Personal Injury
How much is my personal injury claim worth?
If you have had an accident that wasn’t your fault, it can be difficult to get back on track. You might be in pain, have ongoing medical appointments, or be unable to work while you recover.
At Hodge Jones & Allen, we know that receiving damages after making a compensation claim won’t change what happened, but it can help you to move forward. It can relieve some financial pressures that you may be facing after your accident and give you the monetary reward you’re entitled to.
We understand that you might want to learn more about what to expect before you contact our solicitors, so we’ve detailed everything you need to know about making your personal injury claim – and how much it could be worth.
What is personal injury?
Personal injury is a wide-ranging term covering multiple different types of accident. Our leading personal injury solicitors work with a diverse range of clients and each has their own individual circumstances, so the outcomes of personal injury claims vary hugely. Some of the types of personal injury claims we work with most frequently include:
If you’ve been in an accident on the road that wasn’t your fault, your car insurance won’t cover any lost earnings, treatment costs for injuries, nor the stress and pain caused. We can help you make a personal injury claim in this situation, whether you were the passenger, driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian.
In unfortunate circumstances, unexpected slips and trips can result in serious injury. Along with guiding you through what to do after injuring yourself in a fall, we can help you to build a substantial personal injury claim.
Being involved in an accident at work can be traumatic. In the UK, employment laws and health and safety policies will always be on your side. With our specialist solicitors, we can help you achieve the justice you deserve through a workplace personal injury claim.
Sometimes, our team is contacted by the family of an individual involved in a fatal or catastrophic accident. We’re here to offer compassionate, pressure-free advice, and while we know we can’t change what you’ve been through, any compensation we can offer might help to provide those closest to you with the support they need.
If you’ve received improper or incorrect medical care and you’ve been injured as a result, you might be able claim compensation based on personal injury. Our team has a proven track record of successfully bringing claims against the NHS, making things right for you.
How much could my personal injury claim be worth?
Since claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, there’s no hard and fast rule to determine how much you could be awarded by a judge. It’s never possible to predict an exact number for how much a personal injury claim is worth, even with an online calculator.
You might assume that certain injuries naturally attract a specific amount of compensation. Since each case is very different, your judge will also consider any personal suffering, the length of your recovery, the intensity of your pain, and any financial impact, too.
Whatever the outcome, you should expect to be awarded for your injuries at a minimum, and financial losses as and when they apply. We’ve written a general guide to demonstrate just how much the final amounts can vary.
We’ve provided our estimates based on figures available within the 15th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines. This is a legal reference text provided by the Judicial College, part of the Ministry of Justice, and is used as the official framework for solicitors working across the UK.
Our guide to your level of compensation:
| Ankle injuries | £2,000 to £46,980 |
| Arm injuries | £6,190 to £255,930 |
| Back injuries | £1,000 to £151,070 |
| Body scarring | £2,220 to £98,380 |
| Brain/head injuries | £2,070 to £379,100 |
| Elbow injuries | £3,310 to £51,460 |
| Facial injuries | £3,710 to £91,350 |
| Foot injuries | £2,000 to £102,890 |
| Hand injuries | £1,000 to £189,110 |
| Knee injuries | £2,000 to £90,290 |
| Leg injuries | £2,300 to £246,650 |
| Neck injuries | £1,000 to £19,210 |
| Pelvis/Hips injuries | £1,000 to £122,860 |
| Psychological injuries | £1,440 to £108,620 |
| PTSD | £3,710 to £94,470 |
| Shoulder injuries | £1,000 to £45,070 |
| Toe injuries | £1,000 to £52,620 |
| Wrist injuries | £3,310 to £56,180 |
It’s important to note that the figures above are just a starting point. If you are asking questions like ‘how much is a foot injury worth?’, ‘how much compensation could I get for my hand injury?’, or ‘how much is a whiplash injury worth?’, you will need to get an accurate and complete valuation of your case in order to get an answer. To do this, you will need to seek specialist medical evidence and advice before contacting us.
You might also need to conduct your own research using the Judicial College guidelines if you need to learn about complex injuries including facial fractures; injuries that impact your senses; or injuries to organs, including those to the heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys and bladder, and reproductive organs.
"Following a serious car collision I was involved in, I instructed Hodge Jones & Allen to deal with my Personal Injury claim. Beyond all expectations, I received the maximum compensation for my injuries within 7 weeks, therefore avoiding a court hearing. Claire Sadler and her colleagues were very helpful and informative and kept me updated throughout. I was also charged a lesser fee than anticipated due to the swift settlement of my claim and I cannot rate them more highly."
Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen to help with your personal injury claim?
At Hodge Jones & Allen, we know it can be difficult to cope in the aftermath of an injury that wasn’t your fault. Regardless of whether your pain is physical, psychological, or if you’ve been affected by multiple symptoms as a result, we’re here to help you find the answers and justice you deserve.
