You could be entitled to claim compensation if you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
Compensation amounts are based on the severity of your injuries, and the type of care you may need in the future. It also covers all of your out of pocket expenses you may have incurred since your accident.
Your legal right to claim compensation exists to try and get you back to where you were before your accident.
Over the last 20 years, Bott and Co have represented thousands of people who have been injured in a car accident, claiming over £101m in compensation.
The support we offer our clients stretches far beyond our award-winning legal services. Our tailor-made claim process ensures we’re always there for you when you need us most.
Specialist Support When You Need It Most
Our car accident claims team has almost 300 years of combined legal experience. Completely independent of insurers, we act only in your best interests to help you claim the amount of compensation you’re legally entitled.
Why Choose Bott and Co?
- Almost 300 Years Of Combined Legal Experience
- 100% Independent - We Act For Your Best Interests
- Reduced Success Fees On Special Damages
- Support For Immediate Physio & Replacement Vehicle
No Win No Fee
Our legal services are offered on a no win no fee basis, meaning there is no financial risk to you when claiming.
Unlike most firms, we don’t deduct fees for certain types of out of pocket expenses we’ll claim for on your behalf. This means you may receive significantly more when claiming with us than with another firm.
Physiotherapy
We can provide instant access to private physiotherapy and rehabilitation that will form part of your claim and be recovered from the opponent.
Appointments can be set up immediately, which means you could start receiving treatment for your injuries within days. We offer physiotherapy from specialist rehabilitation companies with locations throughout the UK.
Replacement Vehicle
You won’t need to worry about your car, either. Our nationwide network of replacement car providers will make sure you have an appropriate rental car while yours is repaired.
Monitor Your Claim With Our App.
Our specially designed app will give you 24/7 access to updates and progress on your claim.
Contact our car accident claims team now for a free no-obligation consultation and find out how we may able to help you with your claim.
Below our expert legal team explain in detail your rights to claiming compensation for your car accident.
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Who Can Make A Car Accident Claim?
It is likely you can claim compensation if you’ve been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
You do not need to be the driver of the car to claim. You can claim if you were a passenger involved in a collision through no fault of your own.
You do not need to be the driver of the car to claim. You can claim if you were a passenger involved in a collision through no fault of your own.
Additionally, you may be able to claim if you were a pedestrian.
According to the most recent Department for Transport statistics, there were 226,000 car accidents in the UK in 2018, with many crashes classed as either serious or fatal.
What Information Do I Need To Make A Claim?
The more information you can provide, the more accurately and quickly we can assess your claim. Information such as the circumstances of the accident, the registration number and insurance details of the other party, along with a police case reference number, photos, video or even dashcam footage are very helpful.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all of that information. One call to our team and we’ll be able to explain your legal rights based on the information you can provide.
How Long After An Accident Can You Claim?
You can usually make a claim for compensation up to three years after the accident occurred, or up to three years after you discover an injury which was caused by the accident.
There are a few exceptions to this standard time limit.
Claiming As A Child
If you were under 18 at the time of the accident, you have up to three years from the date you turn 18 to claim.
However, a child can claim before then if they have a “litigation friend” who is usually a parent or guardian who can claim on their behalf.
Compensation exists to provide support to get you back to where you were before your accident. Compensation amounts are awarded in relation to the pain and suffering experienced as a result of your injuries.
Claiming For Someone Lacking Mental Capacity
There is no time limit for someone unable to claim for themselves due to diminished mental capacity. Should they regain normal mental capacity, the three year time period will apply from that date.
Car Accidents Abroad
The window of time to claim for a car accident abroad may be different to the UK. This can vary based on which country the accident took place. However, depending on the circumstances, it may still be possible to claim under UK law.
How Much Compensation Can I Get For A Car Accident?
The standard amounts of compensation that can be claimed for specific injuries are set by the Judicial Board Guidelines. For the most common car accident injury; whiplash, the amount of compensation can range from £2,700 for mild whiplash to just under £100,000 for severe neck injuries.
