When you make a personal injury claim, one of the main questions on your mind may be, ‘How much compensation can I get?’In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of compensation payouts in the UK and walk you through how they may be awarded.
Key Takeaways For Personal Injury Compensation
- You may have an eligible personal injury claim if you’re injured because of somebody else’s fault.
- A successful personal injury claim may include compensation for your pain and suffering and your monetary losses.
- There is a time limit of 3 years to start your compensation claim, save for certain exceptions.
- While you can review our lists of compensation payouts, you must understand that certain factors could influence your payout.
- You can claim personal injury compensation with our No Win No Fee solicitors.
If you have any questions, or if you would like a free, personalised claim valuation, please to speak to one of our team members. If you have a valid case, they could help you get your personal injury compensation claim started today. Reach out by:
- Dialling 0800 073 8801.
- Contacting us online.
- Speaking to us directly through live chat.
Select A Section
- Understanding The Personal Injury Claims Process
- What Factors Can Affect Personal Injury Compensation?
- Types Of Compensation You Could Receive
- List Of Compensation Payouts For Car Accident And Whiplash Claims
- List Of Compensation Payouts For Criminal Injury Claims
- List Of Compensation Payouts For Head And Brain Injuries
- List Of Compensation Payouts For Soft Tissue Injuries
- List Of Compensation Payouts For Back And Neck Injuries
- Why Should You Work With Accident Claims?
- More Information
Understanding The Personal Injury Claims Process
If you or your loved ones suffer an injury or harm due to somebody else’s negligent act, you may be eligible to claim compensation. This is known as a personal injury claim. The purpose of compensation is to restore you to the position you were in before the injury.
The compensation amount you receive depends on various factors, which we’ll discuss later. Before going through the list of compensation payouts in the UK, it’s necessary to understand the eligibility criteria for a personal injury claim.
Can I Make A Personal Injury Claim?
In certain situations, another individual is responsible for ensuring your well-being and must take reasonable steps to ensure it. This is called the duty of care.
For a valid personal injury claim, you need to prove the following:
- Another person or organisation had a duty of care towards you.
- They were in breach of this duty.
- You suffered unnecessary harm or injury as a consequence of the breach.
Time Limits In Personal Injury Claims
According to the Limitation Act 1980, you have 3 years to start your personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date of injury.
However, this time limit won’t apply to those:
- Under the age of 18
- Having reduced mental capacity
Someone else, such as a loved one, can make a personal injury claim on behalf of the above individuals as a litigation friend. However, they have to do this before:
- The minor turns 18.
- The individual regains their mental capacity.
Should the individual turn 18 or recover this capacity, then the 3 year time limit will start.
For more guidance on the eligibility and time limit for your personal injury compensation claim, please speak to us now.
What Factors Can Affect Personal Injury Compensation?
Many factors can affect the compensation you receive in personal injury cases. This isn’t just limited to the injury, but financial losses are considered as well as items such as the strength of the evidence you submit.
In the list of compensation payouts in the next section, we’ll consider how injuries are valued. First, we are going to look at a few of the other items that could affect your personal injury compensation.
Accepting Liability
When you reach out to the other party with your compensation claim, the following scenarios are possible:
- They accept liability: If this happens, they may offer you compensation, which may lead to a quicker resolution. However, if you find the amount to be less, you may be involved in a series of negotiations. This process could be time-consuming and may or may not be successful.
- They deny liability: In this scenario, you may have to collect more evidence, which could take time. If this doesn’t work out, you may have to go to court.
Evidence
It’s essential to collect evidence in support of your personal injury compensation claim. Stronger evidence could help secure a larger settlement. You can include the following evidence:
- Contact details of witnesses prepared to give statements later on.
- Photographs of injuries
- CCTV footage
- Medical records
- Written records like diary entries
Going To Court
If you’re unable to reach a settlement with the other party, you may have to consider taking your personal injury claim to court. While you can do this without legal representation, we recommend that you work with one of our personal injury solicitors. Seeking expert guidance will help simplify the claims process for you, and you’ll be able to focus on recovering from your injuries.
You can reach out to us for guidance on collecting evidence for your compensation claim.
Types Of Compensation You Could Receive
In this section, we’ll be going through a list of compensation payouts in the UK. However, these tables only relate to injuries. If your personal injury claim is successful, your compensation may include the following heads:
General Damages
This head is there to compensate you for your physical as well as psychological injuries. Your solicitor or whoever is valuing your claim may use the Judicial College guidelines (JCG) to calculate your general damages. This document provides guideline values for different injuries.
