The Department for Transport reported that in 2023 alone, 828 broken neck or broken back injuries were suffered in road casualties, and another 18,101 people experienced whiplash or neck pain following a road traffic accident. Showing just how common back injuries sustained from car accidents can be.
If, unfortunately, you have experienced an injury in a car accident which wasn’t your fault, we are here to help. Whether it’s a soft tissue injury with a speedy recovery or a more serious injury that impacts your mobility, we can support you.
We have created this comprehensive guide to help you explore how you could be eligible to make a claim with us and begin to explore how much compensation for back injury in a car accident you could potentially receive in a successful claim.
Continue reading to learn about the factors that impact compensation in personal injury claims and how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you.
Contact Us
To discuss how much for a back injury after a car accident, you can contact our firendly advisors here at Accident Claims today:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8801
- Using our live chat
- Filling out our online contact us form
Jump To A Section
- How Much Back Injury Compensation Could I Get After A Car Accident?
- What Factors Are Considered When Calculating Compensation?
- Can I Claim For A Back Injury In A Car Accident?
- Will My Compensation Be Affected If I Was Partially At Fault?
- What Types Of Back Injuries Could A Car Crash Result In?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Back Injury Claim After A Car Accident?
- Learn More
How Much Back Injury Compensation Could I Get After A Car Accident?
To answer the question of ‘how much for a back injury in a car accident?’ several factors are considered.
Things such as the severity of your back injury will directly impact the payout, as the more severe your injuries, the higher the compensation amount you could receive. Another factor to consider is the projected recovery time. For example, if your back injury has virtually recovered within a few months, then your compensation amount could be reflective of this.
When asking the question of how much for a back injury in a car accident could be awarded in compensation, solicitors will consider two heads of claim. These are referred to as general damages and special damages.
Your general damages aim to compensate you for:
- Pain
- Suffering
- Loss of amenity. For example, if there has been any impact on your quality of life, such as being unable to engage in hobbies or activities the same way you did before your back injury, this will be taken into consideration in your general damages.
When professionals are calculating your general damages, they may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document contains guideline compensation figures for various injuries.
Our table below shows guideline amounts used from the JCG to help answer the question of how much you could receive for a back injury from a car crash. Please note that the top entry has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries + Special Damages | Multiple Serious Injuries and Special Damages such as loss of earning potential | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) | Higher end of this bracket involves cases where there is a significant impact on the senses and physical pain is present. | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia | The following factors will impact the amount of compensation: age and life expectancy, impact on sexual function and the presence and extent of pain. | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Back Injury Severe (i) | Severe damage to the nerve roots and also the spinal cord that also affects the bowel, bladder and sexual functions. | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Back injury Severe (ii) | Nerve root damage with associated loss of sensation, impaired mobility and impaired bladder, bowel and sexual function. | £90,510 to £107,910 |
| Back Injury Severe (iii) | Cases where there has been disc fractures or disc lesions, or soft tissue injuries leading to chronic conditions. | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Back Injury Moderate (i) | Cases will show reduced mobility, crush fracture to the lumbar vertebrae, and a substantial risk of osteoarthritis. | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Back Injury Moderate (ii) | This can include injuries such as a disturbance of ligaments, leading to backache, or soft tissue injuries causing a pre-existing back condition to worsen. | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Back Injury Minor (i) | A full recovery within 2 to 5 years without surgery. | £9,630 to £15,260 |
The Whiplash Injury Regulations Tariffs
The Whiplash Reform Programme has altered the process for making low-value road traffic accident claims in England and Wales. If you were injured as a passenger or driver of a vehicle, you are over 18, and your claim is valued at £5,000 or less, your claim will need to be made via a different avenue and your injuries will be valued in line with the fixed tariff set out within the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.
Our table below shows some of these tariff amounts.
| Duration | Table A (Whiplash Injuries Only) | Table B (Whiplash and Psychological Injuries) |
|---|---|---|
| More than 18 months, but not more than 24 months | £4,215 | £4,345 |
| More than 15 months, but not more than 18 months | £3,005 | £3,100 |
| More than 12 months, but not more than 15 months | £2,040 | £2,125 |
| More than 9 months, but not more than 12 months | £1,320 | £1,390 |
To see whether the Whuplash Reform Programme may have affected your claim, you can contact our advisors.
What Factors Are Considered When Calculating Compensation?
When your compensation is being calculated, solicitors will refer to similar previous cases to get a better understanding of how much compensation for a back injury in a car accident you could be awarded.
In addition to receiving general damages, you may also be eligible for special damages. This aims to compensate you for the financial losses caused by your back injury. This could include:
- Loss of earnings or earning potential
- Care costs
- Medical treatment costs
- Travel costs
It is essential to note that you will need to provide evidence that proves how your injury resulted in financial losses. This may include:
- Payslips to show a loss of earnings
- Receipts for care costs
- Medical invoices and prescription receipts
- Travel receipts
Please don’t worry about gathering this evidence yourself, as part of the services offered by our specialist solicitors, they could help you obtain evidence to support your claim for special damages.
