One of our most commonly asked questions is, ‘How much compensation will I get for my injury?’. Whlist this varies from case to case, this guide provides a list of compensation payouts in the UK for various different injuries. You will need to be able to show someone else was to blame for your injuries to be able to bring a case, but the majority of this guide will focus on compensation and how it is calculated.
Compensation Payouts Key Takeaways:
- If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be able to claim compensation.
- Compensation for various injuries depends on the type of the injury and its severity.
- Financial losses can also be claimed if they can be proven and result from the accident.
- We have a compensation calculator that you can use to estimate your potential compensation
- Our expert personal injury solicitors could help you claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
As you read, please feel free to connect with our advisory team. It’s free and carries no obligation to find out what compensation you could be owed. The team also provide a free case check and if your claim is eligible, they could connect you with an expert personal injury solicitor from our panel to launch a compensation claim today. Find out more by:
- Calling 0800 408 7826 to discuss your personal injury claim.
- Using the live discussion option below.
- Filling out our online contact us form.
Jump To A Part Of Our UK Compensation Payouts Guide
- Understanding How Personal Injury Claims Are Calculated
- A List Of Personal Injury Compensation Amounts
- Injuries Affecting Your Senses – A List Of Compensation Payouts
- Injuries Causing Scarring Or Disfigurement
- Injuries Affecting Internal Organs
- Psychiatric Damage, Psychological Damage, And Abuse Cases
- Special Damages And How They Relate To Your Claim
- How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
- More Information
Understanding How Personal Injury Claims Are Calculated
Personal injury compensation payouts are calculated by looking at two areas or ‘heads’ or loss called general and special damages. If successful, the compensation amount can be made up from these two areas. General damages affixes a monetary value on the following:
- The pain and suffering caused to the person.
- Any psychological harm they experienced.
- The severity of injury.
- The recovery time expected and overall impact on the quality of the person’s life.
- Whether they suffered a permanent disability.
The compensation figures in this guide come from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Now, in its 17th edition, this publication provides an index of general injuries based on severity and suggested compensation brackets for them. The sums are only guidelines but can give an indication of potential injury damages.
Special damages cover the financial harm caused, such as loss of earnings or the cost of medical treatments required. We explain this in a separate section below.
What Is The Average Payout For Compensation In The UK?
As every case has unique features and every injury is different, providing you with an average compensation figure would not be very helpful. What is of more use, is to know how compensation is calculated and look at what is suggested as a correct figure for certain injuries.
Before we look in more detail at these things, let’s talk briefly about when you might be able to claim.
Am I Eligible To Claim Personal Injury Compensation?
You can claim of you meet the three criteria for a successful personal injury claim:
- You were owed a duty of care
- This duty was breached
- You suffered an injury as a result
You are owed a duty of care in certain areas of daily life to be protected from harm. If those responsible breach this duty of care in some way, and you are injured as a result, compensation could be owed to you. Breaking certain rules or laws can be a breach of duty, and the main areas that this could happen are:
- In the workplace – The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA).
- On the roads – The Road Traffic Act 1988 and Highway Code rules.
- In public places – The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
If those responsible fail to implement reasonable and practicable steps to protect your health and safety, and an injury results, they could be liable to pay you compensation. Speak to our team to clarify your eligibility to start a personal injury claim, and read our list of compensation payouts in the UK to learn more.
A List Of Personal Injury Compensation Amounts
All entries in the following tables are from the Judicial College Guidelines 17th edition, except the first line of each table. Again, all personal injury cases will have factors that make them unique and reliant on the strength of the evidence presented. So for a more precise estimate of what you could be owed, please connect with our advisors at any point:
Head And Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries can have a devastating impact on the individual. Often incurred as a result of a car accident or in a serious accident at work the personal injury compensation amounts reflect the severity:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Multiple types of serious harm with special damages | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. | Here the person will have suffered several forms of serious harm and received special damages for loss of employment and need of professional, full time care costs. |
Head/Brain | (a) Very Severe | £344,150 up to £493,000 | Very limited (or no) ability to follow basic commands and a total reliance on others for all needs. |
(b) Moderately Severe | £267,340 up to £344,150 | Serious disability with substantial dependence on others. | |
(c) Moderate (i) | £183,190 up to £267,340 | Moderate (ranging to severe) impact of intellect, speech and personality as well as increased risk of epilepsy. | |
(d) Less Severe | £18,700 up to £52,550 | Person makes a good recovery overall with perhaps some residual problems with mood, concentration and memory. |
Neck And Shoulder Injuries
Neck and shoulder injuries can hamper your day to day living. Also included in this chart are fixed tariff whiplash injuries. These awards reflect alterations since the Whiplash Reform Programme changed the way injuries valued at under £5,000 are evaluated. Therefore, the last two entries are taken from the tariff used in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
More than one type of serious harm and special damages | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. | Multiple serious forms of harm and special damages for physiotherapy and lost earnings. |
Neck | (a) Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 | Cases of incomplete paraplegia and where the person has little or no movement despite wearing a corrective collar for 24 hours a day. |
(b) Moderate (i) | £30,500 up to £46,970 | Dislocations and fractures that prompt severe immediate conditions and may require surgery. | |
(b) Moderate (ii) | £16,770 up to £30,500 | Typically disc lesions that cause cervical spondylosis and seriously limit movement. | |
Whiplash | Amount – Regulation 2(1)(b) | £3,100 | An injury lasting 15 - 18 months. |
Amount – Regulation 2(1)(b) | £4,345 | An injury lasting 18 - 24 months. |
As it can be confusing to know if your injuries are worth more or less than £5,000, we recommend connecting with an advisor.
