Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation For Broken Foot
If you have suffered a broken foot due to a violent crime, you may be eligible for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is a UK government scheme designed to provide financial support to victims of violent crimes. A broken foot can cause significant pain, mobility issues, and financial difficulties, including medical expenses and loss of earnings. Understanding the claims process and eligibility criteria can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
We provide free initial consultations to guide you through the process of handling criminal injuries compensation claims with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Understanding Broken Foot and Common Causes of Broken Foot
A broken foot (fracture) occurs when one or more bones in the foot are broken due to trauma. This injury can range from minor fractures that heal in a few weeks to severe breaks that require surgery and long-term rehabilitation. Symptoms of a broken foot include swelling, severe pain, bruising, and difficulty walking or bearing weight on the foot. In the context of CICA claims, a broken foot must result from a violent crime. Common causes include:
- Physical Assault – A direct attack, such as being kicked, stomped on, or hit with an object, can cause a fracture. This often happens during fights, altercations, or unprovoked attacks in public or private settings.
- Robbery or Mugging – Being pushed to the ground, trampled, or struck with force during a robbery can lead to foot injuries. Victims may also suffer fractures while trying to escape an attacker.
- Domestic Violence – Repeated abuse in a domestic setting can result in serious fractures. This may include being pushed against a hard surface, struck with heavy objects, or having the foot deliberately stomped on.
- Hit-and-Run Incidents – Being deliberately struck by a vehicle, knocked down, or pushed into traffic can cause significant foot injuries. Even if the attacker flees the scene, the incident may still qualify for CICA compensation.
- Sexual Assault or Physical Restraint – In cases where the victim was forcefully restrained, dragged, or thrown to the ground, foot fractures can occur.
- Injury from Breaking Free or Defending Oneself – A foot fracture may happen while trying to escape from an attacker or during an altercation when resisting an assailant.
- Other Violent Crimes – Any unlawful act resulting in trauma to the foot, such as being struck with a weapon, involvement in a riot where physical force is used, or being attacked by a gang, may qualify for compensation.
- The Crime Involved Violence – Your injury must have resulted from a violent crime, such as physical assault, robbery, or intentional harm.
- Police Involvement – The crime must be reported to the police without unnecessary delay. If reporting was delayed, you will need a valid reason for it.
- Medical Documentation – You must provide medical proof, such as X-rays, hospital records, or GP reports, showing the severity and treatment of your broken foot.
- Filing Deadline – Claims must be filed within two years from the date of the incident. Extensions may be granted under exceptional circumstances, such as psychological trauma.
- Full Cooperation – You must cooperate with the police and CICA throughout the investigation and claims process.
- Residency Status – You should be a UK resident or meet the criteria as a qualifying victim of a crime that took place in the UK.
- Criminal Record Impact – If you have unspent criminal convictions, particularly for violent crimes, your compensation may be reduced or denied.
How Much Compensation Can You Receive For Broken Foot?
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.
The compensation amount awarded by CICA is determined by the severity of the injury. The official CICA tariff for a broken foot (Annex E) is as follows:
CICA Compensation For Broken Foot
Fractured Metatarsal Bones (Foot)
- One foot – substantial recovery – £1,000 (A1)
- One foot – continuing significant disability – £1,800 (A3)
- Both feet – substantial recovery – £1,500 (A2)
- Both feet – continuing significant disability – £3,500 (A5)
Fractured Tarsal Bones (Foot)
- One foot – substantial recovery – £1,500 (A2)
- One foot – continuing significant disability – £6,200 (A7)
- Both feet – substantial recovery – £3,500 (A5)
- Both feet – continuing significant disability – £13,500 (A9)
If your injury resulted in additional financial losses, such as loss of earnings, medical expenses, or mobility aids, you may be eligible for special expenses. However, these are only awarded in cases where the injury has caused significant and long-term financial hardship.
Understanding a Broken Foot and Types of Foot Fractures
What is a Broken Foot?
A broken foot, or foot fracture, occurs when one or more bones in the foot break due to trauma, excessive force, or stress. The foot is made up of 26 bones, and a fracture can range from a small crack (hairline fracture) to a complete break that affects movement and stability.
A broken foot can result from falls, direct impact, accidents, or violent injuries. Depending on the severity, it may cause pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty walking, and deformity. Some fractures heal with rest, while others require surgery to realign the bones.
Types of Foot Fractures
Foot fractures vary in severity and location. Below, we categorize them based on their impact and seriousness:
1. Severe Foot Fractures (Require Surgery and Extensive Recovery)
These fractures significantly impact mobility and typically require medical intervention.
- Tarsal Bone Fractures – The tarsal bones form the back part of the foot and include the calcaneus (heel bone), talus, navicular, cuboid, and cuneiform bones. These fractures can be serious due to their role in supporting body weight.
- Calcaneus (Heel Bone) Fracture – A break in the heel bone, often caused by falls from heights or car accidents. It can lead to long-term pain and difficulty walking.
- Talus Fracture – A fracture in the bone connecting the foot to the leg. It affects ankle stability and often requires surgery.
- Lisfranc Fracture (Midfoot Fracture) – A break or dislocation in the midfoot (Lisfranc joint), where the metatarsal bones connect with the tarsal bones. These fractures are often mistaken for severe sprains and may require surgery.
- Multiple Metatarsal Fractures – If more than one metatarsal (long foot bone) is broken, it can affect weight-bearing ability, leading to extensive recovery time.
2. Moderate Foot Fractures (Painful but Can Heal Without Surgery)
These fractures cause discomfort and limit mobility but may not always require surgery.
- Single Metatarsal Fracture – A break in one of the five long bones in the foot. These injuries may heal with rest and a cast but can cause pain and swelling.
- Jones Fracture – A break at the base of the fifth metatarsal (outer side of the foot). These fractures have a higher risk of poor healing due to limited blood supply.
- Navicular Fracture – A stress fracture in the midfoot, common in athletes due to repetitive strain.
- Toe Fractures – Broken toes are painful but often heal with minimal medical intervention. Severe fractures may require realignment.
3. Mild Foot Fractures (Short-Term Pain and Discomfort)
These fractures cause minimal damage and often heal with basic care.
- Hairline (Stress) Fracture – A small crack in the bone due to repetitive stress or overuse. Common in runners and athletes.
- Avulsion Fracture – A small piece of bone is pulled off by a ligament or tendon due to excessive force.
- Minor Toe Fractures – Small cracks in the toes that heal on their own with rest and protective footwear.
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)
