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Ben Hoare Bell LLP historically (thirty-one years and counting) has a strong commitment to criminal injuries compensation and to social welfare law. We also have thriving law practices in the areas of mental health, education, housing,  family and criminal defence.

We have extensive experience of criminal injuries claims from minor injuries to catastrophic injury cases of great complexity. We have significant experience in dealing with sexual abuse and domestic violence cases.

Ben Hoare Bell LLP offers advice and assistance with criminal injuries claims under the Legal Help scheme. We are one of the very few firms left in the UK which has felt it worthwhile to retain a Personal Injury Legal Services Commission franchise some ten years after legal aid was withdrawn by the government for the majority of personal injury causes of action. This demonstrates our deep commitment to publicly funded (formerly called legal aid) legal work. We offer also no win – no fee agreements. Ben Hoare Bell LLP will make home or hospital visits when required.

Examples of cases we have undertaken:

• 17 year old boy who lost an eye in an unprovoked assault was refused compensation on the basis that the CICA did not accept a crime of violence had taken place. We represented him on appeal when he was awarded over £20,000.
• 35 year old man whose arm was badly cut by glass left on the ground in the car park of a pub following a brawl in which he had not been involved was initially denied compensation by the CICA. On a review of submissions we made on his behalf he was awarded £300,000 to include a future loss of earnings claim.
• A man in his thirties who attempted to stop a thief stealing his car and was run over by the perpetrator sustaining a badly broken leg was refused any award on the basis of very old previous criminal convictions. At the appeal hearing we persuaded the panel to exercise its discretion in his favour and he received a substantial award.
• An 8 year-old boy who lost an eye in a shotgun incident was refused compensation on the basis that since the shot was fired by another small boy the incident did not amount to a crime of violence but simply to play gone wrong. On appeal he obtained over £20,000.
• A teenage girl sexually assaulted in a classroom in the presence of a teacher who took no action. The CICA refused at first to accept that the injuries sustained were worth over the minimum award or that there had been a crime of violence. On appeal an award was made.
• A young man who suffered moderate brain injuries in an unprovoked assault carried out by strangers was awarded compensation of £40,000 following our involvement in his case to include a lump sum of £20,000 for handicap on the labour market.

We will not only advise people on their applications and the review procedure we will also where appropriate represent people at Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal Tribunal hearings.

For advice on criminal injuries compensation applications please contact Adrian Dalton, Richard Hardy, Katharine Lawrence or Jenny Gilbertson.

Ben Hoare Bell LLP is franchised by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) in the fields of personal injury, clinical negligence, community care law and many other areas holding the LSC specialist quality kitemark. We try to provide a holistic service to our clients and our experience in welfare benefits work and community care work is particularly valuable for those who have lasting effects from serious injuries.

Ben Hoare Bell LLP has 3 offices in Sunderland and 2 in Newcastle upon Tyne – please see our website www.benhoarebell.co.uk  We carry out personal injury work including criminal injuries compensation applications throughout the North East region and beyond.

The department has members accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) (formerly the Law Society Panel Scheme) in the fields of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence and membership of the Headway Panel (specialising in head injury cases) and AVMA (Action for Victims of Medical Accidents) Solicitors Referral Panel.