If you have been the victim of GHB with intent, then you may be thinking about making a claim for compensation. It is your legal right to compensation, if you have been injured in an act of violence. Under the circumstances, it may be possible to make a claim with the perpetrator of the crime, however, most claims of this nature are made with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, under the Ministry of Justice.
To have a claim for GBH with intent, it must be provable that you suffered injuries, and, there should be a file for the crime with the police; in other words, the police should have been made aware of the assault. If they have not, then you must notify the police at your earliest convenience, since this is something the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority looks for. In addition to this, you should have received medical attention for your injuries, which is likely since you have suffered grievous bodily harm with intent.
Providing you meet these criteria, it may be possible to process your grievous bodily harm with intent claim within 8-12 weeks. If it can be proven that you have been the victim of such an assault, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has everything that they need to process your claim, then you should get your compensation relatively quickly.
You must bear in mind however, that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority have their own investigative processes to follow, and that sometimes, it can take several months for a claim to be processed.
How much compensation could I be entitled to?
This depends on the type and seriousness of your injuries. Compensation for grievous bodily harm with intent can range from £1,000 to £250,000. The more severe your injuries are, and the bigger the affect they have had and will have on your life, then the more financial compensation you can expect. In addition to this, the acceleration of any pre-existing medical conditions will be considered, as will any financial losses that you have sustained; you can claim back lost income, including overtime, so long as those losses can be proven.
Can I make a claim with an ongoing criminal investigation?
Yes, you can still claim for grievous bodily harm with intent, if there is an ongoing criminal investigation. However, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority may delay any judgement they make pending an outcome of the case in court. Rest assured however that your solicitor will do all they can to get your claim processed quickly. For example, if you need compensation to pay for any required and necessary medical care, then the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority may process your claim more quickly.