The table below contains some of the JCG entries and the compensation brackets for various injuries. However, the top row isn’t from the JCG, and you must use this table only for guidance. Also, the JCG applies only in Wales and England.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages | There could be multiple injuries and monetary losses like loss of benefits and income and need for constant care. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis- Tetraplegia | The award is decided depending on degree of pain and insight. There would be lack of movement and inabality to enjoy food and drink. | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paralysis- Paraplegia | The award depends on the impact on independence and life expectancy, age and level of pain. | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Chest Injuries- Severe (a) | One lung is completely removed and there may be serious heart damage with grave pain and suffering and permanent scarring. | £122,850 to £183,190 |
| Chest Injuries- Traumatic (b) | There is a traumatic injury to the heart and/or lung(s) or chest which causes significant physical disability and reduced life expectancy. | £80,240 to £122,850 |
| Hips and Pelvis- Severe (i) | The individual has suffered serious fractures in the pelvis, causing a ruptured bladder and lower joint dislocation with intolerable pain or a serious hip injury because of which spinal fusion is needed. | £95,680 to £159,770 |
| Hips and Pelvis- Severe (ii) | There could be injuries like the formation of an ectopic bone around the hip along with traumatic myositis ossificans. | £75,550 to £95,680 |
| General Psychiatric Damage- Severe | In these cases, the injured party struggles to cope with life, education, work and personal relationships. | £66,920 to £141,240 |
| General Psychiatric Damage- Moderately Severe | There is a much more optimistic prognosis than the more severe category and this bracket can include cases of work-related stress and birth injuries. | £23,270 to £66,920 |
| Scarring to Other Body Parts- Burns On At Least 40% Of The Body | The compensation will depend on factors like thickness of burns, need for surgery, disability and psychological disability. | Likely to exceed £127,930 |
| Scarring to Other Body Parts- No Significant Internal Injury | There is no significant internal injury found even after performing exploratory laparotomy and the compensation will depend on the surgery and scar. | In the region of £10,550 |
| PTSD- Severe | There are permanent effects which prevent the individual from functioning the way they were before the trauma. | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| PTSD- Moderately Severe | There is a better prognosis and some hope for recovery with professional help. But there is significant disability for the near future. | £28,250 to £73,050 |
| Facial Disfigurement- Very Severe Scarring | There could be signiciant cosmetic disfigurement and psychological trauma in younger individuals. | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Facial Disfigurement- Less Severe Scarring | There is substantial disfigurement and trauma. | £21,920 to £59,090 |
| Knee Injury- Severe (i) | This could be a serious injury which disrupts the joint, causing lot of pain and loss of function and lengthy duration of treatment. | £85,100 to £117,410 |
| Knee Injury- Severe (ii) | This could be a leg fracture which reaches till the knee and causes constant pain and significant disability. | £63,610 to £85,100 |
| Achilles Tendon- Most Serious | There could be symptoms like swelling, cramps, restricted movement which make it impossible to play sports. | In the region of £46,900 |
| Achilles Tendon- Serious | The tendon has been repaired but there is some lingering weakness, limp, scarring and limit in ankle movement. | £30,500 to £36,720 |
| Toe Injuries- Serious | There could be multiple fractures or crush injuries to at least two toes and some permanent disability by way of pain and discomfort and scarring. | £11,720 to £16,770 |
| Toe Injuries- Modest | There could be simple fractures or the exacerbation of pre-existing injuries or lacerations. | Up to £11,720 |
Special Damages
On the other hand, this head is there to compensate you for the financial losses you incur due to your injuries. You may be able to claim for the following special damages:
- Travel costs
- Loss of income
- Medical expenses
- Home and car alterations
- Domestic help, such as with cleaning, cooking and childcare while you recover.
The above may be sought by presenting evidence like bank statements, wage slips and receipts.
If you’re still confused, our advisors can help you in calculating compensation for your claim.
List Of Compensation Payouts For Car Accident And Whiplash Claims
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, your claim could be made in two different ways. Firstly, the traditional personal injury route. However, for certain car accident cases, your claim will be made through the Whiplash Reform Programme (which we discuss next). As such, we’ve used two different sources for this list of compensation payouts.
All but the first row and last two rows were taken from the JCG. The last two rows are from the Whiplash Injury Regulations. The first row is an illustration showing how you could be compensated for multiple injuries plus related expenses.
