Terrorism claims

Terrorism is an undesirable feature of life in the 21^st century but the likelihood of you becoming a victim of a terrorist act is slim. There is a threat of terrorism in many parts of the world, which includes the UK, but this is still minimal.

In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk) have advice on their website about terrorism and how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

This section of the guide looks at injuries sustained by terrorist acts within the UK. Injuries sustained by acts of terrorism whilst overseas are discussed in our accidents and illness abroad section.

Acts of terrorism

These include:

• Hijacking
• Suicide bombing
• Chemical or biological attack
• Kidnapping
• Shootings

The effects of any of these can be devastating. If you become a victim of a terrorist act this often result in physical and mental injuries which can stay with you for many years afterwards.

A common feature of this is post traumatic stress disorder.

The effect of a terrorist act

Anyone who has been a part of a terrorist act can suffer injuries which impact upon their day to day lives. They may have to change jobs or stop working altogether which then places undue stress upon their family’s finances. This financial hardship can lead to further problems such as family breakdown, repossession and homelessness.

If this has happened to you then consider the following scenario:

You have suffered an injury due to a terrorist act which has resulted in injuries so severe that they have resulted in a permanent disability. You have had to give up work and/or require 24 hour specialised care and support.

You may require specialist aids in and around the home or adaptations made to your home to enable you to function as near to normal as possible.

This incurs a great deal of time and cost. It result in additional stress for you and your family and in some cases, may never disappear.

Anyone who has experienced an injury due to an act of terrorism can consider making a claim for compensation.

Making a claim for compensation for UK terrorist acts

This is a highly sensitive and complex area to deal with. However there are personal injury lawyers and solicitors who have expertise in dealing with claims for terrorism-related injuries.

They should approach these types of claims with tact, sensitivity and an understanding of the effects of a highly distressing experience.

Search for a personal injury lawyer or solicitor who is experienced in this type of claim. They may have experience in handling high profile cases such as the July 7 bombings in London or the Lockerbie bombing.

Claims for UK based terrorist attacks are handled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). They will work in conjunction with your personal injury lawyer or solicitor to ensure that you are suitably compensated for your injuries.

Compensation may also be payable to the relatives of people who have died as a result of terrorism.

The claims process is discussed in step by step detail in our making a claim for compensation section.

Time limit for claiming compensation for a UK terrorist act

The time limit of a claim for a terrorism related injury will be discussed between you and your lawyer or solicitor.

There is usually a time limit of 3 years for personal injury claims but this may differ between different types of claims.