Our specialist bike accident team of solicitors have over two decades of success, recovering £100m in compensation for cyclists who have been injured in an accident that wasn’t their fault.
Speak with our specialist cycling accident claims legal team today to find out more about your legal rights.
Key Points When Claiming For A Cycling Accident
Find our your legal rights to claiming compensation
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I’ve Been Knocked Off My Bike. Can I Make A Claim Against The Driver Of The Car That Hit Me?
Many cyclists may think that they have fewer rights than other road users when it comes to accidents. This is not accurate, and you should be aware that you have just as many rights, if not more, than those afforded to other road users.
So, if you’ve been involved in a bike accident when someone else was either partly or wholly at fault, there is a good chance you will be able to claim compensation. This is because, in many cycling accidents involving cars or other vehicles, it is rare for motorists not to be at least partly responsible.
You are entitled to make a claim for injury and financial losses so that the responsible party puts you back in the same position you were before the accident.
You are entitled to make a claim for injury and financial losses so that the responsible party puts you back in the same position you were before the accident.
However, to receive compensation, it is essential that you can prove who was at fault if you’ve been hit by a car or knocked off your bike.
Collecting as much compelling evidence as possible is your strongest asset when the other party does not accept blame for the accident.
As experienced solicitors, we know what type of documentation is most helpful in you being successful in your claim. Below, we list the information that will give you the best opportunity to claim compensation for your accident successfully.
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A History of Success
We have helped our clients claim over £120m in compensation over the last twenty years
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Recognised not just within our industry but also by Martin Lewis as “pioneers” in our field.
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Completely independent, our only focus is helping you claim for what you are legally entitled to.
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We are members of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Your claim is in safe hands
What To Do If You’ve Been Hit By A Car
If you’ve been hit by a car or knocked off your bike, the most crucial piece of information for you to get is the car or vehicle’s license plate number.
Once you are in a safe position on the road, you should assess the extent of your injuries, the accident scene and who may have been responsible for the accident. We then recommend running through the following steps.
Seek Medical Help
Call for an ambulance if you or anyone you have been cycling with needs medical assistance.
Even if you feel that you are ok, you may not know the full extent of your injuries instantly. Therefore, we recommend that you go to your GP as soon as possible to get checked out, or in more serious cases, go to A&E or call an ambulance to the accident scene.
Call The Police
Don’t be afraid to call the Police even if the accident was minor and your injuries appear insignificant.
Once the Police arrive, write down the officer’s name in charge and ask for the police case reference number. Then, if you choose to make a compensation claim, your solicitor will be able to access all Police records they hold for the accident from the reference number.
In some cases, the Police may choose not to come to the accident scene if they feel the incident is not serious enough. Nevertheless, reporting the accident is important because the Police will record it, and a reference number will be created.
More Information
Help With Claiming
Make A Note Of All Road Users Who Were Involved In The Accident.
Start with finding out the person’s contact information who caused the accident. Usually, this is a driver of a car. At a minimum, we recommend you take their full name and address, telephone number, insurance provider, and vehicle registration details.
The vehicle registration is the essential piece of information as the person, and their insurance details are linked to the car registration number.
Collect the same information from other vehicles involved if there were multiple vehicles in the accident.
We recommend at this stage that you should resist any temptation to apologise or admit any fault on your part. This is because anything you say could be used against you when making a claim.
Ask Witnesses For Their Contact Information
Witnesses of the accident will be very important to your claim if the driver of the car does not admit fault for the accident. A witness can support your version of the events, which may be vital if you need to prove who is at fault for the accident.
See Why You'll Claim More With Us
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Unlike many firms, which will take 25% of the total amount of compensation, based on the specifics of your accident, we are happy to discuss our fees.
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Apart from making sure your bicycle and equipment aren’t undervalued, we will never take any fees from the compensation recovered. 100% of your compensation can go towards getting a replacement.
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Likewise, we don’t think it’s right that firms deduct from this part of the compensation, so we don’t. Combined with our approach to all of our fees, you could claim significantly more with us.
The example below shows how you could claim thousands more with us.
