By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 22nd May 2025. This guide examines when you could be eligible to make an arson injury claim. We provide information on who is eligible to make a criminal injury claim, what evidence you’ll need to provide and a brief explanation of the injuries that could be sustained as a result of arson.
Criminal injury claims are made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). As well as explaining who the CICA are, we look at how arson injury compensation is calculated using a fixed tariff of injury.
Towards the end of the guide, you’ll see information on the No Win No Fee contract offered by our expert solicitors.
To begin your claim, please get in touch with us today:
- You can call our helpline on 0800 073 8804 to speak to an advisor about arson criminal injury claims
- Use our Live Support widget to ask us a question
- Or you can contact us online.
Select A Section
- What Is An Arson Injury Compensation Claim?
- Who Can Apply To The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
- What Injuries Could Victims Of Arson Suffer?
- Evidence Which Could Support An Arson Injury Compensation Claim
- How Much Are Arson Criminal Injury Claims Worth?
- Get Help With An Arson Injury Compensation Claim
What Is An Arson Injury Compensation Claim?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) allow people injured by a violent crime to claim compensation. You may be eligible to claim arson injury compensation after suffering physical or psychological injuries because of an arson attack.
People who commit arson put other people at risk of injury. There are many ways an arson attack can injure a person:
- Firstly, you may have been trapped in a building that was targeted in an arson attack and suffered smoke inhalation that damaged your lungs, or
- The fire caused you to suffer burns
- A car could have been set on fire and blew up with you being injured in the impact
- Outdoor areas such as forests could have been set on fire and you were cut in the middle of it suffering multiple burns to different areas of the body.
- Finally, the traumatic experience may have caused psychiatric injuries.
Who Can Apply To The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Anyone who has been injured in a violent crime can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This Ministry of Justice sponsored executive agency provides an avenue of claim to crime victims who cannot seek compensation through other means.
The eligibility criteria to seek arson injury compensation through the CICA have been summarised here:
- You were injured in a violent crime.
- This crime occurred in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) or another relevant place.
- The crime was reported to the police.
It is not required that the perpetrator of the crime be convicted, charged or even identified; what matters is that you were injured by a violent crime. The CICA will contact the police for the details of their investigation, so this is not something you need to worry about.
Is There A Time Limit In Criminal Injury Claims?
Typically, the time limit to claim criminal injury compensation through the CICA is 2 years from the date of the incident. In cases where exceptional circumstances prevented a claim from being made, extensions may be granted.
For example:
- Persons who were under 18 at the time of the incident, and reported the crime but did not claim, have 2 years from their 18th birthday to begin a claim.
- Anyone under 18 who did not report the crime will have 2 years from the date of reporting, if they can show that exceptional circumstances prevented them from reporting the crime sooner.
The CICA considers exceptional circumstances at their discretion, so even if the crime occurred more than two years ago, it is worth seeking legal advice. To ask our advisors, “Can I claim if I was injured due to arson?” call the number below today.
What Injuries Could Victims Of Arson Suffer?
Arson attacks can cause severe or life-changing injuries. Sadly, arson attacks can result in otherwise avoidable deaths. We will now look at the injuries you could claim compensation for.
Burn Injuries
The NHS offers advice on burn injuries – fires give out dry heat. Burns range in severity, from superficial epidermal burns, that damage the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). To full-thickness burns, which burn through all three layers of the skin.
Burns can cause severe pain and hurt the person’s overall quality of life. Furthermore, a severely burned person may become scarred or disfigured. Consequently, the person may need plastic surgery or a skin graft. Burns can be very traumatic, and a burns victim may suffer psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Smoke Inhalation And Lung Damage
Smoke inhalation is a cause of injury and death when a fire occurs. The following medical emergencies can cause death from smoke inhalation:
- A person can suffer simple asphyxiation because there is no oxygen left to breathe.
- The burning of substances causes chemical irritants that damage the lungs when breathed in.
Smoke inhalation can cause permanent lung damage. What’s more, smoke inhalation can result in a fatal accident. So if someone is showing signs of smoke inhalation, please call an ambulance immediately.
Evidence Which Could Support An Arson Injury Compensation Claim
The evidence which could support an arson injury compensation claim is very straightforward. You do not need to worry about any evidence that proves the crime occurred like CCTV or witness statements. The CICA will coordinate with the police to access all this information.
The evidence you need to provide when seeking compensation for arson injuries is as follows:
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
- Your crime reference number. This is why it is extremely important you report the incident to the police.
- Medical records showing what injuries you experienced.
- If you are seeking compensation for any loss of earnings or special expenses, you’ll need to provide documents showing these losses as well.
To get support with gathering evidence, talk to our advisors today using the contact information given below.
How Much Are Arson Criminal Injury Claims Worth?
When looking to make a criminal injury claim, there are different approaches you could consider. You may possibly be able to make a claim directly against the defendant if they have the financial means to compensate you for your injuries.
In this guide, however, we have focused on claiming through the CICA, since they can award compensation when there is no other way to achieve it. It is important to note that the CICA have their own set tariffs which are different to if you were making a civil claim.
Please note that the compensation table below does not include other criminal damages you could claim—for example, compensation for arson criminal damage to your property.
| Type Of Injury | Description Of The Injury | Standard Damages |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries With Financial Losses | Severe | Up to £500,000 |
| Burn Injuries | Burn injuries to multiple areas of the body covering more than 25% of the body. May include significant scarring. | £33,000 |
| Burns To The Head | Severe burn injuries. | £16,500 |
| Moderate burn injuries | £2,400 | |
| Burns To The Face | A severe burn injury. | £27,000 |
| A moderate burn injury. | £3,500 | |
| Burns To The Neck | Severe burns affecting the neck. | £16,500 |
| Moderate burns to the neck area. | £2,400 | |
| Burns To The Upper Limbs | Severe burn injury. | £11,000 |
| Moderate (excluding minor) burn injuries. | £2,400 | |
| Burns To The Torso | Severe burns to the torso. | £11,000 |
The compensation amounts in the table are based on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 tariffs. Criminal injury lawyers use these figures to help them value your compensation payout. But your lawyer will also consider other evidence, so the final amount of compensation you receive may differ. Please call our claims helpline today to discuss how much compensation you could claim.
Get Help With An Arson Injury Compensation Claim
Legal Expert can help you if you wish to make an arson injury compensation claim. Firstly, we can provide you with an experienced solicitor to negotiate with the CICA and manage your claim. What’s more, we can handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
When you make a No Win No Fee claim, you will not be required to pay a solicitors fee upfront. Therefore No Win No Fee solicitors are more affordable for many people. Instead, you will pay a success fee if you win your claim. So, you are not risking having to pay if you don’t win your claim.
To begin your claim for injuries caused by an arson attack, please use the details below to contact us. We understand that surviving an arson attack can be a terrifying ordeal, so we will handle all communications sensitively and professionally.
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- Call 0800 073 8804 to speak to an advisor
- Put a question to us using our Live Support widget
- Or you can contact us online.
Criminal Injury Claim Resources
You may find these guides helpful if you would like to know more about arson criminal injury claims.
A government guide to getting support as a victim of a crime
Information from the UK Government about your rights after being a victim of a crime.
We hope this guide on claiming arson injury compensation has helped answer whatever questions you may have. If you would like to speak to an advisor about arson criminal injury claims, then please contact Legal Expert today.
