Criminal Injury Compensation Overseas: When To Claim In The UK Or Overseas
How the CICA, the British Embassy and travel insurance can help you make a claim for criminal injury compensation in the UK or from an overseas country outside of the UK
We set out where your criminal injury must have happened for you to claim compensation from the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority in the UK- with some exceptions to the general rule.
We describe the assistance the CICA can give you in making an application in a foreign country. Plus – how to find out which countries around the world have criminal injury compensation schemes.
We explore the very real benefits that travel insurance can provide – including legal cover to find and fund an overseas lawyer to help you claim.
When can you claim from the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority?
For you to make a compensation claim from the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority your injury ordinarily must have occurred in Great Britain. GB is made up of England, Wales and Scotland.
Watch out!! Northern Ireland has its own criminal injury compensation scheme.
| Certain Criminal Incidents Abroad May Be Claimed From The UK |
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| There are some exceptions that may allow a claim from the UK via the CICA for certain incidents abroad. For example – certain terrorist acts leading to physical and psychological injury for victims of overseas terrorism. In additions, members of the armed forces serving overseas who are victims of violent crime may be able to make a claim from the Ministry of Defence. |
Can you claim compensation for criminal injury in the European Union?
You should be able to claim compensation if you receive a criminal injury in a country which is a member of the European Union.
EU Countries have schemes similar to the CICA in the UK
Each member country is required by European law to have in place a similar agreement to the scheme we have in the UK.
Assistance from the CICA
However – the CICA in the UK generally will not pay compensation for injuries outside Great Britain (there can be some exceptions for terrorist attacks overseas).
Although – they will assist in helping you contact the correct authority in the European Union country and assist you in completing the application form, so that you can claim compensation using that country’s scheme.
See the CICA’s compensation for crimes abroad article explaining how the CICA can help you if you suffer criminal injury abroad.
For example – imagine you are travelling in Spain. Whilst on a train journey from Barcelona to Madrid – you are assaulted and suffer significant injuries. You make all the proper reports to the local police and the hospital. On your return to the UK – you decide that you wish to claim compensation for criminal injuries. Unfortunately – you do not have travel insurance, so legal cover is not available.
Working out the system in Spain can be quite daunting, so you contact the UK Criminal Injury Compensation Authority. They are not able to pay you UK criminal compensation, but may help you contact the correct authority in Spain and help you fill out the Spanish application form. Alternatively – you can contact the British Embassy in Spain that will have a list of English speaking Spanish lawyers that may be able to help with your claim.
| LEGAL TIP – Use Legal Cover On Your Travel Insurance |
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| Your travel insurance will likely have legal protection cover, which can fund an English speaking overseas lawyer to help you make your criminal injuries claim in a foreign country. |
Are there other countries that have a form of CICA scheme?
“Yes” – other countries outside of the European Union that have a form of criminal injury compensation scheme include: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Columbia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Philippines, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
The government website of overseas British embassies provides an up-to-date list of the British Embassies across the world. These could assist with knowing if a criminal injury scheme exist and provide resources to finding Legal help.
How Much Criminal Injuries Compensation Can You Claim In Great Britain?
See our criminal compensation article to find out how much criminal injury compensation you can claim in Great Britain.
SUMMARY – Overseas Criminal Injury Compensation
In this article you have discovered why generally you can only make a compensation claim from the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority for injuries received in Great Britain. Not forgetting – exceptions for terrorist attacks and armed forces serving abroad.
Plus, how to receive help and funding to claiming abroad.
FREE Legal Help
Claiming criminal injury compensation outside of the UK is beyond our legal jurisdiction. However, we are happy to guide you as to how to get help and to consider when you may be able to claim in the UK.
See our free online and telephone legal help options.
