One of the most popular questions our lawyers get asked is, ‘Can I appeal a CICA decision?’
Appealing a CICA decision
A CICA decision can be appealed.
You can appeal against the award of compensation if you think it is too low, or you can appeal against a decision to reject your application.
CICA appeals are common, and more than one third of decisions made by the CICA have been overturned following an appeal.
Reasons for CICA claims being rejected
Reasons for rejection by the CICA include:
- A lack of evidence proving a crime occurred.
- Delays in reporting the incident to the police.
- Failure to cooperate with the police or the CICA.
- Unspent criminal convictions.
How do I appeal a CICA decision?
The CICA will send you a decision letter confirming any monetary award or their decision to reject your application. They will also provide an explanation of why they have arrived at their decision under the rules of the CICA scheme.
If you think the award is insufficient, or they were wrong to reject your application, then you may wish to consider factors such as:
- Whether the CICA have not been made aware of the full extent of your injuries.
- Whether you were in a position to apply within the two year time limit.
- Whether you have been able to obtain all of the information required/requested by the CICA.
The review process
Initially you can request that the CICA ‘reviews’ its decision. Your request for a review must be submitted within 56 days of the decision letter and the request must outline why you believe the decision was incorrect.
If the review is not successful, an appeal can then be made to the independent body known as the First-Tier Tribunal, who will evaluate your application from the beginning.
How our lawyers can help with reviewing and appealing a CICA decision
We have a team of specialist CICA lawyers who are able to assist with reviews and appeals of CICA decisions.
We are proud of our track-record of success in both obtaining compensation where the original application was rejected, and in getting the initial award increased.
In some cases the increased awards we have achieved have been very substantial. These include:
- increase from initial offer of £2,000 to £79,171 on appeal
- increase from initial offer of £3,300 to over £93,000 on appeal
- increase from initial offer of £16,500 to £174,622 on appeal
- increase from initial offer of £22,000 to £241,901 on review
- increase from initial offer of £4,220 to over £40,000 on appeal
- increase from rejection to £15,601 on review
Unfortunately, the CICA application system can be a lengthy process due to the volume of applications the CICA receive. But while we cannot speed up the process, our specialists can make sure your application is as fully evidenced as possible and maximise the compensation you could receive.
Contact us for a free consultation
We are always happy to review CICA decisions and to take cases forward to review or appeal where the decision appears unjust or incorrect on the facts and the evidence available.
We offer a free consultation and work on a No Win No Fee basis.