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Criminal injury compensation may be available to crime victims. This compensation helps crime victims recover from physical, psychological, and financial trauma. Compensation can cover medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs.

However, crime type and injury severity determine victim compensation. To maximize compensation, you must understand the program and how to apply.

This article will give you an overview of the different things that affect how much money you can get and how to apply for this important financial help.

What is Criminal Injury Compensation?

Criminal injury compensation (CIC) is money the government provides to those who have been physically or emotionally injured due to a criminal act.

Crime-related physical or mental harm is called criminal injury. Assault, sexual abuse, homicide, robbery, fraud, kidnapping, domestic violence, etc. These crimes also cause trauma and mental illness.

Therefore, the CIC can pay for medical bills, counseling, lost wages, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, home modifications, relocation costs, and more.

How Much Can You Claim for Physical Injuries?

The amount of compensation you may be entitled to for physical injuries depends on the severity of the injury and the extent of any losses incurred. Still, there are a few common types of damages that are typically awarded in these cases:

• Medical expenses: If you suffered physical injuries as a result of a crime, you might receive reimbursement for medical expenses you incurred, including hospital bills, doctor visits, and medication costs.
• Lost wages: If you cannot work due to your injury, you might be entitled to compensation for lost wages or salary.
• Pain and suffering: This type of compensation covers physical pain and psychological injury resulting from the criminal act.
• Compromised quality of life: In some cases, victims of crime may be compensated for any loss of enjoyment of life caused by their injury.

What Types of Crimes Can Qualify for Compensation?

The Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program compensates victims of violent crime who have been injured physically, mentally, or emotionally. The most common types of crimes that qualify include the following:

• Assault: Any type of physical violence or threat, including physical assault and battery.
• Sexual offences: This includes rape and other non-consensual sexual acts, as well as sexual abuse, exploitation, grooming, and trafficking.
• Domestic violence: Any physical, mental, or emotional abuse committed by a family member or partner.
• Harassment and stalking: Persistent or unwanted contact and verbal or physical threats.
• Hate crime: Any criminal act motivated by a person’s race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
• Kidnapping and false imprisonment: This involves unlawfully restraining a person’s freedom of movement.
• Robbery: This involves using violence or threats of violence to steal someone’s property.
• Burglary: Breaking into a home with the intent to steal, cause damage to property, or harm someone inside the home.
• Criminal damage: Willfully destroying another person’s property without their permission.
• Terrorism: Any act designed to intimidate or coerce a population, government, or international organization for political, religious, or ideological reasons.

What Type of Victims Received Money Most Often?

Homicide victims are often the largest group receiving money from the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program due to the severe nature of their losses. The families of those killed in a homicide will receive a lump sum payment to help cover funeral costs, loss of future earnings, bereavement counseling, and loss of love and companionship.

Other victims who are likely to receive money from the program are those affected by terrorist attacks, those suffering permanent disabilities due to criminal injuries, and those facing financial difficulties due to an inability to work after sustaining an injury.

All these claims will be assessed individually, so you must talk to a solicitor if you believe you are entitled to compensation.

What Other Types of Compensation Can You Receive?

Other types of compensation may include payments for psychological injuries such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

These are typically awarded for severe emotional distress caused by the crime.

In cases of sexual assault or other serious crimes, compensation can include long-term therapy or counseling payments, medical expenses, and lost wages due to missed work. Victims may also be eligible for a one-time payment to cover relocation costs if they need to move away from the area of the crime.

Victims may also be entitled to an additional payment if their loss of earnings is expected to last longer than 26 weeks. In some cases, it may include payments for funeral costs if the victim has died as a result of a crime.

How Do You Apply For Criminal Injuries Compensation?

To ensure you receive the maximum compensation, it is important to understand the different steps involved in the application process.

The first step is to file an official claim form with your state’s criminal injury compensation board or program. The form should include the following:

• Basic information about the crime and injury.
• Contact information for the injured individual.
• Any witnesses who may have seen the incident.

Depending on the jurisdiction, this form may need to be accompanied by other documentation, such as police reports and medical records.

Once the claim form has been submitted, it will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from the state’s criminal injuries compensation board or victim assistance program. This panel will decide whether or not the claimant is eligible for compensation and how much they will be paid.

What If I Am Denied Compensation?

For those denied compensation, there is often a formal appeals process that allows them to challenge the decision. Depending on the jurisdiction, claimants can appeal directly to the compensation board or take their case to court.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?

If you’ve suffered severe injury and loss as a result of a criminal act, you must understand your rights and the statutes of limitations that apply to your case.