Compensation exists to provide support to get you back to where you were before your accident. Compensation amounts are awarded in relation to the pain and suffering experienced as a result of your injuries.
Any out of pocket expenses that relate to your accident can also be recovered.
As each accident is unique, it is difficult to calculate accurately the amount of compensation you may be able to claim.
A free claim consultation with one of our team is the quickest way to know how much you may be able to claim. Most consultations take no more than 5 to 10 minutes.
Our team is available through phone or web chat, or you can complete our online form to schedule a time that suits you.
How Are Compensation Amounts Calculated?
The total amount of compensation you may be able to claim is calculated by combining the compensation you may receive for both General and Special Damages.
General Damages are calculated to compensate you for your injuries and the care you may require; essentially, they cover the pain, suffering and loss of amenity experienced.
Special Damages are calculated to compensate you for your out of pocket expenses you may have incurred that relate to your accident.
General Damages – Compensation For Your Injuries
The value of your General Damages is calculated from the Judicial Board Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases which outlines compensation amounts for particular levels of injury.
These amounts depend on the severity of the injury and complicating factors, plus how long it may take for you to recover.
Our interactive calculator below will help you find out how much compensation you may be able to claim for your injury.
Calculate how much you could claim
Injuries may include
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.
A comprehensive list of compensation amounts is available at the bottom of this page.
Special Damages – Compensation for your out of pocket expenses
Your Special Damages cover any out of pocket expenses you may have already incurred or will incur in the future.
These costs can be as far-ranging as travel costs to your medical and rehabilitation appointments, additional childcare support, or loss of earnings from your job, through to all of your medical expenses such as prescriptions, physiotherapy, counselling, and adjustments you may need to make to your home, or special equipment required while you recover from your injuries.
It is important to document these expenses as they are incurred. We advise you to keep all receipts as proof.
Special Damages You May Be Able to Claim For
- Damage to your vehicle
- Damage to your possessions
- Insurance Excess
- Prescription costs
- Medical care, including Physio & Rehab
- Prescription costs
- Travel expenses. (including travel to appointments and parking)
- Loss of earnings, future and past that are directly concerned with the incident and injury.
- Any loss of job opportunities, promotions, bonuses or pensions.
- Costs relating to the adaptation of your home, if required.
- Any household assistance or care you may require.
Why It’s Important To Choose The Right Solicitor
You may have already received a financial offer of compensation from a third party insurance company. More often than not, these offers are a fraction of the amount of compensation you may be legally entitled to.
The insurance company may want to minimise the amount they pay you, so the benefits of having a law firm such as Bott and Co on your side are considerable.
Bott and Co have always been, and will always be, independent of any insurance company ensuring you’ll receive completely independent advice about your claim.
Some insurance companies may try to tempt you into settling quickly with initial offers. While these offers may be appealing, usually they are considerably lower than the amount you may be entitled. In some instances, we may be able to provide an interim payment, so you’ll not be forced into accepting something against your best interests.
We regularly recover many times more compensation than the original amount offered by the insurer. Some clients have come to us after being offered two or three thousand pounds. We were able to increase these amounts significantly to the levels of compensation they were legally entitled.
Our No Win No Fee Promise
We provide our legal services on a No Win No Fee basis. This means if we don’t win your case, you won’t pay a penny.
No Win No Fee is also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), and this means we agree to work for you on the basis that we won’t charge any fees if in the rare instance the claim is not successful.
This means there is no financial risk to you when making a claim, and it enables us to help you receive the justice you deserve.
We also purchase an After The Event (ATE) insurance on your behalf to cover any legal costs should you not win the case.
However, if you have an existing legal expenses insurance policy such as one included in your car insurance, then you won’t need an ATE policy.
Whatever your particular circumstances, we will advise you on how to protect yourself against any costs and how we will recover the best possible compensation amounts from the other side.
