Needlestick compensation compensation claims

The CICA is a tax payer funded organisation set up originally in 1965, to compensate blameless victims of crime for their injuries. The CICA currently uses a scheme set up in 2012 to decide who is eligible for compensation.

Needlestick injuries can occur through negligence or a criminal act.

• It is negligence when someone carelessly discards a needle and someone is injured as a result.
• It is a criminal injury, when someone purposely uses a needle to injure or cause someone to fear an injury.

Examples we have seen include:

• The attacker used a needle as a weapon whilst forcing a victim to submit to rape.
• A victim assaulted by a former partner who used a needle containing HIV virus.

In both cases, a claim to the CICA can be made, as they are criminal acts.

The CICA will pay compensation for such an injury where there is either physical or psychological injury.

To see how much you may be entitled to, try a CICA compensation calculator.

More information about compensation for rape victims on a site called https://abuseandassaultclaims.co.uk/

Where a Needlestick injury is caused by negligence, the claim will be for personal injury. Often these claims are directed at against GP surgeries or Hospitals, as they are required to safely dispose of needles. Sometimes these are not disposed of correctly and injuries that could have been prevented are caused by negligence.

The physical injury is not usually the main reason for the claim for compensation, it is the worry of not knowing if the needle was contaminated. Hepatitis B or C and HIV are the main concerns of needlestick injuries.

If you would like more information about claiming either Criminal Injury or Personal Injury for a Needlestick injury, please call 0113 268 8898 to speak to a specialist claims adviser today.