While every state has different laws and regulations governing personal injury claims, Georgia law generally requires victims to file for compensation within two years of the incident. Any later than that, and you might lose the right to file a claim.

However, the period may be extended to four years if you are making a loss of consortium claim.

What If the Attack Was Unprovoked?

A victim might qualify for criminal injury compensation even if the attack was unprovoked. However, many states require some provocation to be eligible for compensation. For example, if the victim was assaulted while trying to stop a crime from being committed or defending themselves from an attacker, they might qualify.

In some cases, even if the victim did not actively attempt to stop a crime from being committed, they might still be entitled to compensation if the perpetrator intended to commit a crime against them before the attack occurred.

It is also important to note that many states have time limits within which claims must be filed, so starting the process as soon as possible after the attack occurs is essential.

Can I Be Compensated If I Was Injured During a Protest?

In some cases, yes. Many states allow people to apply if they were injured during a protest. Generally, this type of compensation is only given in extreme circumstances where the injuries sustained were particularly severe and required significant medical attention. Furthermore, the state must deem the protest peaceful, without any provocation or violence initiated by the protestors.

To determine if you are eligible for compensation, you should speak to someone at your local compensation board or program. They will examine your situation and give you advice on how to move forward.

What Should I Do If I Am Involved In A Violent Crime?

If you are a victim of a violent crime, you must report the incident right away to the relevant authorities so they can offer support.

Remember to keep records of any medical treatment received and related documents like police reports, witness statements, etc. These documents will be necessary when filing a claim.

After reporting the crime, you should contact your state’s compensation board to see if you are eligible for compensation.

Lastly, ensure to follow all instructions the relevant government agencies provided during the application process, as you must do so to avoid delays or denials of your claim.

What If My Claim Still Needs to Be Approved?

If your claim is not approved, you should consider consulting with a lawyer experienced in handling personal injury cases. An attorney can help review the facts surrounding your case and provide legal advice on potential avenues of recourse.

They can help you file an appeal of the decision or negotiate a settlement agreement with the opposing party. Ultimately, having legal representation when filing a compensation claim can make all the difference between receiving adequate compensation and being left empty-handed.

Why Should I Hire A Lawyer?

To assist you in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to, an experienced attorney can offer a variety of services. Here are just a few explanations as to why you might want to hire a lawyer:

Expertise

An experienced lawyer is familiar with the laws and regulations governing compensation and can guide you through the process. They can advise you on your eligibility as well as the best way to proceed with your claim.

Representation

A lawyer can represent you throughout the application process, giving you the best chance of success in getting the compensation you deserve. They can help ensure that all paperwork is completed accurately and all evidence is presented clearly and effectively.

What Factors Affect the Amount of Compensation You Receive?

Some of the factors that influence the amount of compensation that you may receive include:

• The severity of your injury: Any long-term effects or disabilities resulting from the injury
• The injury’s financial impact: Any lost wages due to an inability to work or any other out-of-pocket expenses that you may have incurred due to the injury.
• Whether or not the offender was identified: Identifying the offender increases your chances of receiving criminal injury compensation.
• Your age: Generally speaking, younger victims receive more compensation than older victims, as they typically experience longer-term impacts from their injuries.
• Plaintiff’s quality of life: The court takes into consideration the plaintiff’s pre-injury quality of life to determine if there are additional damages for pain and suffering.
• The type of incident: The court looks at whether or not the incident involved violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, etc., to determine the level of damages owed.

How Much Is Victims’ Compensation in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, the maximum award for compensation is $25,000 per case. However, claimants must meet certain criteria to qualify for full payment:

• Prove they were physically injured due to the criminal act.
• Proving their injuries were serious enough to require medical treatment, hospitalization, or rehabilitation.
• Demonstrate that the criminal act caused them economic loss through income disruption or medical bills.
• Prove that no other form of compensation is available from another source, such as insurance.

Seay/Felton LLC Trial Lawyers Can Help Determine If You Have a Case

Injured victims of criminal acts often have the right to pursue a civil case and seek financial compensation, and an injury lawyer can help you do just that. With their experience and knowledge, your injury lawyer will be able to help you.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a violent crime and are looking for a way to seek criminal injury compensation, Seay/Felton LLC Trial Lawyers can be your best ally.

Our attorneys specialize in helping victims of criminal acts seek the compensation they deserve by filing a claim with the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program and even representing them in court if necessary.

Contact SEAY/FELTON LLC Trial Serious Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll help you navigate the complexities of the legal system and fight for the compensation you deserve.