Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation For Broken Teeth
Suffering from a physical assault can be a traumatic experience, and if it results in injuries such as broken teeth, it can have long-lasting physical and emotional effects. Broken teeth can lead to persistent pain, difficulty eating, and costly dental treatments, impacting both your health and quality of life. Additionally, the psychological distress of an assault can leave lasting emotional scars, affecting your confidence and overall well-being.
We provide free initial consultations to guide you through the process of handling criminal injuries compensation for broken teeth claims with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Understanding Your Rights for Dental Injuries
In the UK, victims of violent crimes, including assault, have legal rights to seek compensation for their injuries. Broken teeth, as a result of an assault, are considered a serious injury, and you may be entitled to financial compensation to cover the costs of treatment, as well as damages for pain and suffering. There are two primary avenues through which you can pursue compensation: the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and a civil claim against the perpetrator. Each route has its own processes, eligibility criteria, and benefits.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
The CICA is a government-backed scheme established to provide financial compensation to victims of violent crime in England, Scotland, and Wales. It is designed to support those who have suffered physical or psychological injuries as a result of a criminal act, even if the perpetrator has not been identified, caught, or convicted.
Key Features of CICA Claims:
- Eligibility: To qualify for compensation, you must have been injured as a direct result of a violent crime. This includes assaults, robberies, and other acts of violence. You must also report the incident to the police and cooperate with their investigation.
- No Need to Identify the Perpetrator: One of the significant advantages of the CICA scheme is that you can still claim compensation even if the assailant is unknown or has not been prosecuted.
- Tariff-Based System: The CICA uses a fixed tariff system to determine compensation amounts. For example, a single broken tooth may entitle you to £1,000, while multiple broken teeth requiring extensive treatment could result in a higher award, up to £3,500 or more.
- Time Limits: You must submit your CICA claim within two years of the assault. However, exceptions may be made in certain circumstances, such as if you were a child at the time of the incident or if you were unable to claim earlier due to trauma or other valid reasons.
- What’s Covered: Compensation through the CICA can cover physical injuries, including broken teeth, as well as psychological trauma. It may also include reimbursement for lost earnings if you were unable to work due to your injuries, and certain medical expenses..
What Can You Claim For for Damaged Teeth?
When pursuing compensation for broken teeth due to assault, it’s important to understand the full range of damages you may be entitled to claim. Compensation is designed to help you recover financially, physically, and emotionally from the harm you have suffered. Below is a detailed breakdown of the types of compensation you can claim:
Dental Treatment Costs
Broken teeth often require immediate and ongoing dental care, which can be expensive. Compensation can cover the full cost of necessary dental treatments, including:
- Emergency Treatment: This includes initial care such as pain relief, temporary fillings, or stabilization of the injury immediately after the assault.
- Restorative Work: Depending on the severity of the damage, you may need crowns, bridges, veneers, or dental implants to restore the appearance and functionality of your teeth. These procedures can be costly, but compensation can cover the expenses.
- Future Dental Care: If your injuries require long-term treatment, such as follow-up appointments, adjustments to dental work, or eventual replacement of implants, these costs can also be included in your claim.
- Cosmetic Dentistry: If the assault has left you with visible damage that affects your appearance, you may be able to claim for cosmetic procedures to restore your smile and confidence.
Understanding Your Right to Compensation
In the UK, victims of violent crime, including assault, can seek compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is a government-funded scheme that provides financial compensation to victims of violent crime who have suffered physical or mental injuries.
To be eligible for a CICA claim, you must meet the following criteria:
- The assault must have occurred in England, Scotland, or Wales.
- The incident must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably possible.
- You must have sustained an injury as a direct result of the crime.
- The claim must be made within two years of the assault (unless there are exceptional circumstances).
How much compensation you can claim for broken teeth?
Our cica claim calculator in the main menu will help you with estimating the potential compensation that may be paid in respect to your claim. However, be aware that figures do vary considerably depending upon the nature (severity) of the injury and the impact on your daily life, period of suffering and whether any mental harm has been caused.
Some common example award payouts are listed below relevant to the criminal injuries compensation claim:
The amount of compensation awarded depends on the severity of the dental injury. CICA follows a set tariff system under Annex E of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) 2012, which categorises dental injuries as follows:
- Loss of one front tooth – £1,500
- Loss of two or more front teeth – £3,000
- Loss of one back tooth – £1,000
- Loss of two or more back teeth – £2,000
- Loss of or damage to five or more teeth – £3,500
- Loss of or damage to ten or more teeth – £4,800
- Loss of or damage to teeth requiring continuing treatment such as implants or dentures – £6,200
- Serious and continuing dental damage requiring extensive restorative treatment – £8,200
If you have sustained additional injuries, such as facial fractures or psychological trauma, these may also be factored into your compensation award.
