Concussion Injury Claims – How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

Concussion is a word that’s used a lot, but many people don’t realise that it actually means you’ve suffered a temporary brain injury. While symptoms can ease after a few hours, in some cases concussion can lead to long-term suffering. Importantly, anybody who has suffered a concussion due to somebody else’s negligence may be eligible to make a concussion injury claim for their pain and suffering.

If you’re considering starting a concussion compensation claim, our team can help. A claims advisor will happily listen to what’s happened and review your options for you. You’ll get free advice and, if your case seems strong enough, they could refer you to one of our personal injury solicitors to pursue your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

Please read on for more information on concussion injury claims. Alternatively, please call the number at the top of the page if you’d like to begin your claim right away.

Am I Eligible To Make A Concussion Injury Claim?

Anybody who has suffered a concussion may be able to claim compensation if another party was at fault. This could be the case if you’ve suffered a concussion in a car crash due to a careless driver, or from a fall on a pavement due to negligence by the council, for example.

Generally, for a concussion injury claim to succeed, you’ll have to prove that:

• You were owed a duty of care.
• That duty was breached through negligence, causing an accident or incident.
• You suffered a concussion as a result.

When you speak with one of our advisors, they’ll be able to check if a claim is viable and explain your options.

Common Causes Of Concussion Injury Claims

Some of the more common causes of head injuries and concussion injury claims include:

Car Accidents

Road accidents include collisions between two or more vehicles or collisions with a parked vehicle. A concussion injury claim may be possible if a pedestrian gets knocked down by a vehicle or is in a hit-and-run car accident.

Two-Wheeler Accidents

Cyclists and motorbike riders are particularly vulnerable because of the complete lack of any type of protective barrier between them and the road or other larger vehicles. Severe head and brain trauma are more likely to occur if the rider is not wearing a crash helmet.

Sports Accidents

Some sports, such as American football, rugby, and real football, carry a higher risk of head and brain trauma. Players can potentially suffer concussion injuries when they are tackled, suffer concussion when they head the ball or if the ball strikes them on the head.

Violent Physical Attacks

Anybody who suffers a blow to the head after a violent physical attack, either by a stranger or because of domestic violence, may also suffer from concussion injuries.

Slips, Trips & Falls

The injuries that occur after a slip and fall could range from minor bumps and bruises to broken bones and concussion injuries. You are more likely to suffer severe brain trauma if you bang your head against a hard surface when you fall.

Fall From Height

Construction and building sites are notorious for workers being injured from falling from height due to a lack of safety measures, which in most cases could be grounds for making a compensation claim. However, fall from height injuries are unfortunately not limited just to building sites.

Evidence To Support A Concussion Injury Claim

If you’ve suffered a concussion injury through no fault of your own, collecting evidence for a compensation claim is a critical step to take. So, you should typically:

• Seek medical treatment. This might be via a 999 call, a trip to A&E, or a visit to a minor injuries unit. Following treatment for head injury and concussion, your medical records could help to prove how serious your injuries were.
• Take photographs/video at the scene. Where you’re able and safe to do so, take pictures/video of the incident scene. Preferably, you should do this before anything is moved.
• Report the incident. By law, employers and businesses with 10 or more employees must keep an accident book and record any workplace accidents. You may be given a copy of the report (or you can request one). It can help show exactly where and when the accident took place.
• Speak to any witnesses and note their contact details. If the defendant in your case denies liability for the accident or your concussion injury, your solicitor could ask anybody else who saw what happened for a statement.
• Obtain camera recordings. If the accident was captured on camera footage (CCTV, dashcam etc), request a copy. Act swiftly on this, as recordings are often deleted within days or weeks.

Once you’ve gathered as much as you can, or want us to help gather evidence, call our team on 0800 6524 881, and a solicitor could review the evidence with you.

How Much Compensation For Concussion Could I Claim?