Like the table above, please only use it as guidance.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages | There may be more than one injury and monetary losses like need for professional care. | Up to £250,000+ |
| Leg Amputation- Amputation of One Leg Above the Knee | The award will depend on factors like age, psychological distress, chances of prosthetics and the presence of any side-effects. | £127,930 to £167,760 |
| Foot Injuries- Very Severe | There must be permanent and severe pain or a very serious and permanent disability. | £102,470 to £133,810 |
| Arm Injuries- Resulting in Substantial & Permanent Disablement | This includes a serious fracture in one or both forearms and significant permanent damage, cosmetic or functional. | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Whiplash Along With Psychological Injuries | The injuries last between 18 to 24 months. | £4,345 |
| Whiplash Along With Psychological Injuries | The injuries last between 15 to 18 months. | £3,100 |
The Whiplash Reform Programme
The Whiplash Reform Programme was introduced to amend the claiming process for certain car accident claims in Wales and England. There is now a different avenue to make your claim if you are:
- Aged over 18.
- The driver or passenger of a vehicle
- Suffered injuries valued at a maximum of £5,000.
In such a case, your whiplash injury will be valued as per the tariffs given in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. If you’ve suffered any additional injuries, they won’t be covered under this tariff and will be valued in the traditional manner. However, even with these injuries, if their value is £5,000 or less, you will still claim through the Whiplash Reform Programme.
Contact us now if you wish to connect to a whiplash injury solicitor.
List Of Compensation Payouts For Criminal Injury Claims
If you’ve been a victim of a violent crime and have suffered injuries, you may make a criminal injury compensation claim. Such claims could be made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Your injuries will be valued in line with the tariffs in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Since the values given in the tariff are fixed, you’ll receive the exact compensation amount listed for your injuries (before deductions are made). Under this scheme, you can claim for a maximum of 3 injuries. In case of multiple injuries, there is a formula provided:
- The complete tariff value for the most serious injury
- 30% of the tariff value for the next most serious injury
- 15% of the tariff value for the third-most serious injury
The table below provides some criminal injury compensation figures from the Scheme discussed above (except for the first row)
| Injury | Notes | Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries with Special Expenses | There may be more than one injury and monetary losses like need for professional care. | Up to £500,000 |
| Very Serious Brain Injury | There is negligible response to the environment and a significant impact on the senses and the person requires professional care. There is hardly any useful movement physically. | £250,000 |
| Substantially Complete Paraplegia | There is an impairment in sensory or motor functions. | £175,000 |
| Severe Burns to the Face | There is more than minor disfigurement. | £27,000 |
| Finger And Thumb | There's been a loss of one thumb. | £16,500 |
| Heel Bone Fracture- Both Feet | There is a continuing and significant disability. | £13,500 |
In addition to receiving compensation for your actual injuries, you may seek a payout for the expenses you incurred. They may be awarded if they’re reasonable. These are called special expenses, and they include:
- Items relied on as an aid, such as glasses, that were damaged in the incident
- Home adaptations
- Disability equipment
Wondering how long a criminal injury claim takes? Speak to us now.
List Of Compensation Payouts For Head And Brain Injuries
The table below contains some of the JCG figures for head and brain injuries (barring the top row). The special damages part of a settlement can be exceptionally high in cases where full-time nursing is required for a long duration of time.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages | There are multiple injuries combined with loss of earning and need for constant, life-long professional care. | Up to £25,000,000+ |
| Brain Injuries- Very Severe | This bracket includes cases of quadriplegic cerebral palsy causing severe physical and cognitive language disabilities. There is hardly any response to the environment, double incontinence and a need for full-time professional care. | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Brain Injuries- Moderately Severe | There is a serious disability, like cognitive or limb paralysis and significant dependence on others along with a requirement for professional care. This could also include cases where there is a reduction of life expectancy. | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Brain Injuries- Moderate (i) | There is an effect on the sense like sight and speech and a significant risk of epilepsy and impact on prospects on employment. | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Brain Injuries- Moderate (ii) | There is some risk of epilepsy and the ability to work is reduced. | £110,720 to £183,190 |
| Brain Injuries- Moderate (iii) | Memory and concentration are negatively impacted along with the ability to work. There's also fatigue and some very limited level of dependence on others. | £52,550 to £110,720 |
| Brain Injuries- Less Severe | While there may be symptoms from the above entries, the individual would have recovered well although there are lingering effects on overall mood and ability to work. | £18,700 to £52,550 |
List Of Compensation Payouts For Soft Tissue Injuries
Here is a table summarising the JCG figures for soft tissue injuries (except for the top row).