Deductions
Replaced Item Bott and Co Other Firms Loss Of Earnings (£4,000) £0 £1,000 (25%) Your Bike (£5,000) £0 £1,250 (25%) Helmet & CLothing £0 £125 (25%) Electronic Equipment (Garmin) (£100) £0 £25 (25%) ATE (£140)* £140 £500 Total Deductions £140 £2,900 Total You'll Receive £9,460 £6.700 How Much More You'd Receive With Us £2,760.00 *The £140 deduction for ATE (After the Event Insurance) includes Insurance Premium Tax.
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In many cases, we can secure part of your compensation in advance to help with the expenses you have incurred, help you replace the loss of earnings and help to cover medical costs or essential bills.
Collect As Much Evidence As Possible At The Scene
It might be challenging to keep a clear head when you’ve just been hit by a car, but accumulating as much evidence as possible at this stage will be very important in the future when fault is being assessed.
If you’re not able to do this, but you’re with someone who is, ask them to compile the evidence for you.
Take Photos And Videos As Evidence
Take as many photos and or videos as you can of the accident scene.
Take images of the road from as many angles as possible. Include photos or video of road markings and any marks on the road if they were made by the accident.
Take photos of your injuries at that point in time.
Take photos of the damage to your bike and equipment and photos of the damage to any other vehicle that was in the accident.
Look To Collect Further Video Evidence
Look to see if any cameras, such as CCTV cameras, may have recorded the accident. The Police may be able to help you obtain footage if the CCTV is publicly available.
Keep a copy of your helmet cam footage, and ask if anyone involved in the accident has dashcam footage. Even if they do not allow you access to it, make a note that it is available, and the footage can be attained at a future date.
Collect Evidence From Apps
Information stored in apps such as Google Maps or Apple Maps might be useful to show your route, and such apps as Strava can also provide valuable information if you choose to claim compensation.
Looking Out For Your Best Interests
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No Win No Fee
Our No Win No Fee promise means you are at no financial risk if you decide to make a claim
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Claim More With Us
Unlike most firms, you will receive all of the compensation due for your out-of-pocket expenses with us
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Interim Payments
We can provide an advance compensation payment where applicable.
Insurance
When asking for the contact information of the driver of the car who hit you, you may have asked for their insurance details. You may have provided yours in return.
We recommend not discussing who was at fault either at the scene or at a later date without speaking with a solicitor first.
This is especially important if the driver’s insurance company contacts you. Some insurance companies may try to make an early settlement offer to you. Traditionally, these are far lower than what your claim might be worth.
They will not have considered the severity of your injuries or an accurate valuation of the damage to your bike or your equipment.
As both experienced solicitors and seasoned cyclists, we are in the unique position to recognise both the correct value of your bike and equipment and the total value of your compensation claim.
Keep Your Bike And All Other Property
You should keep all of your belongings, such as your bike, in your safekeeping. They will be used as evidence and will provide a starting point to correctly value the amount of compensation you should receive for your bike and equipment.
Speak With Bott and Co
Speak with our specialist bike accident legal team to find out your legal rights. Once you have told us about your accident, we can explain your legal options and how we can help you make a claim.
Can I Make A Claim Against An Uninsured Driver?
Yes, you can still claim even if the driver at fault was not insured. These claims are slightly different, but your compensation rights remain the same. These claims are processed with the help of the Motor Insurance Bureau. Speak with our specialist solicitors to find out more.
What Should I Do If I Had A Bike Accident Caused By A Pot Hole?
If your accident is due to a defect in the road, such as a pothole, take pictures and use a tape measure or another object to provide some context to the size and height of the defect. Your claim will be against the local council, which is responsible for the maintenance of the roads.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Bike Accidents
The majority of bike accidents we see are caused by a lack of road awareness by the road user who is at fault for the accident.
This could be due to a driver not seeing the cyclists at all, a failure to look correctly, misjudging the space between them and a cyclist, or misreading the speed the cyclist may be going.
The most common examples of this include when
How Many Cycling Accidents On The Road Are There Each Year In The UK?
