If you’ve suffered mental or physical injury as a result of being the innocent victim of a violent crime, you may well be entitled to claim for compensation. Alternatively to being the direct recipient of the injury, you could also claim if you witnessed the crime happening to a close friend or family member and have been affected in any way, including financially. Finally, you can also look to claim if you or a loved one have sustained injuries whilst trying to prevent or stop a crime from occurring.
Drawing on many years of experience, our team at Pengelly & Rylands can help to assess whether a compensation claim may be possible and, where it is, complete the necessary paperwork on your behalf and deal with any subsequent negotiations to ensure you receive the maximum payment possible for the injuries and losses you have suffered.
Our expert Criminal lawyers work closely with our litigation teams to ensure that you receive what is right and just in your unique set of circumstances. We will work with you and support you through the entire process with honesty, integrity and discretion.
Meaning of ‘violent crime’
To be the victim of a violent crime the injury suffered must have occurred as a result of:
- a physical attack;
- being subjected to threats of violence;
- sexual assault;
- arson; or (in Scotland willful fire-raising).
Eligibility criteria
To make a claim you need to meet certain eligibility criteria. For example, your injury must have been caused by a criminal act which happened in England, Scotland, Wales or another area designated by the government, such as on board a British controlled aircraft. You must also have a close connection to Great Britain, either because you or a close relative live here or because you fall within a group of people the government has agreed to compensate, such as citizens of the European Union.
For British citizens injured abroad as a result of terrorist activity a claim under a separate compensation scheme may be possible.
Compensation amount
Compensation amounts vary greatly and are entirely dependent on the individual case. Your solicitor may be able to give you an idea after your initial consultation but this will only be a guide.
Compensation may be awarded for the injury itself and also for things like loss of earnings where you have had to take time off work. If a relative dies compensation can also be paid to cover funeral costs and to help support any dependents.
Advising individuals throughout Tenterden, Kent and beyond
We have offices in Tenterden, Chatham, Gravesend and Maidstone where we can meet you to discuss your requirements.
If the need arises, we can also offer meetings at your home or in hospital. Meetings via skype are also possible for clients who frequently need to travel abroad.
Funding
Most claims for compensation after a violent crime can be funded under a conditional fee agreement which means there will usually be no legal fees to pay unless your claim is successful.
For clients not eligible for conditional fee funding we can offer flexible payment terms to help you budget for the payment of legal fees. We can also offer an initial appointment to discuss your requirements at a fixed cost of £120 plus VAT.
Get in touch with our criminal law solicitors in Tenterden, Kent
Call us on 01580 762248 if you need our help. Alternatively please complete our Contact Us form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.