When a crime has been committed against you, the first place you need to turn is the police. Whether you have been the victim of an assault, theft or a traffic accident; you always need to inform the police first and only then start thinking about making a compensation claim.
If the police arrest and convict the offender, you can make compensation claims through a criminal compensation order. This is where the court will order the offender to pay you a certain amount of money in damages, payable on whatever basis he/she can afford. You can also follow a similar procedure for personal injury claims, by submitting an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
However, although these systems are put in place to help the victims of crimes, the process may not always run as smoothly as you’d like. The sad fact is that, for whatever reason, you may not always get the compensation you feel you are entitled to.
The solution? Take legal action through a civil court
If all other avenues have failed, the best option you can go for is to take your compensation claim to a civil court. You may have to pay for this, unless if you find a solicitor operating on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. To get all the right advice and information, your first step should always be to contact a personal injuries specialist for free legal advice.
