Conditions of compensation
You can be awarded full compensation for all damage that results from injury to the person when the offence resulted in death, permanent incapacity, or a total incapacity to work for a period equal to or greater than one month, or if the offence constituted rape or sexual violence or involved human trafficking, enslavement, or procuring.
The Compensation Board for the Victims of Crimes (CIVI) takes payments made by social security bodies, mutual insurers and other insurance companies into account.
The process
The request sent to the CIVI administration service must contain the information needed to handle the case. It must be accompanied by supporting documents that demonstrate:
- the forenames, surname, date and place of birth, profession, nationality and address of the requesting party (include a copy of their national identity card, residency permit, passport, etc.),
- the relationship with the victim (include a copy of the family record book, notarial deed, etc.),
- the date, location and circumstances of the offence (include proof of filing the complaint, documents from the trial, etc.),
- if applicable, the court in which the offender was tried (attach a copy of the judgement),
- the nature of the injuries, the amount of time taken off work and any after-effects (attach medical certificates, proof of time off work, medical assessments),
- public or private social security bodies of which the requesting party is a member and which may be able to act (include a copy of the social security card),
- amicable requests put forward and legal action already taken, as well as sums already paid to the requesting party (include proof of daily payments, allowances, pensions, payments from the offender or the insurer, etc.),
- the amount of compensation requested before the CIVI.
What are the deadlines for submitting your request?
You have three years from the date of the offence. This is extended by one year from the date of the last court decision. If the offender is ordered to pay damages, this period runs from the time the criminal court gives notice to the victim. The victim or their beneficiaries may make an application to be granted an exemption to the statute of limitations on legitimate grounds. If the offender is ordered to pay damages, this period runs from the time that notice is issued by the court.