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages | There are multiple injuries along with special damages like a loss of income. | Up to £100,000+ |
| Back Injuries- Severe (iii) | This includes soft tissue injuries causing chronic conditions like impaired agility, severe and continuous pain, impaired sexual function and risk of arthritis despite surgery or any other treatment. | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Neck Injuries- Severe (iii) | There is a rupture of the tendons or soft tissue damage which leads to a significant permanent disability. The award depends on the prognosis and the treatment required. | £55,500 to £68,330 |
| Shoulder Injuries- Serious | This includes cases of rotator cuff and soft tissue injuries which cause persistent symptoms despite surgery. | £15,580 to £23,430 |
| Hips and Pelvis- Lesser Injuries (i) | There is little or no residual disability despite a significant injury. | £4,820 to £15,370 |
| Wrist Injury- Soft Tissue (d) | It takes over a year to recover from soft tissue injuries but only minor symptoms persist. | £7,420 to £12,630 |
List Of Compensation Payouts For Back And Neck Injuries
The table below summarises some of the JCG figures for back and neck injuries. However, the top row isn’t from the JCG.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages | There are a couple of injuries and financial losses such professional care and loss of earnings. | Up to £500,000+ |
| Back Injuries- Severe (i) | These are the most severe injuries damaging the nerve roots and spinal cord. This includes very serious consequences which are normally not found in back injuries like disability and serious pain and impaired sexual function and incomplete paralysis. | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Back Injuries- Severe (ii) | This includes cases like nerve root damage causing impaired bowel and bladder function, loss of sensation and significant scarring. | £90,510 to £107,910 |
| Back Injuries- Moderate (i) | There is a residual disability like chronic discomfort and pain, reduced mobility, risk of osteoarthritis and a need for spinal fusion. | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Back Injuries- Moderate (ii) | This bracket includes common injuries like ligament disturbances and soft tissue injuries which exacerbate an already-existing condition, usually by at least 5 years. Factors like original injury, level of pain and extent of treatment in the present or past will be considered. | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Neck Injuries- Severe (i) | The injury causes permanent spastic quadriparesis or partial paraplegia. There is negligible neck movement despite wearing a collar daily for 24 hours and severe headaches. | In the region of £181,020 |
| Neck Injuries- Severe (ii) | There is serious damage or fractures to the discs within the cervical spine causing considerable disability like loss of function in at least one limb or considerable loss of movement in the neck. | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Neck Injuries- Moderate (i) | There are immediate symptoms and spinal fusion may be required. This bracket will also include serious soft tissue injuries in the neck and back. | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Neck Injuries- Moderate (ii) | This bracket includes soft tissue injuries and severe disc lesion causing cervical spondylosis, chronic pain, impaired movement and a possible need for surgery. | £16,770 to £30,500 |
Still confused? Don’t worry! You can use our personal injury claims calculator or speak to one of our advisors now. They can help value your claim, ensuring that all of your injuries are considered.
Why Should You Work With Accident Claims?
Our solicitors have years of experience in handling personal injury compensation claims. They’re professional and capable and will work hard to secure the compensation you deserve.
Your personal injury solicitor can help you in the following ways:
- Gathering and compiling evidence.
- Handling official communications
- Explaining all the complicated legal terms
- Calculating your compensation
How Our Solicitors Could Help You Achieve A Compensation Payout
After going through our lists of compensation payouts in the UK, your next question must be about the solicitor’s fees. If you work with one of our specialist solicitors, they’ll offer you the option of No Win No Fee agreements for their services. These services will be in the form of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which means that you won’t have to pay your solicitor for their services:
- Upfront
- During the pendency of your claim
- In case of an unsuccessful outcome
If your claim is successful, your solicitor will charge only a success fee. This will be derived from a pre-determined percentage of your compensation. You need not worry about losing a majority of your compensation since the law has placed a limit on this percentage.
Get connected to our No Win No Fee solicitors now by:
- Dialling 0800 073 8801.
- Contacting us online.
- Speaking to us directly through live chat.
More Information
Thank you for reading our guide on a list of compensation payouts in the UK. You can read some more of our guides for your information:
- Our guide on making a manual handling injury claim.
- Information on an accident at work due to an unloading injury.
- Details on compensation for a broken drain cover.
You can also go through these links from across the web for further information:
- Information from the government on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
- Details on when to call 999 from the NHS.
- Guidance on the health and safety basics from the HSE.