The amount of compensation for concussion you might receive isn’t a pre-determined figure. Instead, solicitors base personal injury claims on two heads of loss. They are:

• General damages. Where you will claim compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity you’ve suffered. To help prove how serious your concussion injury is, you may need to have an independent medical assessment. Our solicitors can usually arrange these locally.
• Special damages. This part of your claim is for compensation based on any costs, expenses, or monetary losses you’ve incurred because of the concussion. They might include care costs, lost income, travel expenses or medical costs.

When you call our team, they’ll explain what you could claim for once your case has been reviewed. You can also visit our page here for more information on these damages.

Concussion Compensation Calculator

Ultimately, what you can claim for and the compensation you are entitled to after a concussion injury will depend on the severity of the injuries, the cost of treatment, and other expenses directly related to the injuries, as mentioned above. However, we can provide estimated amounts because of the compensation ranges provided by the Judicial College. These figures are used by solicitors and insurers so we’ve used them below.

*Please note that the compensation amounts shown should be used for guidance only and relate to general damages.

• £344,150 – £493,000 compensation for very severe brain damage.
• £267,340 – £344,150 compensation for moderately severe brain damage.
• £52,550 to £267,340 for moderate brain injuries.
• £18,700 to £52,550 compensation for concussion from a less severe head/brain injury.
• £2,690 to £15,580 compensation for concussion from a minor head/brain injury.

Concussion injuries that have caused epilepsy and other such conditions, psychiatric and psychological conditions, could also have these factors included into the compensation.

Time Limits For Claiming Concussion Compensation

Where compensation for a concussion injury is sought, the claim must usually be started within the relevant time limit. For most personal injury claims, this is 3 years. The limitation period will usually begin:

• From the date of the accident in which you suffered your concussion; or
• From the date of knowledge (when you first became aware of your injury and that it was linked to negligence).

The 3-year time limit does not apply to claims involving children until their 18th birthday. A litigation friend (parents, guardians, or similar) can bring a claim on their behalf at any point before then. If no claim is made, the child has until their 21st birthday to take action themselves.

For claimants who lack mental capacity, the limitation period is paused indefinitely. A litigation friend may start a claim at any time unless capacity is regained, at which point the normal 3-year rule applies.

We suggest that it’s best to begin your claim at the earliest opportunity. By doing so, you’ll allow your solicitor plenty of time to gather evidence to support your case. Also, you’ll find it easier to recall what happened. Furthermore, if you require rehabilitation, your solicitor might be able to request that the defendant pays for private treatment before the claim is finalised.

If you would like us to consider your concussion injury claim, do call us as soon as possible. You won’t be under any obligation, but if your case is strong enough, we could provide a specialist solicitor to represent you.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Concussion Compensation Claim?

While it is possible to handle a concussion compensation claim on your own, working with a solicitor can make the process easier and improve the likelihood of a positive outcome.

If your concussion claim is taken on by one of our solicitors, they will begin by collecting evidence to support your case. They’ll then notify the defendant, usually through their insurer, that a claim is being made.

As the claim progresses, your solicitor will keep you informed about any progress. You will also have ample opportunities to ask any questions you think of. You’ll be shielded from any complex questions from the defendant’s insurer as your solicitor will deal with all queries on your behalf.

Importantly, they’ll try to counter any objections over liability for the accident by supplying additional evidence if possible. Also, they won’t simply accept the first settlement offer that’s received. Instead, all offers will be considered carefully and discussed with you. If an offer is thought to be too low to cover your suffering, your solicitor will negotiate for a higher amount.

Starting The Concussion Injury Claims Process

Call us on 0800 6524 881 for free, no-obligation advice on claiming concussion compensation. One of our advisors will listen to what happened and explain your options clearly.

Remember, if your concussion injury claim is accepted, we can appoint a specialist solicitor to handle everything for you. They’ll gather evidence, deal with the defendant’s insurers, and work to secure the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. All concussion claims we take on are managed on a No Win No Fee basis, so you won’t have to pay any legal fees unless your case is successful.