Can I apply for compensation as the witness of a crime?
I witnessed a very violent assault and am suffering from post-traumatic stress as a result. I have had to take time off work and have lots of medical bills to pay. Am I eligible for victims’ compensation?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Jo Wilson.
- Most states provide for compensation for secondary victims of crime.
- Secondary victims can include witnesses to a crime as well as parents or guardians of children who are victims of a crime.
- Secondary victims are not recognised or eligible for compensation in the ACT, South Australia or Western Australia.