How Our Fees Differ From Other Solicitors
Similarly to most law firms, we would deduct a success fee from your compensation. The success fee can be up to 25%.
However, unlike many firms, we do not make any deductions from the amount of compensation you’ll receive for some of the out of pocket expenses we recover for you.
This can make the overall amount of compensation you receive considerably higher than what you may receive with another firm.
We will not deduct our fees from any of the following Special Damages we may be able to claim on your behalf.
- Medical care.
- Rehabilitation.
- Past loss of earnings
- Home adaptations.
- Vehicle damage
Speak with our team to discuss your claim in more detail.
What Does A Claim Look Like?
Because we know the legal process can seem complicated, we’ve worked hard over the last two decades to make claiming with Bott and Co as straightforward as possible. When claiming with us, you can also rely on not only our considerable legal expertise but our compassion and sensitivity to your circumstance.
The first step is to speak to our experienced legal team to discover if you have a claim. Our friendly, helpful team of legal advisors are usually able to advise you on your initial call, which will take no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.
When claiming with us, you can also rely on not only our considerable legal expertise but our compassion and sensitivity to your circumstance.
If you decide you’d like Bott and Co to represent you, and you have agreed to our No Win No Fee agreement, you’ll be assigned to a specialist member of our road traffic accidents team.
As your claim progresses through each stage, you’ll have a specific point of contact to guide you through the process. They will keep you updated on your case and answer any questions you may have throughout the process.
Your solicitor will begin to compile your case by asking you to provide all of the relevant details of the accident.
Our guide about what to do if you’ve been involved in a car accident includes information that would be useful to build a case.
We would need to know details of the accident, how and where it happened, and details of the third party (the person who may have caused the accident).
If you don’t know this information, we can sometimes claim through the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) who will pay compensation in cases where the other driver is not insured or can’t be traced.
Do I Need To Attend A Medical?
Yes, in all cases, you will need to be medically examined so we can discover the level of your injuries. A medical report will be compiled detailing your injuries. This will serve as a basis for the amount of compensation you may receive.
Once we have all of the information needed, we will send a letter on your behalf to the defendant. The defendant has to respond to the letter that we send within a specific timeframe, and they will either admit or deny liability for the accident. If they accept liability, we can usually settle the claim without having to go to court.
The medical evaluation will serve as a basis for the amount of compensation you may receive.
We will deal with all correspondence with the third party insurers, presenting the evidence to them and negotiating the best possible payout for your injuries and other losses.
We always provide strict client confidentiality with all our claims. As a law firm, we’re authorised and regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA), so you can trust in the service we provide. Your data and information are safe with us. We will never pass on or sell your information to any other company.
How Long Does A Car Accident Settlement Take?
Usually, claims will take longer the more serious your injuries are. A mild whiplash claim may settle within a few months, while a severe head, neck or back injury may take considerably longer.
Every car accident is unique, as is the claim process that follows. The length of time it takes for your claim to complete will depend on its complexity.
Claims can be more complicated if you were involved in a “hit and run” and the other party failed to stop, or you were hit by an uninsured driver.
Your solicitor will be able to let you know how long they expect your case to last.
Who Pays The Injury Compensation In A Car Accident?
In most cases, the insurance company of the driver who was responsible for the accident will be legally obliged to pay the amount of compensation you may receive.
We strongly advise you to speak with a solicitor who is independent of the insurance company before accepting any offer to ensure the amount you are offered is comparable to the amount you’re legally entitled.
The Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) is an independent body set up to compensate those injured in an accident when the driver at fault was either untraceable or uninsured. In these instances, the compensation will be claimed from the MIB.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do After A Car Accident?
As your solicitors, to successfully claim compensation, we will need to compile a strong case on your behalf. The more information you can provide, the easier this will be and may help you to receive your compensation quicker.