Many of our solicitors are members of panels belonging to The Law Society and AvMA, along with being accredited by the not-for-profit Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. Furthermore, we also have team members with a personal background in a healthcare profession, meaning we can bring a practical, circumstantial understanding to both the medical and legal sides of your case.
Our award-winning team of personal injury solicitors know how to achieve settlements for their clients. We have been representing people who have suffered a personal injury for more than four decades, so we’re confident that we have the experience and knowledge needed to help you make a claim.
How will a personal injury solicitor help with my claim?
If you ever need to claim personal injury compensation, our professional legal support is hugely beneficial. We work with numerous charities and organisations across the UK to provide unrivalled personal injury support services at your disposal, no matter how long your recovery lasts.
Among other organisations, we’re a proud legal partner of the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT), a network helping children who’ve been diagnosed with a brain injury to access the right legal support as soon as possible. Our Partner and brain injury solicitor, Riffat Yaqub, works closely with the CBIT team and is available for confidential discussions on an individual basis.
At Hodge Jones & Allen, we do much more than just help you with your claim. If you have had an accident that was not your fault, contact us today to find out what we can do for you.
"Sarah took care of myself and my case offering advice, support, and assistance in absolutely everything throughout. I never felt I was just a client number, I always felt Sarah was personally looking out for myself and my family... I have no hesitation in recommending this company and its team(s) to anybody thinking of engaging them."
Which personal injury compensation am I entitled to?
The financial losses you can claim for depend entirely on your own specific situation. With a member of an independent legal team like Hodge Jones & Allen on hand to support you, it’s guaranteed that you’ll be provided with the correct advice – not just on what you can claim for, but also how to put together evidence to support your claim.
In all cases, there are two elements to injury compensation, and we’ve explained each below.
General damages
General damages covers compensation for pain, suffering, and the loss of amenity, which is when you no longer have the ability to do things that you were capable of before the injury.
In some cases, additional compensation can be awarded under general damages if you cannot return to work after suffering an injury. Or, if the injury forces you to change the type of work you do or otherwise affects your ability to work in the future, you might be able to claim anticipated future loss of earnings.
You might also be able to claim if you think that any potential bonuses or pay rises have been affected by your injury. Furthermore, if you’ve had to spend more than expected to stay active – for instance, if you’re no longer able to drive, use a motorcycle or ride a bike after your injury – you will be able to claim for these expenses, too.
Special damages
Also known as out-of-pocket expenses, special damages are consequential financial losses after your injury. We’ve written out some of the most common losses to include in a personal injury claim on our blog, which include circumstances like:
- Missing your pension payments
- Time taken off work due to your injuries
- Cancelling holidays
- Travel costs, for instance for attending appointments
- Damaged belongings
- Items bought to support your recovery
- Medical costs, plus any future care and rehabilitation expenses
If you need to modify your home and/or your car after your injury, you might be awarded additional compensation. To support any claim for special damages, documentation will need to be provided. This documentation could be in the form of wage slips, receipts, invoices, or similar paperwork to use as evidence.
Successful cases
Which injuries can I claim compensation for?
During the process of evaluating your compensation, one of our expert solicitors will identify and consider the most relevant section of the Judicial College Guidelines for your injury or injuries. The guidelines cover a range of injuries affecting multiple parts of the body, including:
- Head injuries
- Injuries affecting ENT (ear, nose, and throat)
- Fractures and soft tissue injuries like sprains
- Psychological damage
- Minor injuries that take under a month to resolve
Generally, the guidelines describe the injury to indicate the expected compensation to match the level of injury. Certain injuries are more debilitating than others, so we’ve included a bit more information about a few of the more complex injuries to settle a claim for.
We would never recommend using a cost calculator if you’re wondering how much an injury claim is worth. You’ll only be able to find out a specific amount once you’ve been through the process of working alongside a trained solicitor to support you.
How much is a back injury worth?
Back injuries can be a serious setback. Minor back injuries can include sprains, strains, and soft tissue damage, and the total amount of compensation you might receive depends on the length of your recovery. If your symptoms last a couple of years but you didn’t require any surgery, you might not receive more than a few thousand pounds.
Our findings from the Judicial College Guidelines suggest that you could receive in excess of £150,000 for the most severe kinds of back injury. This type of back injury would usually involve damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots, often resulting in full or partial paralysis.
How much is a neck injury worth?
Neck injuries can affect your mobility and potentially carry a lasting effect on your life. Plus, at least in the short-term, your neck injury might’ve made you depend on someone else to look after you. Whiplash is also classed as a neck injury, and we often help our clients with this following a road traffic accident.
Serious neck injuries, involving multiple fractures or damage to discs, could also be classed as a back injury, depending on how far down your vertebrae they go. Any serious neck injury with soft tissue damage should be worth at least £19,000 in compensation.
How much is an eye injury worth?