Our team is committed to providing you with a personalised service. If you have any questions about what might be useful in your claim, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Can I Claim For A Back Injury In A Car Accident?
You could claim for a back injury in a car accident if you can prove negligence took place. Negligence is when:
- You were owed a duty of care by another road user
- They breached the duty owed to you
- The breach led to your back injury
As a road user, the duty of care owed to you is by all other road users. By adhering to the rules outlined in both the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988, all road users must operate on the roads in a manner that avoids causing harm or damage to others.
For example, road users should adhere to designated speed limits, not drive under the influence of alcohol, and follow the rules of pedestrian crossings.
Do I Have To Claim Within A Time Limit?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, personal injury claims must generally be started within 3 years of the date of the accident.
There are, however, 2 exceptions to this time limit for particular claimants. The exceptions are:
- If the injured person is under the age of 18, then the time limit will run from the date of their 18th birthday to the date of their 21st birthday, as a minor can’t claim on their own behalf.
- If someone lacks the mental capacity, the time limit is suspended unless they regain this capacity. In which case, the 3 years will run from this date.
In both of these cases, a litigation friend could be appointed and make a claim on the person’s behalf while they are unable to make their own claim.
If you have any questions about whether you’d be able to make a claim with us, contact our advisors for a free eligiblity case assessment.
Will My Compensation Be Affected If I Was Partially At Fault?
Your compensation can be affected if you were partially at fault for your accident. This would then become a split liability claim.
This means that, depending on the level of your own liability, for example, if the third party and you were found to be 50% partially liable each, you would receive 50% of the compensation payout.
An example of how a split liability claim can arise could be:
- You pull out of a junction without properly assessing the roads for oncoming traffic. You then crash into the side of another car, which was speeding. As a result, you suffer a severe back injury, and the other driver suffers whiplash. Here, it can be demonstrated that both you and the other driver have contributed to the accident.
In order to still be eligible to claim, even if you are partially at fault, you will need to have evidence which highlights the other driver’s fault. This may include:
- Dashcam or CCTV footage of the accident, if it were caught on camera
- Your medical records or GP records to show the extent of your injuries
- Any police or ambulance reports if the emergency services were contacted
- Contact details of any witnesses happy to provide a statement at a later date
As part of the services offered by us at Accident Claims, our solicitors can assist you in compiling this evidence.
To learn more about how much compensation for a back injury claim you could receive in a split liability claim, contact us today. Our advisors will be happy to discuss this with you.
What Types Of Back Injuries Could A Car Crash Result In?
There are a number of injuries you can sustain to your back after a car crash. However, the most common types of back injuries following a car crash can include:
- Whiplash Injuries – a sudden jolting movement of the neck that may also impact the top of the spine.
- Herniated discs – if a disc becomes dislodged or displaced, this can result in pressure on the spinal cord as well as lower back pain
- Spinal Cord Injuries – depending on how severe the injury is, this can sometimes result in paralysis, bruising, damage to the spinal cord, and loss of sensation.
- Lumbar vertebrae fractures – this is a break to one or multiple of the bones in the lower part of your back, which can cause numbness, back pain and loss of bladder, bowel and sexual function.
- Sciatica – if the sciatic nerve becomes damaged, this may lead to numbness and lower back pain.
- Soft tissue injuries – bruising causing pain and discomfort in the back.
Contact our advisors today to see if you may be able to make a compensation claim, regardless of the type of back injury you suffered.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Back Injury Claim After A Car Accident?
By calling us today, one of our helpful and friendly advisors will be happy to assess your eligibility to make a personal injury claim. If you have the basis for a strong claim, they are then able to connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.
Here at Accident Claims, our solicitors operate under a Conditional Fee Agreement. This type of agreement can be beneficial to you because:
- You won’t be required to pay any upfront fees for your solicitor’s services.
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t be required to pay a penny for your solicitor’s services.
- If your claim is successful, a small percentage will be deducted from your compensation. This success fee is legally limited to ensure you always receive the majority of your compensation.
Our solicitors have decades of experience advocating for clients such as yourself. Some of the expert services they could provide you with include:
- Gathering evidence to support your case.
- Submitting your claim within the time limit.
- Communicating with the defending party.
- Organising any rehabilitation or physiotherapy you may need.
- Negotiating your compensation settlement.
Contact Our Solicitors
If you still have any questions regarding how much for a back injury in a car accident could be awarded in compensation, you can contact our advisors today:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8801
- Using our live chat
- Filling out our online contact us form
Learn More
Why don’t you explore our other guides about:
- How to make a foreign vehicle accident claim
- When can you claim for an accident on the motorway
- How to make a motorcycle accident claim
Helpful External Resources
- How to claim Statutory Sick Pay from GOV.UK
- When to call 999 from the NHS
- NHS guidance about dealing with back pain
Thank you for reading our guide on how much for a back injury after a car accident.