay compensation. To determine responsibility, the court looks for negligence--carelessness by one of the parties involved. Whoever is determined to have been less careful (i.e. more negligent), is legally responsible for at least part of the damages incurred.
Compensation is generally awarded based on the strength of your documentation and degree of injury. A legal professional is recommended in Personal Injury cases over all others in order to maximize your compensation in the face of the Insurance companies, which normally defend such cases.
To find out all the answers to finding a good lawyer including, criminal, bankruptcy, and personal injusry check out... http://www.freeinformationonline.com/lawyers.htm
Without a qualified, experienced personal injury lawyer, their chances of receiving fair compensation plummet. That's why it’s really important that, if you’ve been a victim of personal injury, you choose the right personal injury lawyer to represent you. Here are a few things to consider when making your selection:
Choose an attorney who specializes in personal injury
Your personal injury lawyer should be able to accurately assess the merits of a personal injury case, approximate its monetary value, and determine the best strategy for pursuing it. He or she should also have extensive experience in the field. Your personal injury lawyer should also who keep current with the latest developments in personal injury law.
Choose a personal injury lawyer experienced in dealing with insurance companies
Insurance company lawyers represent most personal injury case defendants. These corporate lawyers seek to pay out the least amount possible, so an inexperienced personal injury lawyer may be at a disadvantage in these negotiations. Therefore, choosing a personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of successful negotiations is essential.
Choose a personal injury lawyer with trial experience
Although most personal injury claims are settled out of court, personally injury lawyers sometimes obtain favorable settlements by threatening to take cases to trial. The defendants are often willing to pay out more money to the plaintiffs to avoid expensive trials, negative publicity, and the chance that a court would award the plaintiffs more money. In this case, experience is key: if your personal injury lawyer has never won cases in court, the defendant in your lawsuit may not take the threat of going to trial seriously.
Personal injury cases are brought about by physical injury or mental anguish caused by actions or negligence of another party.
Personal Injury cases can include Auto Accidents, Defamation of Character, Product Defects and Medical Malpractice to name just a few. In order to be sure if your personal injury case has validity in the eyes of the law, contact a legal professional in your state.
If you suffer accidental personal injury or damages through the fault of another, that person or business is legally responsible (liable) and can be required to pay compensation. To determine responsibility, the court looks for negligence--carelessness by one of the parties involved. Whoever is determined to have been less careful (i.e. more negligent), is legally responsible for at least part of the damages incurred.
Compensation is generally awarded based on the strength of your documentation and degree of injury. A legal professional is recommended in Personal Injury cases over all others in order to maximize your compensation in the face of the Insurance companies, which normally defend such cases.
To find out all the answers to finding a good lawyer including, criminal, bankruptcy, and personal injusry check out... http://www.freeinformationonline.com/lawyers.htm
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