An eye injury is any injury that involves the eyeball, eye socket, or the ligaments and small muscles that control the movement of your eye. These types of injury often fall under a wider claim for a head or facial injury.
For the complete loss of an eye, a claimant could receive in the region of £30,000 depending on their individual age, circumstances, and lasting effects. You might be awarded more for complete or partial loss of sight, but this is heavily dependent on the level of damage or deterioration to the other eye.
How much is a head injury claim worth?
Our general guide from the Judicial College Guidelines maintains that total compensation from a head injury could range from as little as £2,070 up to £379,100, but this depends on the severity and the impact on your quality of living.
A compensation claim for a head injury might include concussion, facial injury, fractured skull, a broken nose, or injury to your chin, jaw, and cheekbones. Closed head injuries are the most common kind of head injury claim, which is where the bones in the skull are not affected. We will help you find the right support during your recovery, along with helping you win your claim.
How much is my car accident claim worth?
In the financial year from 2017-2018, the average value of claims relating to bodily injury after a motor accident was approximately £10,450. As with any other type of accident, the value of the claim will be determined by the situation and independent circumstances.
If you’ve suffered whiplash or any other injury following a road traffic accident, it’s worth knowing about the latest changes to the personal injury claims process. For any small claims not involving pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders, the small claims limit is increasing from £1,000 to £5,000.
How will the value of my personal injury claim be worked out?
It’s important to remember that the range of compensation that a judge might award to your case can only be assessed once a final medical prognosis has been established and after a solicitor has reviewed any supporting evidence.
Even if you haven’t incurred any major financial losses or expenses as a result of your injury, you can still claim for compensation for the injury alone, under general damages. This type of compensation will be calculated by taking several factors into account, including:
- The type of injury you’ve sustained
- How serious the injury is
- How long it might take you to recover
- The impact on your ability to work
- The level of lasting damage, ongoing disability, or symptoms that don’t go away
- Scarring as a result of the injury
- Whether multiple injuries or psychological effects have been caused by the accident
- The overall impact that the injury had on your day-to-day life
The value of a claim is based on these individual facts and circumstances around your personal injury case. Expert medical evidence will also always be required, too.
How much is concussion worth in a car accident?
Concussion is a type of temporary brain injury, and it can be a lot more serious than people first realise. Once your recovery is underway, seeking compensation is crucial.
Cases of very severe brain damage often see patients rewarded hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation, but you could still take home tens of thousands for a mild to moderate brain injury. Going through this type of accident is traumatic enough in nature, so we’ll do everything we can to make your claim successful.
How will the value of my personal injury claim be worked out?
It’s important to remember that the range of compensation that a judge might award to your case can only be assessed once a final medical prognosis has been established and after a solicitor has reviewed any supporting evidence.
Even if you haven’t incurred any major financial losses or expenses as a result of your injury, you can still claim for compensation for the injury alone, under general damages. This type of compensation will be calculated by taking several factors into account, including:
- The type of injury you’ve sustained
- How serious the injury is
- How long it might take you to recover
- The impact on your ability to work
- The level of lasting damage, ongoing disability, or symptoms that don’t go away
- Scarring as a result of the injury
- Whether multiple injuries or psychological effects have been caused by the accident
- The overall impact that the injury had on your day-to-day life
The value of a claim is based on these individual facts and circumstances around your personal injury case. Expert medical evidence will also always be required, too.
How do I make a personal injury claim?
No matter the severity of the injury, your first priority should be seeking medical help as soon as possible. Even if you’ve only sustained minor injuries, make sure you’ve given yourself enough time to recover from the initial shock before you start gathering evidence of your treatment and any costs incurred.
To make a claim in any case, you’ll need to know the limitations attached. We understand that claiming compensation for a personal injury can be complicated, so it’s always a good idea to speak to a solicitor who specialises in these claims.
It is likely that there will be a time limit to make your claim. The most common type of personal injury claim is negligence, and this comes with a three-year limit. In the event of any injury, you should get legal advice as soon as possible if you’d like to claim compensation. Contact us to get started.
What is the process for personal injury claims?
- Consultation: When you first speak to our personal injury claims team, we will gain a clearer understanding of your accident and the injury you’ve incurred, then we’ll work out the best way to help you.
- No Win No Fee agreement: You won’t have to pay anything upfront, and as long as you’ve taken out After the Event Insurance, you’ll have no financial obligations whatsoever if your claim is unsuccess
- Negotiations: We will contact the insurers of the party at fault for your accident. They might either accept or deny liability, but one of our solicitors will negotiate on your behalf.
- Additional evidence: If the other side denies liability or we can’t reach an agreement, we will gather more evidence to prove their fault. Additional evidence might also be needed to support your claim for damage.
- Reaching compensation: If your claim is successful, we will try our best to get you the maximum compensation. Lastly, you’ll pay us from your compensation, which is usually around a quarter of your damages payment.