This includes gathering evidence, including the other driver’s vehicle registration number, and their insurance details.
Even if the accident is considered minor, we advise you to call the police as you will receive a case reference number and official documentation of the accident.
If able, take photos and videos of the crash scene, including damage to the vehicles, the road conditions and surroundings if relevant. Do not admit you are at fault for the accident.
For more information, read our comprehensive guide on what to do at the scene of an accident.
Can I Claim If The Condition Of The Road Caused My Car Accident?
If your accident was caused by the condition of the road, you may be able to claim. The most common instances are potholes or cracks in the road.
In these instances, the claim may be brought against The Highways Agency or the local council who is responsible for the upkeep of the road. We would need to prove that the Highways Agency do not have any, or any adequate, system of inspection in place.
Can I Claim If I Was Hit By An Uninsured Driver?
Yes, you can claim if you have been hit by an uninsured driver, or if the driver has broken the conditions of their insurance policy. These claims are settled with the Motor Insurance Bureau, an independent body set up to compensate victims of uninsured or untraced accidents.
I Was Involved In A “Hit And Run.” Can I Claim?
Yes, similarly to uninsured drivers, hit and run claims are presented to the Motor Insurance Bureau.
Can I Claim If I Was At Fault?
Your right to claim depends on the circumstances. Every car accident is unique and there are usually a combination of factors that contribute to a crash. Such factors may include the condition of the road.
Even if you think you may be at fault, that may not be the case legally.
We recommend you speak with our team to discuss your case. It may be that you were not at fault or partly at fault. In all instances, you still may be able to claim.
Even if you think you may be at fault, that may not be the case legally. Contact our team to discuss your case.
In circumstances where you are partly responsible, you may be able to claim under what is called a split liability agreement. This would mean if you were 50% responsible for the accident, you would receive 50% less compensation.
Can I Claim If I Was A Passenger?
Yes, you may be able to claim if you were a passenger. You could claim if you were a passenger in a car, or on private transport such as a taxi, or public transport such as a bus.
Drivers in such circumstances have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all of its passengers. The transport company operating public transport is also liable for the maintenance of its vehicles.
Can I Claim On Behalf Of Someone Else?
Yes, you can claim on behalf of someone else if you are a parent, carer or guardian of a close family member. They must either be under 18 years of age or be mentally unable to make their own decisions.
In these instances, you would be able to claim as a “litigation friend” on their behalf. Contact our team to find out more.
Do You Offer Interim Payments?
In straightforward and minor cases where more than one medical report is required, it may be possible to request an interim payment.
We recommend that you speak to our team about your circumstances. We will then be able to advise. In more serious cases, interim payments are also requested at the very beginning of the case.
What Is The RTA Portal?
The Claims Portal, sometimes known as the MOJ Portal or RTA Portal, was set up by the Government in 2010 to improve efficiency and to reduce costs associated with the claims process. The Portal is used for claims with a value of more than £1,000 and less than £25,000. The fees paid to lawyers who handle these claims are fixed.
The Portal is a secure online system designed to speed up how a claim is handled between solicitor and defendant.
There are three stages to the process – investigation, negotiation, and litigation, with strict deadlines for each.
For many low-value “straightforward” claims, the Portal can help settlements be reached much quicker. If liability is conceded and a claim value is agreed, the process can take as little as three months to complete.
What Does “Dropping Out Of The Portal” Mean?
A claim may “drop out” of the Portal for several reasons such as liability being disputed and/or an insurer needs to make further investigations
What Are The Whiplash Reforms?
The Government is planning to implement further reforms to the system from April 2020. These reforms may include limiting the amount of compensation payable for some cases and increasing the Small Claims limit from £1,000 to £5,000, substantially reducing compensation awards to innocent victims.
This means access to justice will be more limited for those who have suffered injuries in an accident once these reforms are in place.
Average Compensation Claim Amounts For A Car Accident (Updated January 2020)
| 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 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. |