According to ROSPA, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, in 2019, there were 16,884 accidents reported to the Police. 4,433 of these were either serious injuries or fatal. 14% of the total number of accidents involved children.
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What Can I Claim For If I’ve Been Knocked Off My Bike?
There can be many costs and losses resulting from a bike accident aside from the injuries themselves.
If you’ve missed work due to injuries, then any wages and bonuses you might have earned can be recovered in a compensation claim.
You may also be able to claim for rehabilitation and physiotherapy costs plus any medical expenses, including parking at hospital visits, travel to physio and hospital appointments, and prescribed medication.
Any damage to your bike and clothing or equipment can also be included in a claim.
How Much Can I Claim For A Bike Accident?
It’s impossible to provide a fully accurate list of how much you could claim in compensation as each accident, injury, and circumstance is unique.
As a general rule, the more serious the injuries and the greater the loss of things like salary, equipment, and bike repairs or replacement, the higher the compensation amount.
Our interactive calculator below will help you find out how much compensation you may be able to claim for your injury.
Try Our Cycling Claims Calculator To See How Much You Could Claim
Injuries may include
Additional Compensation
The above figure, known as 'general damages' only relates to the compensation you may be able to claim for your injuries. You may also be able to claim for 'special damages' which includes your out of pocket expenses, medical costs, and loss of earnings. Contact our legal team to discuss the specifics of your accident and how
much you might be able to claim.
The amounts listed are based on average settlement figures awarded by Judges at Trial and are intended to ensure a fair settlement is reached.
Please be aware that compensation amounts vary on a case by case basis. These figures are intended only as a guide towards what your claim may be worth.
As part of claiming with Bott and Co, you will undergo an independent medical assessment. It is following this assessment that we will know an accurate amount of compensation we may be able to claim for you.
To get a more accurate idea of the value of your claim, read our guide on how much you can claim for a cycling accident or speak to our bike claims department, who can advise you once they have a full picture of the circumstances.
In the more serious cases, your solicitor will advise you about claims you may be able to make in the future too. Claims such as future medical expenses, future care and future loss of earnings claims.
Below, we list the average compensation amount for injuries caused by bike accidents. The figures are correct as of June 2022.
Average Compensation Claim Amounts For Cycling Accidents (Updated August 2022)
| Part of Body | Level of Injury | Compensation Amount | Injuries May Include |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Injury | Severe | £247,280 – £354,260 | Badly disabled, brain damage with little or no response. Includes people in a vegetative state in need of full time nursing. At the lower end, cases resulting in minimally conscious state with life expectancy of less than 15 years. |
| Head Injury | Serious | £192,090 – £247,280 | Serious physical symptoms or a significant change to your intellect or personality. It could cause substantial dependence on others, paralysis and reduced life expectancy. |
| Head Injury | Moderate | £13,430 – £192,090 | Symptoms can range from minor personality change, depression, poor concentration, and a small risk of epilepsy. At the top end of the bracket, symptoms could result in permanent vegetative state, high risk of epilepsy and some intellectual deficit. |
| Head Injury | Minor | £1,940 – £11,200 | In these cases, if there has been any brain damage, there is likely to have been a recovery within a few weeks. Awards can be influenced by the presence or absence of headaches. |
| Eye Injury | Severe | £56,070 – £354,260 | Injuries leading to complete blindness, or blinded in one eye and/ or severely reduced vision in other. |
| Eye Injury | Serious | £7,990 – £57,590 | Injuries leading to the loss of an eye, lost sight in one eye or suffering some but not total visual impairment. |
| Eye Injury | Minor | £1,930 – £7,650 | Minor injuries, such as being struck in the eye, explosion to fumes, or being splashed by liquids. In the majority of cases, recovery is within a few weeks. |
