CRIMINAL COMPENSATION BOARD
NO WIN NO FEE CLAIMS

If you have suffered injuries as the victim of a violent crime, you may be entitled to compensation. Our specialist solicitors use the no win no fee scheme and you pay absolutely nothing if your criminal compensation board claim is unsuccessful. You pay nothing upfront and you are not required to fund the claims process.

The technical name for no win no fee arrangements is a ‘conditional fee agreement’ or a CFA. Solicitors were first able to begin using CFAs in 1998. A CFA allows solicitors to charge a percentage of the amount awarded in a compensation claim. More importantly, solicitors were, for the first time, allowed to write off their legal fees if the case was lost and no compensation was recovered. Around the same time that the CFA was introduced, the Legal Aid Board ceased public funding for the majority personal injury claims with the exception of claims for clinical negligence. The result has been that virtually all personal injury claims, not just those made to the criminal compensation board, are taken on the basis of a CFA.

The criminal compensation board currently uses a tariff scheme for determining how much to award a successful claimant. Each type of injury is assigned a value and placed into one of 25 different bands. Claimants receive compensation for only their three most series injuries. The full value is awarded for the most serious injury. The value of the second and third most serious injuries is reduced by a set percentage.

Even claimants with otherwise qualifying injuries are not guaranteed full compensation or any compensation at all. The criminal compensation board can reduce or refuse a claim based on the victim's behaviour before, during and after the attack. It can also reduce or refuse a claim on the grounds that the victim has unspent criminal convictions.

The criminal compensation board does not reimburse claimants for any legal or professional fees they may incur during the claims process. If your claim is successful and you receive compensation, our charge amounts to 25% of the total award, inclusive of VAT. As explained above, there is no charge whatsoever if the claim is unsuccessful. We do not charge extra for carrying out the work necessary for an appeal.

Our solicitors are experienced and qualified, with a track record of successfully recovering compensation for clients who have suffered physical or mental trauma. We believe in open, honest communication with our clients. You will receive a straightforward assessment of your case, including your chances of success and an estimated value of your claim based on the criminal compensation board tariff scheme. All of our solicitors take a client-centered approach to legal representation. We will vigorously pursue the maximum amount of compensation available to you.

For free legal advice about your case and the claims process, complete the contact form or call us on our helpline. Speaking to one of our solicitors does not obligate you to take any further action. There is no charge for this consultation, even if you decide not to go forward with your claim.