Additional Losses You Can Claim
Loss of Earnings – If your injury caused you to be unable to work for more than 28 weeks, you may be eligible for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for lost earnings. To qualify, you must be able to demonstrate that you had a consistent and regular income before the injury. This could include proof of full-time employment, self-employment, or any other verifiable source of income. CICA will consider your pre-injury income levels to calculate the compensation. This can be especially crucial if the injury significantly impacted your financial stability and your ability to support yourself or your family.
Psychological Trauma – If your injury led to psychological trauma such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety, you may be entitled to additional compensation. These mental health conditions can have a long-term impact on your well-being, and CICA recognises the importance of supporting victims of crime with emotional and psychological support. To qualify for compensation for psychological trauma, you will need to provide medical evidence of the diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional. The severity of your condition and the impact on your daily life will be taken into account when determining the amount of compensation.
Special Expenses – If your injury results in additional needs, such as mobility aids or home adaptations, CICA may compensate you for these “special expenses.” However, there is an important criterion: you must have been unable to work for at least 28 weeks as a result of your injury. This compensation is meant to help cover the costs of any special equipment or alterations to your living space that are necessary for you to maintain a reasonable quality of life after the injury. This can include items like wheelchairs, prosthetics, home modifications (such as ramps or stairlifts), or any other equipment that helps you with mobility or daily activities. The claim must be substantiated by proof of these expenses and how they relate to your injury.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Basic Eligibility Requirements:
You need to meet some basic requirements before you can claim compensation from CICA
- Time Limit: There is a two-year time limit for making a CICA claim for compensation under the scheme, although exceptions may be made in cases where the injury was not immediately apparent or where the victim was a child at the time of the crime. Exceptions may be made for historic sexual abuse cases else you should have a good reason for delay in making a claim.
- Connection Between Injury & Crime: The injuries you are claiming for must have been sustained as a direct result of a crime of violence and you are a blameless victim.
- Reporting the Crime: The crime must have been reported to the police as soon as is reasonably practicable and you do not drop the charges. The victim must have cooperated with the police investigation and prosecution. CICA does not consider whether an assailant is prosecuted or not.
- Residency: To be eligible for compensation under the CICA scheme, the incident must have happened in England, Scotland or Wales and victim must have been resident in the UK at the time of the crime.
- Behaviour of The Victim: The victim’s behaviour must not have contributed to the injury. In certain circumstances, compensation may still be payable even if the victim’s behaviour contributed to the injury, but this will be assessed by CICA on a case-by-case basis.
- Criminal Convictions: In some cases, compensation may be reduced or refused if the victim has an unspent criminal record.
- Injuries Before 1979 (the “same roof” rule): Until 2019, victims injured before 1 October 1979 by an attacker they lived with could not claim. That restriction was abolished in June 2019, so if you were previously refused compensation for this reason you may now be able to apply.
If you are considering making a compensation claim for your injuries, it’s always best to consult with a solicitor or the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) to check your eligibility to make a claim. You can call us or request a free callback for a free initial consultation. We take all CICA cases on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means you don’t need to pay us anything if we can’t secure any compensation.
What is Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the UK is a government-run program that provides financial compensation to individuals who have been physically or mentally injured as a result of violent crime. The compensation is paid to those who have suffered injury and can demonstrate that the injury was sustained as a direct result of a crime of violence.
To be eligible for compensation, the crime must have been reported to the police and the victim must have cooperated with the police investigation and prosecution. The amount of compensation awarded is based on a tariff system and can range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, depending on the severity of the injury and other factors.
The purpose of this scheme is to provide financial support to victims of violent crime who have been physically or mentally injured as a result of the crime. The compensation is intended to help cover the cost of medical expenses (which are not covered by NHS or recoverable from any other source), lost income, and other expenses related to the injury.
What Payments Are Available From The Scheme?
CICA will consider claims for the following injuries, medical conditions and special expenses:
- mental or physical injury following a crime of violence;
- sexual or physical abuse;
- loss of earnings – where you have no or limited capacity to work as the direct result of a criminal injury;
- special expenses payments – these cover certain costs you may have incurred as a direct result of an incident. You can only ask us to consider special expenses if your injuries mean you have been unable to work or have been incapacitated to a similar extent for more than 28 weeks;
- a fatality caused by a crime of violence including bereavement payments, payments for loss of parental services and financial dependency; and funeral payments.
To qualify for an award, an injury must be described in the tariff of injuries at Annex E of the CICA Scheme. Not all claims for compensation will be successful; you must be eligible under the rules of the Scheme.
What Information Do I Need To Make A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?
To make a claim for compensation claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), you will need to provide certain information and documentation to support your criminal injury claim. Some of the information and documentation as minimum you will need include:
Details of The Crime & Injuries: You will need to provide a detailed account of the crime that resulted in your injury, including the date, time, location of the incident and injury details.
Crime Reference Number: You will need to provide the crime reference number issued by the police.
Police Station, Police Officer Name & Collar Number: You will need to provide the name of the police station, police officer name and collar number who dealt with the crime.
