Car Accident Claims Guide – How Much Can I Claim?

By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 12th October 2023. This guide will discuss car accident claims, including when you could be eligible to seek car accident compensation and examples of the evidence you could gather to support your case.

Furthermore, we look at the duty of care road users, including drivers, owe one another and how a breach of this duty could lead to a car accident and subsequent injuries. 

1. claim car accident compensation2. car accident injury claim 3. compensation for road accident" Compensation for car accidentsCar crash compensation payouts in the UK Car accident compensation claim"  "suing for emotional distress in the uk (H2)ptsd settlement offer uk suing for emotional distress in the uk sue for emotional distress " "what is the average payout for a car accident uk average compensation for car accident uk car accident compensation examples uk compensation from a car accident" Car Accident Claims Guide road traffic accident compensation claims what is the average payout for a car accident personal injury claims car accident* car accident compensation* car accident injury claim* car accident claims* car crash claim car injury claim hit and run compensation road accident compensation car crash compensation average compensation for a car accident   top tips for claiming car crash compensation [h2/h3] car crash compensation [anchor, optimise] average compensation for a car accident in the uk car accident claim payouts  what is the average payout for a car accident in the uk for 2022 [h2] what is the average payout for a car accident in the uk average payout for car accident car accident claim payouts Whiplash Claims - Average Payout For 2022 H2 [Update the compensation section] payouts for whiplash Whiplash payout scale Whiplash payouts

Car Accident Claims Guide

You might be wondering “What is the average payout for a car accident in the UK?”. It can be difficult to provide an average as settlements differ depending on the unique circumstances of each case. However, we have provided information on how compensation payouts are calculated and what they could include following a successful claim. 

Finally, we discuss how a No Win No Fee solicitor could assist you in seeking compensation and the terms under which they offer their services.

To learn more, read on or contact an advisor to check your eligibility to claim with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

  • Call on 0800 073 8801
  • Contact us via live chat
  • Fill out our contact form online to request a call-back.

Choose a Section

  1. How Much Compensation For A Car Accident You Could Receive
  2. Am I Eligible To Claim For A Car Accident?
  3. Evidence To Help Support Car Accident Claims
  4. Time Limits For A Car Accident Settlement
  5. Car Crash Compensation – What Is The Whiplash Reform Programme?
  6. Claiming Compensation For A Car Accident With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  7. Helpful Links Relating To Road Traffic Accident Claims

How Much Compensation For A Car Accident You Could Receive

If your car accident claim for an injury you suffered is successful, your settlement may consist of two heads of claim. These are called general and special damages.

General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering caused by your injury. To help when valuing car accident claims, legal professionals may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document lists guideline compensation brackets for different types of injuries.

In our table below, we’ve listed a few figures from the 16th edition of the JCG. It is only to be used as guidance.

Reason for claimingCompensation BracketComments
Back injuries – Severe (i)£91,090 to £160,980The most severe cases are those whereby there is disability and severe pain. This includes nerve root and spinal cord damage.
Back injuries – Moderate (i)£27,760 to £38,780This includes injuries such as muscle and ligament disturbance, and those of residual disability of a lesser extent.
Back injuries – Minor (i)£7,890 to £12,510A payout of a lower amount is for cases whereby a full recovery is made within a few months. If the recovery takes longer, a number of factors are considered to determine the payout amount. This ranges from the impact of the symptoms on the claimant’s life to the degree of pain encountered.
Neck injuries – Severe (i)In the region of
£148,330		The biggest payout is for severe cases, like incomplete paraplegia, or where the claimant still has little to no movement despite wearing a collar or brace for near 24 hours per day.
Neck injuries – Moderate (i)£24,990 to
£38,490		This includes cases whereby existing injuries have been made worse, as well as dislocations and fractures.
Pelvic injuries (a) Severe (i)£78,400 to £130,930Extensive fractures, dislocations of lower back and bladder future could be included here.
Arm injuries (c) Less severe£19,200 to £39,170A substantial degree of recovery will occur, despite injuries that cause significant disabilities.
Big toe -amputationAround £31,310Amputation of the big toe.
Hand injury (g) Less serious£14,450 to £29,000Severe crush injuries for example, which result in significantly impacted function, despite or without surgery
1+ Whiplash Injuries + 1+ Psychological Injuries£4,34518-24 months of symptoms
1+ Whiplash Injuries£4,21518-24 months of symptoms

If you would like to know how much compensation for a car accident you could get, please get in touch with a team member for a free valuation of your claim.

Car Crash Compensation – What Are Special Damages?

In addition to general damages, your car crash compensation may also include special damages. This is to compensate you for any financial losses caused by your injuries.

Examples of special damages you might be able to recover as part of a personal injury claim include:

  • Loss of earnings if you’ve required time off work to recover from your injuries.
  • Travel expenses. For example, taxi fares to attend medical appointments.
  • Medical costs, such as the costs of prescriptions and physical therapy.
  • The cost of adaptations to your accommodation. For example, if you need railings to help cope with your injuries, the costs of installing these could be recovered.

To include special damages as part of your claim, you should submit proof of your costs. For example, receipts and invoices.

To discuss what your compensation for a car accident may include, please get in touch with an advisor from our team.

Am I Eligible To Claim For A Car Accident?

