Page 1 of Criminal Injuries and fee`s charged?

Hello,

About a month ago i went to see Pacitti Jones to deal with my criminal injuries.....

I had a deviated septum and had to have surgery to correct it, i was told i would get £2.500....so i said if it was worth my while just to go ahead.

I had to pay a first fee of £150 to them.

I have recieved a letter from them today saying they have forwarded my application to the criminal Injuries Application Authority and will be in touch as soon as they hear from them.

Attached to the letter was another letter explaining the Fee`s

All their work is recorded including e-mails, phone calls, and letters sent and charged at £130 an hour :o

I am getting a bit worried now.....could i end up paying more than the criminal injuries claim i am getting?

I am scared to phone them up now becuase this will get added onto the fee.

Has anybody else went through this criminal injuries proceedure?

Thanks for any help.

Why are you being charged and not the guilty party ?

£2500 for a broken nose.. :/
Shows how times have changed.
In 1986 I was knocked off my motorbike by an uninsured driver (they got caught).
I had two broken wrists,broken kneecap,compressed vertebrae,concussion,lacerations etc.etc.
I got £4500... :(

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Shows how times have changed.

Heh, there was a bit in the paper (P&J I think) the other day about a woman getting compo for staving her foot on a speed bump at a caravan park or something up north. The judge awarded her less money as he said she had to bear some responsibility. I LOLd.

OP, didn`t you recieve an application for legal expenses insurance from the solicitor (DAS or similar)? That should have been the first thing you filled in. :/ I also can`t see how they can give you a figure on what you should recieve, but I don`t how it works with criminal injury claims. I`d never give them a fee upfront, as everyone is doing `no win, no fee` on personal injury claims nowadays, even solicitors who don`t specialise in PI. It`s standard practice, as they only take on your claim if you have a better than 50% chance of being successful.

Ideally, if your paralegal (solicitor if it goes to court) is worth their salt, any fees will be claimed back from the third party on top of your entitlement. Solicitors fees have always been ridiculous, but I really can`t understand anyone taking you on if they actually expect you to foot the bill... :/ There may be disbursements to pay if you`re unsuccesful, but that`s where the legal expenses insurance comes in.

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Site Reviewer

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This item was edited on Monday, 6th August 2007, 14:54

Surely you can`t apply for DAS at the time of a claim ?
Surely that would have to be in place before the claim ?
That`s like getting car insurance after you`ve crashed.

Probably not DAS (they were the only expenses insurance company I could think of), but there are plenty of ATE legal expense policies that provide cover for these types of claims.

But like I said before, I have no idea the procedures in place for criminal injury, but it`s still a civil matter and I can`t see it being handled too differently from your standard personal injury claim providing the parties resonsible have been criminally charged.

EDIT:

Completely different, as it turns out. Sorry. :(

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A UK criminal injury claim is always pursued through the CICA UK, this stands for the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority and, unlike regular claims for injured parties, the decision on whether an individual requires compensating and the amount due thereof is the responsibility of this authority. You will be assigned a case worker who will work with you to find the evidence and documentation needed to validate your claim. Unlike most areas of injury compensation, claiming as a victim of crime can be attempted on your own without the need for a solicitor but don`t let that put you off at least having a quick telephone conversation with one to discuss your claim, they may be able to provide valuable insight into problems you might experience with your particular case.

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This item was edited on Monday, 6th August 2007, 16:05

Hi,

Thanks for the replies!

I think i may need to give them a phone call just incase i get a huge bill.

I wouldn`t imagine there would be much for them to do, i handed in all the details from the doctor,police and hospital and the people who attacked me at the time are all caught clearly on camera.

Before i got the OP, all i would get was about £400-£500 but after adding on the op, it jumped up.

Cheers!

Hi
I`m glad you started this thread need a bit of advice please.

My aunt who is 69 got mugged a month or so ago.

Guy on a bike grabbed at her bag she tried to keep hold of it,he pushed her into a parked car suffered a fractured shoulder and cut to the forhead that needed 2 stitches lots of bruising.
Our local newspaper came round,did some photos put her on front page.
Have now got a disabled badge for the car,i wont let her go anywhere on her own.

People keep telling her to claim criminal injuries but who do we go to?
I dont want her putting up any money before hand as she only gets a pension.

Many thanks

This item was edited on Tuesday, 7th August 2007, 01:43