Back And Spinal Injuries
Injury to the back and spine can also command high award amounts given the level of disability it can cause:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Several types of injury and an award under special damages | Severe | Up to £1 million plus. | Instances of more than one severe type of injury and special damages for rehabilitation and adaptations to home/vehicle. |
Back/Spine | (a) Severe (i) | £111,150 up to £196,450 | The most severe types of spinal cord and nerve root damage. |
(a) Severe (iii) | £47,320 up to £85,100 | Cases of disc fracture or lesion, as well as soft tissue injuries that cause chronic pain, discomfort and impaired agility. | |
(b) Moderate (i) | £33,880 up to £47,320 | A broad scope of injuries are assessed in this bracket, including crush and compression type injuries. | |
(c) Minor (i) | £9,630 up to £15,260 | Within a space of 2 - 5 years a full recovery (or to nuisance levels) is experienced. |
Arm And Hand Injuries
The JCG excerpt for arm and hand injuries includes traumatic amputation examples that might result from workplace accidents caused by poor health and safety practices:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Several injuries as well as special damages payout. | Serious | Up to £500,000 plus | Cases of more than one injury and special damages for long-term rehabilitation and care costs, as well as lost income. |
Arms | (b) Loss of one arm (i) | Not less than £167,380 | Cases of amputation at the shoulder. |
Below elbow amputation (iii) | £117,360 up to £159,770 | Amputation through the forearm resulting in phantom pains. | |
(a) Injuries causing substantial and permanent disability. | £47,810 up to £73,050 | Serious fracture to one (or both) forearms causing residual and/or cosmetic residual disability. | |
Hand | (b) Serious damage to both hands | £68,070 up to £103,200 | Significant function loss and permanent disability. |
(e) Serious | £35,390 up to £75,550 | The type of injuries that reduce the capacity of the hand by half, leaving it clumsy, deformed and lacking sensation. |
Hip And Pelvis Injuries
A fractured pelvis can arise from a slip, trip or fall caused by unattended wet floors or faulty handrails in a public place.
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
More than one type of injury and special damages award. | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. | Cases where the person suffers more than one serious injury and is awarded special damages for lost earnings and disability needs. |
Hip/Pelvis | (a) Severe (i) | £95,680 up to £159,770 | Extensive fractures that can dislocate the lower back and rupture the bladder creating excruciating pain. |
(a) Severe (iii) | £47,810 up to £64,070 | Broad range of injuries in this bracket, including fractures to acetabulum that cause degenerative changes. | |
(b) Moderate (i) | £32,450 up to £47,810 | A significant hip or pelvis injury initially, but the risk of permanent disability is not great. | |
(b) Moderate (ii) | £15,370 up to £32,450 | Cases where a hip replacement procedure (or other surgery) may be required. |
It’s important to note that multiple injuries may be part of your claim. Speak to our advisory team if you have suffered more than one type of injury caused by the same negligent act.
Leg And Foot Injuries
Awards reflect the level of impact on mobility and how the overall quality of the person’s life has been altered. It can also assess the challenges of adapting to prosthetics:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Several types of serious injury and special damages award. | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. | This size award reflects more than one type of serious injury and special damages for medical bills and adaptations in the home. |
Legs | (a) Amputation (i) | £293,850 up to £344,150 | Cases where the person looses both legs above the knee, or one high up and the other below the knee. |
Very Serious (ii) | £66,920 up to £109,290 | Injuries that cause permanent mobility problems and require walking aids for life. | |
Foot | (b) Amputation of one foot. | £102,470 up to £133,810 | Award reflects the loss of the useful ankle joint. |
(f) Moderate | £16,770 up to £30,500 | Metatarsal displacement that creates deformity and may require surgery. |
Injuries Affecting Your Senses – A List Of Compensation Payouts
This excerpt from the JC Guidelines looks at loss of sight amounts or hearing damage:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Instances of several types of injury and special damages. | Serious. | Up to £1 million plus. | Cases where the person suffers more than one type of harm and is awarded special damages for medical and care costs and lost income. |
Eyes | (a) Total blindness. | In region of £327,940 | Instances of complete, permanent sight loss. |
(c) Sight loss in one eye and reduction of vision in remaining eye. | £117,150 up to £219,400 | Cases where there is a significant risk of further sight deterioration in the remaining eye. | |
Deafness | (b) Total deafness. | £110,750 up to £133,810 | The higher end of this award bracket reflects cases that include speech loss and tinnitus. |
(c) Total hearing loss in one ear. | £38,210 up to £55,570 | Higher awards include tinnitus, dizziness and headaches. |
Injuries Causing Scarring Or Disfigurement
Facial scarring and disfiguration may be a feature of many personal injuries. With this in mind, the amounts below can apply in their own right or in conjunction with other types of harm:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Multiple serious forms of injury and special damages award. | Severe. | Up to £500,000 plus. | Cases where the person successfully claims for more than one injury and receives a special damages award on top. |
Facial disfigurement | (a) Very severe scarring. | £36,340 up to £118,790 | Very disfiguring scarring and severe psychological reaction on a person under 30 years of age. |