| Ear Injury | Severe | £79,560 – £123,310 | Injury leading to complete deafness. If injured as child, higher compensation may apply is there is a loss of speech. |
| Ear Injury | Serious | £27,450 – £39,940 | Loss of total hearing in one ear, amounts dependent on additional symptoms such as dizziness and tinnitus. |
| Ear Injury | Moderate | £11,040 – £26,040 | Compensation amount apply for those suffering from partial hearing loss to mild or severe tinnitus. |
| Ear Injury | Minor | Up to £6,140 | Very slight or occasional tinnitus, possible NIHL (Noise Induced Hearing Loss). |
| Facial Injury | Severe | £26,120 – £85,340 | Facial disfigurement, very serious multiple fractures to the jaw, (resulting in eating restrictions and risk of arthritis in the joints) chronic tooth pain, or scarring, amounts depending on how seriously affected. Men could receive less for facial disfigurement than women with same injury. Typically teens to early 30s, those psychologically damaged receive higher awards. |
| Facial Injury | Serious | £15,750 – £42,460 | Facial fractures such as broken jaw or nose. Amounts dependent on severity. Also apply to broken, damaged or lost teeth. |
| Facial Injury | Minor | £1,500 – £7,650 | Facial injury that didn’t include broken bones and left only very light or no scarring. Cases may include loss or damage to two front teeth or less, simple fractures of the jaw and nose with full recovery. |
| Neck Injury | Severe | £39,870 – £130,060 | Neck injuries involving serious fractures, damage to discs and partial paraplegia. Cases also include severe soft tissue damage, leading to chronic pain conditions and significant disability of a permanent nature. |
| Neck Injury | Moderate | £6,920 – £33,750 | Injuries such as fractures or dislocations which may result in spinal fusion. Cases may include disc lesion, cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement, permanent recurring pain. Also injuries which have accelerated a pre-existing condition. |
| Neck Injury | Minor | £2,150 – £6,920 | Soft tissue or whiplash injury but with recovery within three months to two years of incident. Amounts vary on severity of injury, level of pain and effect on restriction of ability to take part in your usual activities. |
| Back Injury | Severe | £34,000 – £141,150 | Back injury usually requiring surgery such as damaged spinal cord leading to partial paralysis, loss of bowel/bladder function and psychological issues. Cases may include nerve root damage, disc lesions, fractures, impaired agility, personality change and arthritis. |
| Back Injury | Moderate | £10,970 – £34,000 | Compression or crushed fracture of the lumbar spine causing a large risk of osteoarthritis and constant pain. May include spinal fusion, prolapsed disc requiring surgery and prolonged acceleration or exacerbation of a pre-existing back condition. |
| Back Injury | Minor | £2,150 – £10,970 | Soft tissue injuries, including less serious strains and sprains and disc prolapses. Full recovery takes place between 3 months and 5 years. |
| Shoulder Injury | Severe | £16,830 – £42,110 | Injuries associated with damages to the neck and the brachial plexus resulting in significant disability. |
| Shoulder Injury | Serious | £4,520 – £16,830 | Serious injuries may include fractures to the humerus, fractures to the clavicle and rotator cuff tears leading to surgery. |
| Shoulder Injury | Minor | £2,150 – £6,920 | Suffered pain from a soft tissue injury lasting 3 months to less than 2 years, but have eventually had a full recovery. |
| Injury To Pelvis and Hips | Severe | £34,340 – £114,810 | Severe hip or pelvis fractures that have led to bowel damage or have required a spinal fusion. Amounts depend on long-term effects (e.g. child-birth complications) and likelihood of more surgery. Injuries include minor fractures resulting in hip replacement. |
| Injury To Pelvis and Hips | Moderate | £11,040 – £34,340 | Injury that required a hip operation / replacement (or may lead to you requiring one in the future), but are unlikely to suffer from any serious disability as a result. |
| Injury To Pelvis and Hips | Minor | £3,460 – £11,040 | Minor soft tissue injuries with complete recovery, where there is little or nor residual disability within 2 years. |
| Arm Injury | Severe | £114,810 – £263,060 | Amputation of one or both arms. Amount awarded depends on where amputation is, age and the effect the operation has on life and whether there are phantom pains. |
| Arm Injury | Serious | £34,340 – £114,810 | Arm injury not resulting in amputation, but has a serious effect on ability to use arm(s) resulting in disability. |
