There are certain circumstances where you can claim criminal injury compensation.
- If you have been physically or psychologically injured because of a crime within the past two years.
- If a parent, child, husband, wife or partner has died as the result of a violent crime in the past two years.
- If you have a close relationship with someone who has been the victim of a violent crime in the past two years.
- If you were present when the crime took place or were involved immediately afterwards, and you have been caused psychological injury.
There are also certain instances where you cannot make a claim for criminal injury compensation.
- If the crime took place outside England, Scotland or Wales.
- If you only suffered a single small injury, such as a bruising, or a black eye.
- If the crime took place more than two years ago.
- If you were injured in a road traffic accident, unless the vehicle was deliberately used to hurt you.
If the crime took place more than two years ago, then you cannot make a claim unless there is a good reason why you did not make the claim, and it is still possible to get enough information about what happened.
In this instance you will usually not be able to make such a claim unless you were injured as a child, your English is poor or you have a learning difficulty.
