In the U.S. Black Friday refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving and marks the start of the holiday shopping season, with stores offering big reductions.
People stand in line for hours to grab the bargain of the year; it’s a bit like our Boxing Day sales used to be, before we started having them in November.
I first came across Black Friday on Amazon. They have been running Black Friday sales in the U.K. for the last 4 years, although confusingly their Black Friday lasts for a week and includes 'Cyber Monday' the biggest online shopping day of the year in the U.K. - apparently because we've all been out window shopping over the weekend, then try to find everything we liked cheaper online on the Monday.
(Incidently, did you know that the U.K. spends more online than any other country, with the average spend per head in the U.K. almost double that of those in the U.S. and Japan?)
Traditionally, in the U.K. however, Black Friday refers to the last Friday before Christmas - the most popular night for the office Christmas Party. It has gained a reputation, as one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants & bars and as a result, the emergency services and criminal injury complaints!
2008 was a particularly 'black' year, when the combination of ill health brought on by particularly cold weather and over-indulgence at office parties, saw the national director of ambulance services saying the service had had their busiest week ever.
Further north, in Cumbria and North Yorkshire, Black Friday has been renamed “Black Eyed Friday”, due to the high number of fights in pubs, bars and clubs. Real Whitby even offer a guide to making the most of the evening.
Often a few drunken swings and some abusive language is the extent these things lead to but sometimes the crimes can be more violent and the injuries more severe, with the injured victims requiring medical attention, on-going treatment and time off from work.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is the government body created to provide compensation to innocent victims who have suffered injuries as a result of violent crime. In these cases often the perpetrator of the attack is unable to financially compensate the victim, or may never have been caught, identified or convicted. This scheme therefore aims to provides some form of financial compensation to the victim.
What to do if You are the Victim of a Violent Crime
If you have been the victim of a violent crime, and are considering claiming CICA Compensation, then remember:
- Report it to the police straight away – keep the unique police reference number, as well as name & number of the police officer.
- Keep the contact details of the doctor, if you were treated for the injury
- Start the claim within 2 years of the assault
- If it’s rejected and you wish to appeal, you have 90 days from the date of rejection.
- Keep copies of all paperwork
Criminal injury legal expenses are not covered by the CICA scheme. If you are a member of a trade union or other union then you may find that your legal expenses are covered by this. Similarly, some forms of insurance and even some financial products may offer assistance with the legal costs and this can help to keep your costs down by paying the legal fees for you. Check with your insurers, your union, and other financial services to see if you are covered.
If the above does not apply to you, but you would still like legal representation then we offer a no win no fee service. We will work with you and the CICA to make sure you receive the best possible compensation settlement. In addition we can advise on state benefits and other payments which may be available to you
We Can Help
If you feel you have a criminal injury claim as a result of a violent crime, or are unsure and would like to talk your situation through, then get in contact. Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If You Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/328608/Black-Eyed-Friday-Peak-Time-of-Year-for-Criminal-Injuries
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