| Arm Injury | Moderate | £16,830 – £34,340 | If there is a degree of disability for a period of time (such as a broken arm) but are expected to make a complete (or almost complete) recovery. |
| Arm Injury | Mild | £5,810 – £16,830 | Simple fractures of the forearm. Awards at the top end of the scale will include longer than usual recovery periods and other extenuating factors. |
| Elbow Injury | Severe | £34,340- | Amounts could apply if injury has required surgery or resulted in severe disability. |
| Elbow Injury | Serious | £13,720 – | Elbow injuries that did not require surgery or lead to a disability, but has resulted in restricted movement. |
| Elbow Injury | Moderate | Up to £11,040 | The majority of elbow injuries fall under this category. These amounts apply to injuries like tennis elbow, deep cuts or simple fractures that don’t lead to permanent damage. |
| Hand Injury | Severe | £25,430 – £176,660 | When a person has had one/both hands amputated, or had their hand rendered almost useless by amputation of more than one finger. Also cases where several fingers have been amputated but re-joined, leaving it clawed, clumsy and unsightly. |
| Hand Injury | Moderate | £3,810 – £25,430 | Injuries like deep cuts and soft tissue damage that have resulted in impaired function of the hand that may require surgery. At the bottom end of the scale, this will cover crush injuries, penetrating wounds and any permanent but non-intrusive symptoms. |
| Hand Injury | Minor | £800 – £3,810 | Soft tissue injuries with a recovery time of 6 months or less. Less serious injuries include crush injuries and laceration. |
| Wrist Injury | Severe | £21,480 – £52,490 | Wrist injuries resulting in complete loss of function and significant permanent disability. |
| Wrist Injury | Serious | £11,040 – £21,480 | Injuries include broken wrist or soft tissue damage, resulting in some permanent disability. |
| Wrist Injury | Moderate | £3,090 – £8,970 | Injuries including minor undisplaced fractures and an uncomplicated Colles fracture requiring the use of plasters, but recovery expected between 12 months and 2 years. |
| Finger Injury | Severe | £7,990 – £32,210 | One or more finger completely amputated. Amount depends on which finger(s) had to be removed and the level of disability the person suffers as a result. This includes total and partial loss of index finger and fractures of the index finger. |
| Finger Injury | Moderate | £3,460 – £14,330 | At the top end of the scale, amputation or loss part of the little finger. On the lower end, If you have suffered from a broken finger but have had a complete (or almost complete) recovery. |
| Finger Injury | Minor | Up to £4,160 | Injuries such as fractured fingers that have healed fully within 12 months. At the bottom end of the scale, there will be minor scarring. |
| Thumb Injury | Severe | £11,040 – £48,080 | Injuries include having part or all of your thumb amputated, suffering nerve damage, fractures, or losing your ability to grip properly. May also involve the insertion of wire. |
| Thumb Injury | Moderate | £3,460 – £11,040 | Injuries including fractures, recovering within six months and at the higher end of the scale, damage to tendons or nerves, causing impairment of sensation. At the higher end of the scale, cosmetic deformity of the thumb. |
| Thumb Injury | Minor | Up to £1,930 | These injuries may have caused severe pain for a short time, but will have resolved completely within 3 months. |
| Leg Injury | Severe | £48,080 – £247,280 | Injuries would usually include either a single or double amputation (the higher awards reserved for above the knee amputations), extensive degloving including bone grafting, and in most cases a permanent future mobility restriction. |
| Leg Injury | Moderate | £15,750 – £48,080 | Injuries including a broken leg, multiple fractures or crushing injuries, generally to one leg. Compound fractures or ligament injuries resorting in instability with a near-certainty of arthritis . Minor fractures with an incomplete recovery or serious soft tissue injury. |
| Leg Injury | Minor | Up to £12,350 | Injuries that resolve within a few months, including soft tissue injuries, cuts, bruising, contusions. At the top end of the scale, simple fractures of femur, tibia and fibula. |
| Knee Injury | Severe | £22,960 – £84,360 | Joint injury that has resulted in serious disability, constant pain or muscle wastage. Compensation amounts would depend on whether you are likely to need surgery in the future and the effects your injury will have on your life. |
