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Background
Jo achieved a fair measure of acting success before emigrating. Over a period of 3 years, she had several TV appearances. Aged 30 she returned to Scotland and was "resting" before starting in pantomime.
The incident and immediate aftermath
Jo was walking a friend's dog when she saw four people arguing with the friend's teenage son. She went to help but became the victim of a criminal attack. Jo was taken to hospital where she superficially recovered reasonably well over the weeks ahead. However she developed severe headaches plus hearing problems and became very scared of being in public places.
The personal impact
Her confidence, self-esteem and pleasure in life were devastated. Her marriage broke down and she had to rely on state support. However after some four years she eventually began to come to terms with her situation and started work as a cleaner on the minimum wage.
The CICA claim
This was (a) for the degree of personal injury sustained in the criminal attack plus (b) for the loss of earnings until the claim was settled, and for the rest of her lost career. Jo could not afford the professional help, which the CICA advised her to get. She had a poor record of past earnings and obtaining information was difficult. Her profession was such that any estimate of her loss of earnings was not straightforward. Additional research on her medical condition also needed to be obtained in support of her claim.
We benchmarked her earnings allowing for her work offer before the attack. A set of specifically developed methodologies were used, taking into account the Authorities' guidelines on tax, national insurance, benefits, pensions, inflation etc. ACICA were also able to present a logical case at a hearing attended both by ourselves and, at the CICA's insistence, Jo (who had, in her opinion, been overwhelmed at an earlier hearing, prior to our involvement).
The award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for her personal injuries reflected the seriousness of her condition and was a five-figure amount. The loss of earnings award for the period to the hearing was exactly as we had, on her behalf, claimed and was just short of a six-figure sum. The loss of earnings award for the period from the hearing for the remainder of her potential career was marginally reduced by the Authority but was still another very significant sum.
The future
Jo received her criminal injury compensation award, 3 weeks afterwards and immediately took a well-earned break. She has now started up her own cleaning business and, with her revitalised attitude, stands every chance of making a significant success of it.
Confidentiality
In accordance with our confidentiality undertakings and practices and also to protect the individuals concerned, many of the details concerning a victim of violent crime, criminal assault compensation, the incident, criminals and general background are deliberately disguised. However, the overall circumstances correlate to an actual situation and a real victim who has benefited from the authentic ACICA no win no fee* compensation claims management service.
*provided the claimant does not cause our appointment to be terminated. |
