VIC CRIMINAL INJURY COMPENSATION - VICTORIA CLAIM SOLICITOR

If you have been the victim of a violent assault in Victoria our criminal injuries compensation claim solicitors will give free advice without further obligation. We can help by offering legal advice and representation if you have suffered physical injuries or psychological difficulties in Victoria as a result of:-

• violent assault including armed robbery
• homicide, murder & manslaughter
• sexual assault including rape & buggery
• child abuse and incest
• false imprisonment
• abduction & kidnapping
• stalking
• threats to kill or inflict serious injury
• domestic violence
• arson

Claimant Categories

There are a number of different categories of potential claimant in a Victoria criminal injuries compensation claim and you may be able to submit an application if you satisfy the flowing requirements :-

• you are the immediate victim of an act of violence and you suffer physical or psychological injury
• you are a close family member and you suffer psychological disturbance as a result of disclosure of the act of violence on your relative
• you sustain injury as a witness to violent crime
• You are injured whilst attempting to prevent a violent crime or whilst attempting to arrest the perpetrator<.li>
• you are injured whilst rescuing or attempting to rescue the victim of a violent crime

Victoria Compensation Awards

The amount of compensation payable in a Victoria criminal injuries compensation claim depends on the nature and extent of the injury, the recovery period and whether or not there are any long term consequences or disabilities. Awards which are generally capped may include damages for pain and suffering, loss of a particular lifestyle, loss of past and future income together with reasonably incurred medical expenses. The amount of compensation awarded is generally set by an assessor after consideration of the application, the applicant’s medical history and medical reports of the injury.

VIC Appeal Procedure

In the event that an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of their Victoria criminal injuries compensation claim there is often a well established appeal procedure and in some jurisdictions the offender also has a right to appeal the decision, generally in regards to the amount of any award. The offender is a stakeholder in the application as the authority has the right to recover the amount of the award from the offender however payment to the applicant will be made in any event, with the applicant not being involved in any enforcement procedures against the offender.

Miscellaneous Provisions

There are time limits for criminal injuries compensation claims in Victoria and you should not delay in either reporting the incident to the police or contacting a solicitor for advice to preserve your legal right to damages. You may be entitled to make a claim for an interim award before a final determination is made. Injuries of a minor and temporary nature may not qualify for an award. The amount of the award in VIC may be reduced if the applicant is deemed to have contributed to the injuries by reference to unacceptable behaviour before during or immediately after the event. In the case of death arising from a defined criminal injury a close relative may apply for compensation to cover funeral expenses and any dependents of the deceased can apply for limited financial support.