Can I Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder?

In this guide, we will look at the process of claiming compensation for attempted murder. If you’ve been injured as the result of a crime of violence, you could be entitled to receive compensation.

compensation for attempted murder

Compensation for attempted murder claims guide

In some cases, you might be able to claim compensation directly from the person who attacked you; however, they would need to be identified and have the funds to pay you compensation. Alternatively, you may be eligible to receive compensation from a Government-sponsored agency called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

In this guide, we will look at the circumstances in which the CICA can award compensation to victims of violent crimes. We also address the evidence you could use to support your claim, and how damages in these cases are valued.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility in confidence with our legal advisors, please consider:

Choose A Section

  1. What is Classed as Attempted Murder?
  2. Compensation for Attempted Murder – How Do I Make a Claim?
  3. Compensation for Attempted Murder – Potential Payouts
  4. What Potential Evidence Could Help You Receive Compensation for Attempted Murder?
  5. Advantages of Using Our Panel of No Win No Fee Solicitors
  6. Read More To Learn More About Making a CICA Claim

What is Classed as Attempted Murder?

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) outlines that the crime of attempted murder necessarily entails an intent to kill someone. This is in contrast to murder, where someone can be found guilty even if their intention was only to cause grievous bodily harm.

The Sentencing Council provide sentencing guidelines that outline the factors that could impact the sentence that is given in these cases. These include the level of culpability (ranging from very high culpability to lesser culpability) and harm (ranging from Category 1 to Category 3).

The CICA can compensate victims of violent crimes for the harm that they have sustained. The definition of a crime of violence can be found in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).

For more information on applying for criminal injuries compensation for attempted murder, speak with an advisor today.

Compensation for Attempted Murder – How Do I Make a Claim?

The first thing to consider with the CICA is that the attempted murder must have taken place in England, Scotland or Wales or another relevant place. The Scheme outlines some of the other relevant places that could mean you’re eligible to claim.

In order for you to make a claim through the CICA for attempted murder compensation, it’s essential that the incident was reported to the police. Furthermore, you should not be eligible to receive compensation from another source for the harm you experienced; the CICA should be seen as a last resort for claiming.

As we’ve already mentioned, you could claim against the perpetrator directly for the harm that they have caused you. Alternatively, you may be able to claim against a vicariously liable party for the injuries you sustained.

For example, if you worked in a door security role, then part of your employer’s duty of care may be to ensure that you’re always working with another member of staff for safety purposes. However, one night you are made to work alone, and an irate member of the public tries to kill you. In this case, you may be able to claim against your employer if you can show that their negligence led to the incident in which you were injured.

You may find the process of claiming attempted murder compensation through the CICA easier with the support of a lawyer. Speak with a member of our team today, and you could be connected with one of our criminal injury solicitors.

Compensation for Attempted Murder – Potential Payouts

When you make a successful claim through the CICA, you will be awarded compensation for your injuries. You can be compensated for both physical and mental injuries sustained in a crime of violence.

The compensation amounts that can be awarded for your injuries in these kinds of claims can be found in the tariff of injuries found in the Scheme. We have included some of these below in lieu of a compensation calculator:

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You can claim for multiple injuries through the CICA, but a multiple injury reduction formula applies. You may be awarded 100% of the most highly valued injury, 30% of the next highest valued or equally valued injury, and 15% of the third highest or equally valued injury.

Special expenses may also be appropriate in your claim. These are reasonable, necessary expenses that you have incurred as a result of the crime of violence you experienced. In order to claim these, you will need to have lost earnings or earning potential for at least 28 weeks after the incident.

For more information on the eligibility criteria for special expenses and how much your claim could be worth, speak with one of our advisors today. They can provide guidance on how to use a compensation calculator, and you could be connected with a lawyer if you have a strong case.

What Potential Evidence Could Help You Receive Compensation for Attempted Murder?

The CICA has quite strict criteria for who is eligible to make a claim. They state that you must:

  • Hvae been injured as a victim of violent crime in England, Wales or Scotland or another relevant place
  • Report the crime to the police. This should be done as soon as possible after the incident (usually right away, but claims could still be considered where exceptional circumstances have resulted in a reasonable delay in doing so)
  • Cooperate with the police in their investigations

A claim could be made if someone has witnessed or was present in the aftermath of a serious crime involving a loved one. You could claim for the mental injuries that you sustain in this eventuality. 

If you provide a police crime number to the CICA, then this means that they will be able to communicate with the police and confirm that the incident was reported to them. They can also communicate with the police to confirm that there are no unspent criminal convictions that could see your award reduced or witheld altogether.

Compensation For Attempted Murder – Is There A Time Limit To Claim?

There is generally a two-year time frame for starting a claim through the CICA. This usually starts on the date that the incident is reported.

In certain cases, the CICA will consider claims beyond this 2-year period if exceptional circumstances mean that you were unable to report the crime at the time. For more information on the process of claiming compensation for attempted murder through the CICA, speak with one of our advisors.

Advantages of Using Our Panel of No Win No Fee Solicitors

No Win No Fee is an umbrella term that encompasses Conditional Fee Agreements. These allow you to access to the representation of a lawyer with:

  • No fees needed to initially hire your solicitor
  • Generally, no requirement to pay anything as the case progresses
  • Usually, nothing that needs to be paid to the No Win No Fee solicitor for the work they have done if the case fails

In addition, cases that win require an amount to be deducted from any payment made, which is paid to your lawyer as a “success fee” and is capped by law. This ensures that as the claimant, you always receive the bulk of any compensation for attempted murder that you’re awarded.

For more information on claiming through the CICA for compensation, including guidance on how long a criminal injury claim could take, speak with an advisor today.

Contact Us For Free To See If You Can Claim

If you are ready to start a compensation claim for attempted murder, our team of advisors is on hand. They can assess any claim in a confidential and sympathetic way.

Also, they could also help you direct your claim in the right way. As well as this, they could connect you to a personal injury solicitor who specialises in violent crime compensation claims. Find out more by:

Read More To Learn More About Making a CICA Claim

Compensation for attempted murder is one aspect of how CICA claims could offer help. Below is further reading on this related topic:

Below, we have included links to more of our guides that you may find useful:

If you have further questions on claiming compensation for attempted murder, speak with an advisor today.

Writer Jeff Winkle 

Publisher Fern Smithers