GP & Hospital Details and Medical records: You will need to provide GP & hospital details, consent to ask your medical records to see the nature and extent of your injuries, including any diagnoses and treatment received and submit it to CICA.
Other Supporting Evidence: You may also need to provide additional supporting evidence, such as witness statements or photographs, specialist medical reports, etc. to support your claim.
How is The Compensation Amount Determined?
The compensation amount is determined based on a tariff system that takes into account the specific nature and impact of the injury. We can assist with negotiating the compensation amount and ensuring that you receive the maximum amount of compensation available under the scheme. We can also check your eligibility to make a CICA claim and also advise you the approximate award amount you might receive from CICA.
Can I File a CICA Claim & Receive Compensation if The Offender is Not Convicted?
Yes, you can still file a CICA claim and compensation may still be payable even if the offender is not convicted. Remember you have two years to make a compensation claim under the CICA scheme, although exceptions may be made in cases where the injury was not immediately apparent or where the victim was a child at the time of the crime. Exceptions may be made for historic sexual abuse cases else you should have a good reason for delay in making a claim.
Can I Receive Compensation if I Was Injured Outside the UK?
To be eligible for compensation through the CICA, the crime must have occurred in England, Scotland, or Wales. If you were injured outside of the UK, you may still be eligible for compensation through other schemes or compensation programs but not from CICA.
Which Injuries Can Not Be Claimed From CICA?
CICA has specific eligibility criteria for claims, and certain types of injuries or circumstances may not be eligible for compensation. Here are some common examples of injuries or circumstances that may not be eligible for compensation through the CICA:
Self-inflicted Injuries: Compensation cannot be awarded for injuries that were self-inflicted or caused by the victim’s own actions.
Criminal Activity: Compensation cannot be awarded for injuries sustained as a result of criminal activity in which the victim was participating, such as a fight or brawl.
Minor Injuries: Minor physical injuries which can be healed itself such as scratches, bruises, black eye, soft tissue injuries, broken nose, broken ribs, bruising or a black eye are not claimable. You can claim for scarring from the CICA scheme.
Animal Attack / Dog Bite: You can’t claim for any animal attack or dog bites unless the animal was used as a weapon and ordered to attack purely to cause the harm or injuries.
Theft or Burglary: Damaged or lost/stolen properties such as house, car, phone, or any other device cannot be claimed from CICA scheme. You can claim for physical or mental injuries sustained as a result of theft, burglary and attack.
PTSD Not Diagnosed by Psychologist or Psychiatrist: PTSD, Anxiety and depression needs to be diagnosed by a clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist in order to make a claim. CICA won’t accept any diagnosis by GP or any other medical professional.
When CICA Can Reject Your Claim?
The most common reasons for a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) claim to be rejected are:
Time Limit: Claims must be made within two years of the date of the incident or the date when it is reported to the police. Where claimant is a minor they have until their 20th birthday to make a CICA claim. Claims made outside this time limit may be rejected, unless you have exceptional circumstances for the delay in submitting your claim.
Failure to Cooperate With the Police: Compensation claim may be rejected if the victim failed to provide statement, cooperate with the police during the investigation or dropped charges.
Unspent Conviction: If the claimant has an unspent conviction at the time of applying or before an award offer, their claim may be reduced or rejected. If you are unsure that your drink and drive or any other conviction is spent or unspent then give us a call.
Minor Injuries: If the injuries you sustained during the incident are minor and not included within the ‘CICA Scheme Tariff” then your claim may be rejected by CICA.
Psychological Injury Without Diagnosis: CICA may reject any claim compensation for mental injuries that are not diagnosed by a clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist.
Lack of Supporting Evidence: If the requested medical evidence or other supporting evidence are not provided or not enough to demonstrate that you sustain an injury as a direct result of violent crime, then your claim may be rejected.
How We Can Help With CICA Claim?
- Providing Advice on Eligibility: We can help determine if you are eligible for compensation through the CICA scheme, based on the specific circumstances of your case and the other requirements of the scheme. We can help you recover compensation from £1,000 to £500,000.
- Gathering & Presenting Evidence: We can help gather and present evidence to support your claim, including medical records, injury form, GP report and other forms & relevant documentation. We will fight to recover the compensation that you deserve & deal with matters on your behalf.
- Completing the Application Form: We will complete the application form for CICA compensation on your behalf to ensure that it is completed correctly and submitted in a timely manner. We will handle everything on priority basis and keep it confidential.
- Negotiating the Compensation Amount: We will negotiate with the CICA on your behalf to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation available under the scheme. We will also advise you that the compensation award offered is appropriate or not.
- No Win, No Fee: We will proceed with you claim on a No Win, No Fee basis. You don’t need to pay us anything if we can’t secure any compensation for you from CICA.
It’s important to note that while a solicitor is not required to make a claim for compensation through the CICA, many victims find it helpful to have legal representation to ensure that their rights are protected and that they receive the maximum amount of compensation available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