| Knee Injury | Moderate | £13,010 – £22,960 | Serious damage to the kneecap, ligaments or muscles, resulting in some disability with continued pain and discomfort. Also included are injuries involving dislocation, torn meniscus or acceleration type injuries over a prolonged period of years. |
| Knee Injury | Minor | Up to £12,050 | Injuries involving twisting, lacerations or bruising, where there is continuous aching or discomfort. At the bottom end of the scale, soft tissue injuries resolving in a few months. |
| Ankle Injury | Severe | £43,900 – £61,110 | Severe ankle injury leading to serious deformity, disability or even the possibility of amputation in the long-term. |
| Ankle Injury | Moderate | £12,050 – £43,900 | Ankle injury requiring operation/plaster. Amount depends on if injury affects ability to work and if you need special footwear. Fractures, ligamentous tears, which lead to less serious disabilities when walking/standing, risk of future osteoarthritis. |
| Ankle Injury | Minor | Up to £12,050 | Minor or undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligamentous injuries where there is an element of scarring. At the bottom end of the scale, injuries where recovery is complete without scarring and within a year. |
| Achilles Injury | Severe | £21,910 – | Muscles have been severed and this has led to restricted ankle movement. Injuries include a limp and residual scarring, and where further improvement is unlikely. |
| Achilles Injury | Moderate | £11,040 – | Cases involving partial rupture or significant injury to the tendon. At the top end of the scale, injuries involving disability and permanent scarring. |
| Achilles Injury | Minor | £6,800 – £11,040 | Tendon damage to the ankle, resulting in minor instability. At the top end of the scale, cases may involve scarring. |
| Foot Injury | Severe | £73,620 – £176,600 | Amputation of one or both feet, including traumatic amputation of the forefoot where there was a significant risk of the need for full amputation. |
| Foot Injury | Moderate | £12,050 – £61,410 | Fractures of both heels with restriction on mobility, including degloving, heel fusion and deformity. At the bottom end of the scale, injuries will include metatarsal fractures, resulting in permanent deformity and continuing symptoms. |
| Foot Injury | Minor | Up to £12,050 | Injuries include ruptured ligaments, puncture wounds where symptoms include a permanent limp, pain or aching, minor fractures, lacerations or contusions from which a complete recovery has been made within 2 years. |
| Toe Injury | Severe | £12,050 – £49,180 | Amputation of all of your toes or your big toe. Amount depends on whether you lost your toe(s) in an incident or had them surgically removed. Severe crush injuries leading to amputation of one or two toes, but not the big toe. |
| Toe Injury | Moderate | £8,420 – £12,050 | Injuries include multiple fractures or crush injury to two or more toes including the big toe. At the top end of the scale, there will be some permanent disability, and there will have been a number of unsuccessful operations. |
| Toe Injury | Minor | Up to £8,420 | Injuries include one or more broken toes. Compensation amounts will depend on how quickly you recover and whether or not you will suffer long-term symptoms. Injuries at the bottom end of the scale will have resolved completely within a short space of time. |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Severe | £52,490 – £88,270 | Cases will involve permanent effects which prevent the injured person from working at all, or at least from functioning at the pre-trauma level. Cases arising as a result of a traumatic event/accident. |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Moderate | £22,290 – £52,490 | This category involves the same type of symptoms as the severe category, but there is a much better prognosis, with a likely recovery with professional help over a number of years. |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Minor | £3,460 – £7,170 | At the top end of the scale, the injured person will have largely recovered, and any continuing effects will not be grossly disabling. At the bottom end of the scale, virtually a full recovery will be made within 2 years. |
| Scarring (not facial) | Severe | £6,870 – £19,930 | A number of noticeable laceration scars or single disfiguring scars. |
| Scarring (not facial) | Moderate | Up to £7,580 | At the top end of the scale, the injured person will have largely recovered, and any continuing effects will not be grossly disabling. At the bottom end of the scale, virtually a full recovery will be made within 2 years. |
| Scarring (not facial) | Minor | £2,080 – £6,870 | A single noticeable scar, or several superficial scars of leg, arm or hand, with some minor cosmetic deficit. |