When a crime occurs, victims often think that they are on their own to deal with the consequences and repercussions of the incident, but that is not true. In Canada, the IVAC has been set up to help support and compensate victims of crimes committed in Quebec, and their rescuers. We have created this guide to educate you about your eligibility for compensation as a crime victim in Quebec.
What is IVAC?
IVAC, or crime victim compensation, stands for Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels. It’s a system that has been put in place to compensate victims of criminal acts.
When people are victims of criminal offenses, the trauma and subsequent consequences of the incident can be serious and long-lasting, which is why crime victims require ongoing support and compensation.
However, victims and criminals are not the only people involved in criminal acts. Rescuers also play a key part in these events. IVAC is therefore also dedicated to providing support and compensation to the first responders and rescuers who were also affected by the crime.
Your eligibility for IVAC begins the day you become conscious of having suffered physical or psychological trauma as a result of a crime committed against you. From this day, you have three years to file your application. For more serious cases in which victims of crime die, the three-year application period will begin when the victim dies.
It is also important to note that there is no time limit for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence or child abuse. As long as the incident or incidents occurred after March 1, 1972, you have an unlimited amount of time to apply for IVAC. If you are a victim of any other crime and the three years have elapsed, you might get special consideration by providing proof of the reasons why you did not apply on time.
How to get compensation if you’re a crime victim
What are the benefits of IVAC?
The main benefit of IVAC is that victims of crime receive compensation and support for the traumatic incidents they have experienced. Below are the ways in which support and compensation for victims are given.
Reimbursement for various costs incurred, such as:
- Medical costs
- Cost of childcare
- Psychological help received
- Moving expenses
- Cleaning expenses for the crime scene
- Compensation for relatives
- Funeral costs
- Replacement of up to 90% of lost income
It is of paramount importance that crime victims and others who were involved get the help they need. IVAC is in place to ensure that victims receive compensation for the help that they have sought, thereby relieving the financial burden on them.
Speak to a lawyer to learn more about what you’re entitled to
Who can qualify for IVAC?
To qualify for IVAC, you must be considered an eligible victim of an eligible crime, as defined by the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Who exactly is an eligible victim and what exactly constitutes an eligible crime can be confusing, which is why we explain it below:
Eligible crime
For a crime to be considered eligible and to qualify for the crime victim compensation offered by IVAC, you need to be able to prove that you have been either physically or psychologically affected by the crime committed.
Crimes that cause physical or psychological damage to its victims are ones that are considered eligible. The one exception to this rule is property crimes. Victims of these crimes cannot get IVAC compensation, regardless of whether or not they have suffered physical or psychological harm.
Eligible victim
To be an eligible victim under the Crime Victims Compensation Act, the crime must be aimed directly against you or you must have been directly involved in the incident by helping the direct victim at the moment the crime was being committed.
Some types of individuals can, however, be considered eligible victims even if they were not directly involved in the crime. For example, the victim’s parents, children, or spouse might be entitled to compensation due to the trauma they had to endure due to the victim’s experiences. Additionally, if you witnessed the crime or the crime scene, you might be eligible for IVAC as an indirect victim.
How to apply to IVAC
If you’ve been through the harrowing experience of being a crime victim, the last thing you want to have to do is deal with the process of claiming IVAC. This is why seeking the help of a lawyer, who is familiar with the process, and who can help you through your journey towards getting your compensation, is recommended.
The dedicated team of lawyers at Accident Solution is well versed with IVAC proceedings and can walk you through the entire process. It is essential that you have an airtight case to claim any compensation that you might be owed. This means that you need to collect all the relevant evidence that a criminal offense did occur and that you were indeed a direct victim.
To begin the process, you will have to obtain a wide range of documentation, including surveillance footage of the crime, doctors’ notes attesting that you have suffered physical or psychological trauma as a result of the crime, and all the bills that were incurred during the time during which you required medical attention and psychological counseling. Obtaining this documentation can be a time-consuming and stressful process which is why our legal team is here to help you every step of the way.