Not everyone who suffers a car accident injury would be eligible to claim compensation. This is because your claim must meet certain criteria in order to be valid, which means you have to prove that:

  1. You were owed a duty of care
  2. This duty was breached
  3. You were injured as a result

Every road user has a legal responsibility towards other road users to navigate the roads in a way that prevents harm to themselves and others. Part of this duty is following the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the mandatory steps outlined in the Highway Code.

If a road user causes an accident by breaching this duty of care; for example, because they were speeding, driving carelessly, or failing to stop at a red light, this could cause a road traffic accident. If you were injured in a collision caused by another road user failing to fulfil their duty of care, you may be able to claim.

To check your eligibility to claim, or find out more about car accident compensation claims, please contact an advisor.

Evidence To Help Support Car Accident Claims

If you’ve suffered an injury from a car accident and would like to start a personal injury claim, you will need to be able to provide evidence. Collecting sufficient evidence could help with proving how the accident occurred, who was liable, and the types of injuries you suffered.

Some examples of evidence that you could use in a personal injury claim for a car accident include:

  • Police reports: If someone was injured and property was damaged, you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours. Police reports can then be used as evidence in your claim.
  • Medical records: Your medical records, along with any X-rays, scans, or tests, can be used to illustrate the severity of your injuries, as well as the treatment you will need and the time it will take for you to recover.
  • CCTV or dashcam footage: Footage of the accident from a CCTV camera or dashcam can also be used to help support your claim and pinpoint who was at fault.
  • Photographs: Pictures of the accident site and of your injuries can be used to strengthen your claim.

One of our solicitors could help you gather evidence and further strengthen your claim. To find out if you could be eligible to work with one of our solicitors, or to find out more about the car accident claims process, contact our team today.

Time Limits For A Car Accident Settlement

The Limitation Act 1980 outlines the three-year time limit to starting a personal injury claim for compensation. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example:

  • Injured children – If the injured party is under 18, then their 3-year time limit is suspended until they become an adult. They cannot make their own claim before this date. A litigation friend and pursue a settlement on their behalf while they’re unable to do so.
  • Those who lack the mental capacity to claim – A litigation friend can also be appointed to claim on behalf of someone without the capacity to claim themselves. Their time limit is also suspended indefinitely. If the injured party regains the ability to claim, then the three-year time limit to pursue their own claim would begin from this date.

To find out more about time limits and car crash compensation payouts in the UK, get in touch with our advisors today.

Car Crash Compensation – What Is The Whiplash Reform Programme?

If you’re injured in a car crash and the compensation is worth £5,000 or lower, then you may need to claim through the Whiplash Reform Programme (WRP). It was put in place to streamline the process of making whiplash claims and other low-value road traffic accident claims.

However, the value of the claim is not the only stipulation that makes you eligible to claim in this way. You can only claim through the WRP portal if:

  • You are 18 or older
  • The accident happened in England or Wales
  • You were a driver or passenger in a vehicle
  • The accident occurred on or after 31st May 2021

If you claim through the WRP, your injuries will be valued in line with the tariff laid out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.

The time limit is the same for personal injury claims as it is for a car accident in the UK being made through the WRP. Make sure you start your claim within the relevant time window or you could find it much more difficult. This is typically 3 years from the date of the injury, but certain exceptions can be made.

Get in touch with our advisors to find out more, including how much compensation for a car accident in the UK you could receive.

Claiming Compensation For A Car Accident With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

We would recommend you hire a personal injury solicitor for claiming car crash compensation payouts in the UK. There are many benefits to doing so, including:

  • Informing you what evidence will work best for your claim
  • Handling negotiations for car crash compensation payouts in the UK
  • Understanding of every aspect of the claims process so they can support you through it

A solicitor could also help you under a No Win No Fee agreement. 

Generally, claimants who hire a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis don’t have to pay any funds to their lawyer upfront to begin a claim. A No Win No Fee solicitor would deduct a success fee from your compensation in the event of a successful claim. Under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, this is legally capped. 

Should a car accident compensation claim not result in compensation, the claimant would not pay the lawyer for their work. 

If you’d like to find out more about claiming compensation for car accidents or whether our solicitors can assist you, please call our team.

Our helpline is operational 24/7 so you can call whenever you are available. You can reach us on 0800 073 8801. Should you prefer a different method of contact, you could use live chat, or send us an e-mail. Alternatively, if you complete our contact form, we’ll be able to call you back.

Helpful Links Relating To Road Traffic Accident Claims

Accidents – What to do

If you intend to make a car accident claim, please check out the following link. By clicking this link, it will take you to the UK Government’s website to find information on the steps you should take if you are involved in a road traffic accident. You will also find some advice regarding accidents with uninsured motorists.

GOV Safety Stats

Head to this link, and you will find information and statistics regarding road safety, casualties, and incidents. This includes publications ranging from 2010 to 2017, as well as data tables.

RTA 1988

This link takes you to an essential piece of legislation that is in place in the UK: The Road Traffic Act 1988. You can read the act in full and look at a table of contents and additional resources that have been provided.

Useful guides related to car crash compensation

We’ve also included links to some of our most popular personal injury and accident claims guides which you may find useful:

Further Guides

Further guidance

More Guides

We hope this guide on car accident claims has been useful and you have a greater understanding of this type of claim. Now we’ve given you some insight into the average payout for a car accident in the UK, you might be wanting to make a car accident injury claim with our car crash compensation claim solicitors. If so, you’re welcome to contact Accident Claims today using the contact details found in this car crash compensation guide.