Paco Adventure Blog
A Blogging Adventure
Widespread Errors In the Criminal Harm Lay claim
August 13th, 2010 by admin
Heather woke up one night to find a burglar in her home. In the scuffle that followed, Heather suffered two Work Accident Injuryribs, but luckily, the burglar was apprehended before he could get away. Because of her injuries, Heather decided to file a criminal injury claim for compensation. It should have been an easy win for her. Instead, Heather lost her claim because she made a very basic mistake – she did not get the medical tests the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authorities (CICA) asked her to do.In a criminal injury claim, it’s easy to make mistakes. Here are some common mistakes that can prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve.Not reporting the crimeWhen you are the victim of a crime, you have to file a complaint with the police. If you do not do so, there is no proof that the crime ever took place and you will not receive any compensation. The CICA may waive this step in injury claim cases where the victim is a minor, very old, physically or mentally challenged, or suffering serious injuries caused by the crime. Don’t take chances though. File your complaint as soon as possible.Hampering the police investigationFiling your complaint is not enough. You also have to co-operate with the police when they ask for your help. Small things like not giving the police a statement or making false statements can reduce your chances of getting fair compensation.Being part of the causeSometimes, a victim might have done something to cause the injury. For example, throwing the first punch in a fight, trying to catch the criminal yourself, etc. Defending yourself is not wrong but actively looking for violence is. If the criminal injury claim investigation reveals that you behaved inappropriately, CICA can lessen or even disqualify your claim on these grounds.Refusing to follow standard procedureIn every criminal injury claim case, certain rules and regulations must be followed. If the authorities ask you to take a medical test to document your injuries, do it. If you are not sure of the rules and procedures, the best option is to hire a lawyer who specializes in criminal injury claim cases. He will ensure that you do not make any mistakes and lose out on your compensation.