(b) Less severe scarring. | £21,920 up to £59,090 | Substantial disfigurement and psychological reaction. | |
(c) Significant. | £11,120 up to £36,720 | Where plastic surgery reduces the worst effects. | |
Scarring elsewhere on the body. | Single or multiple scars. | £9,560 up to £27,740 | Cases of one noticeable scar or several smaller and less obvious ones to other areas of the body. |
Injuries Affecting Internal Organs
The impact of road traffic accidents or falls from a height can often result in chest and organ damage. Serious enough to reduce life expectancy, the JCG award suggestions reflect this:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Several types of injury and special damages | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. | Awards of this size reflect several types of serious injury and special damages for impact on employment and care costs. |
Kidney | (a) Serious | £206,730 up to £256,780 | Serious permanent damage or loss to both kidneys. |
Bowels | (b) Total function loss. | Up to £183,190 | Cases of complete loss of normal function and depending on age, reliance on a colostomy. |
Chest | (a) Serious | £122,850 up to £183,190 | Removal of one lung and heart damage that causes prolonged pain and suffering as well as reduces life expectancy. |
Lung | (d) Single wound | £15,370 up to £21,920 | A single, penetrating type injury that causes tissue damage but no long term damage to lung function. |
Psychiatric Damage, Psychological Damage, And Abuse Cases
A frequent feature of accidents is psychological injury. This can range from general stress to acute issues like Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the table shows:
INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
Multiple types of injury and special damages. | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. | Cases of multiple types of serious harm and special damages award made for lost employment prospects and counselling costs. |
General Psychiatric Harm | (a) Severe | £66,920 up to £141,240 | Injured person experiences severe mental health challenges across all areas of life with poor future outlook indicated. |
(c) Moderate | £7,150 up to £23,270 | Despite initially significant issues with mental health, the person improves by the time a trial may take place. | |
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | (a) Severe | £73,050 up to £122,850 | Permanent and crippling trauma reaction that impacts al aspects of the person's life. |
(b) Moderate | £9,980 up to £28,250 | The person experiences a recovery (largely) and any remaining issues are not significantly disabling. |
Once again, it’s vital to remember that the lists of compensation payouts in the UK shown in all these tables are guidelines only. Obtain a more precise idea from our team. They could connect you to a skilled personal injury solicitor from our panel who will calculate a much more comprehensive total.
Special Damages And How They Relate To Your Claim
In addition to the compensation for the physical and emotional harm, personal injury claims can cover the financial harm caused. For example, the injuries may have stopped you from working or resulted in expensive medical costs. You can claim these amounts back with the right evidence of monetary harm, such as:
- Proof from your employer that your income dropped or halted because of the harm caused.
- Proof of medical expenses paid for private care.
- Receipts for sums paid to others to look after you.
- Evidence of travel expenses for vital appointments.
- The costs of any additional childcare arrangements.
You might have other eligible amounts to include but don’t realize it. An expert solicitor could help maximize the compensation you aim for. It’s important to note that special damages can be included only as part of a claim for physical and/or psychological injury, not on their own. Call our team to discuss special damages today.
How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
The solicitors on our panel provide eligible claimants with a type of No Win No Fee contract. Often they recommend a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Working with personal injury solicitors this way usually means:
- No initial solicitors fees need to be paid.
- No solicitors fees apply going forward.
- No solicitor’s fees apply for work already finished if the claim fails.
- Claims that enjoy a positive outcome require payment of a success fee to the solicitors. This is a percentage of the compensation.
- The success fee comes under a legal cap which means the person claiming can confidently expect to receive virtually all of the compensation awarded to them.
A CFA could allow you to commence your personal injury claim without fears of solicitor’s fees holding you back. Why not speak to our advisory team to see if your claim is eligible? If you’d like to use our services, the team could connect you with a specialist personal injury solicitor from our panel to help:
- See if you can place your claim in expert hands by calling 0800 408 7826
- Use the live discussion option below on our screen to discuss our list of compensation payouts in the UK.
- Fill out our online contact us form to claim compensation.
More Information
Here are other links that offer further helpful information about the injury claim calculator process:
- This guide explains what your claim is worth here.
- Here is a complete claim calculator guide to help.
- Also, here is our step-by-step accident claims guide.
Some outside resources:
- Learn when you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
- Here is information about requesting copies of your medical reports.
- Lastly, how to request CCTV footage of yourself as evidence to support your claim.
Thanks for reading our list of compensation payouts in the UK. We hope it has clarified your options and that you now better understand the compensation claims process that can apply to certain injuries. If you need any more help, please reach out to the team using the contact options above.