When you file a personal injury claim, one of the most important things you would want to know is how much compensation can I claim and to get a good idea it helps to know how the compensation is calculated. This is not always straightforward or simple, especially if you’re suffering from an injury.

We’ve provided various examples below of what some claims may be worth, but as amounts can vary due to individual circumstances we suggest contacting us to discuss your injury in confidence with one of our solicitors or expert advisors who’ll be able to provide a more accurate assessment.

There are various different forms of personal injury actions that range from  Road Traffic accidents to Medical Negligence. The general rule is that all of these forms of action pursue the same approach.

There are a few different factors that have to be considered when making a compensation calculation, which makes it quite complicated. Making it even more difficult is the fact that all personal injury claims do not fall under a single branch of litigation. However, no matter how trying you find it, it is important to try and determine at least a “ballpark figure” as this could have a bearing on the outcome of your case.

How A Personal Injury Claim Is Calculated

The amount of compensation is usually directly proportional to the extent of injury that the pursuer has suffered. This generally means, that the more severe your injury, the higher the amount of compensation you would expect to receive. For example, soft tissue damage would not receive the same level of compensation as severe brain damage.

Your personal injury solicitor will calculate an approximate figure based on two factors – the severity of your injury and any mental and emotional repercussions of the injury. If you haven’t already found a solicitor then please contact us to speak with one of ours. An initial consultation is free and there’s no obligation to use our legal firm following the consultation.

The following kinds of personal injury compensation will allow you to get a basic understanding of how this is done so that you can calculate a rough estimate of your personal injury claim.

How Much Personal Injury Compensation Can I Claim?

As we have shown above, you can calculate to a degree how much compensation you might get for different kinds of personal injury claims. These could be for various accident claims such as work accident claims, car accident claims, whiplash claims, and so forth. Below is a compensation calculator that displays example personal injury compensation amounts that a claim might bring.

Injury	Severity	Compensation	Comments
Achilles Injury	Most Serious	In the vicinity of £38,340	A severed achilles tendon, restricted ankle movement.
Achilles Injury	Serious	£24,490 - £30,090	A complete division of the achilles tendon has been repaired succesfully but has left some disability with no further improvement likely.
Achilles Injury	Moderate	£12,590 - £21,070	Partial rupture of the achilles tendon/significant injury. Considered factors include treatment required, level of pain and suffering, any disability.
Achilles Injury	Mild	£7,270 - £12,590	Some damage to the achilles tendon where support to the ankle may be affected.
Ankle Injury	Extremely Severe	£50,060 - £69,700	The most severe ankle injuries that may cause deformity, degeneration of joints, and potentially amputation.
Ankle Injury	Moderate to Severe	£13,740 - £50,060	Fractures, extensive treatment, disability are just a few factors that will be considered when calculating the level of compensation for ankle injuries in this bracket.
Ankle Injury	Mild	Up to £13,740	Less serious ankle injuries such as ankle fractures, ankle sprains. Factors considered would be amount of recovery time, aching, scarring etc.
Arm Injury	Extremely Severe	£96,160 - £300,000	This range of compensation covers the amputation of both complete arms, the amputation of a single arm, or whether an arm is amputated partially or completely. Future restrictions will also be considered.
Arm Injury	Severe	£39,170 - £130,930	For major restriction and disability present in one or both the arms and causes significant pain and suffering.
Arm Injury	Less Severe	£19,200 - £39,170	The range shown is set for persons who have suffered a restriction in movement and/or disability in the arms but there is substantial recovery. Simple forearm fractures would expect to be at the lower end of the bracket.
Back Injury	Severe	£38,780- £160,980	Severe injury to the upper or lower back, possibly causing paralysis or any relating issues to organs in the lower parts of the body.
Back Injury	Moderate	£12,510 - £38,780	This range of compensation amounts might cover a wide range of back injuries such as compression of the lumbar vertebrae, ligament or soft tissue damage, any constant pain and/or any discomfort.
Back Injury	Mild	Up to £12,510	For less serious back injuries such as strains and sprains, soft tissue injuries, a slipped disc, muscle pain. Factors such as recovery time and treatment would also be considered.
Ear Injury	Extremely Severe	£90,750 - £109,650	Complete loss of hearing because of the injury.
Ear Injury	Moderate to Severe	£31,310 - £45,540	Complete hearing loss in one of the ears. The final compensation amount will depend on how the hearing loss affects the person.
Ear Injury	Mild	£££'s - £45,540	This range of compensation is awarded for hearing loss in one or both ears and for those that now suffer with tinnitus because of the injury or the work environment.
Elbow Injury	Extremely Severe	£39,170 - £54,830	Total restriction in elbow movement that has now caused a disability or that has needed surgery.
Elbow Injury	Less Severe	£15,650 - £32,010	Because of the injury to the elbow there is now restriction of movement in the arm but doesn't cause significant disability and major surgery is not required.
Elbow Injury	Mild	Up to - £12,590	An injury to the elbow that is mild to moderate which now causes pain but total movement will be possible.
Eye Injury	Extremely Severe	£54,830 - £268,720	Loss of sight in one eye and some loss in the other, or loss of sight in both eyes will receive the maximum compensation.
Eye Injury	Moderate to Severe	£9,110 - £54,830	This range of injury compensation is awarded with very restricted vision in a single eye or loss of sight in one eye.
Eye Injury	Mild	£2,200 - £8,730	Pain in an eye, vision problems or temporary loss of vision in an eye.
Eye Injury	Temporary	£2,200 - £3,950	Temporary eye injuries where full recovery takes but a few weeks.
Facial Scarring	Very Severe	£29,780 - £97,330	Facial disfigurement and severe scarring might warrant somewhere in this range of injury compensation. The severity of the injury shall determine how much compensation is awarded.
Facial Scarring	Less Severe	£17,960 - £48,420	Facial disfigurement is substantial and there is significant psychological damage.
Facial Scarring	Significant	£9,110 - £30,090	Plastic surgery has reduced the worst scarring but not all and any psychological damage is not considered significant.
Facial Scarring	Mild to Less Significant	£1,710 - £13,740	These amounts cover what might be considered trivial scars to less severe scarring.
Face Injury	Mild to Severe	£2,320 - £36,740	This compensation range covers simple fractures to multiple fractures and breaks to the facial area, for example the nose.
Finger Injury	Severe Fractures	Up to - £36,740	This compensation range covers severe fractures where the consequences might include loss/impairment of grip, deformities, partial amputation, reduced mechanical function.
Finger Injury	Amputation of Terminal Phalanges to Index/Middle Fingers	In the vicinity of £24,990	Where there is impaired grip, restriction of movement, scarring.
Finger Injury	Amputation of Ring & Little Fingers	In the vicinity of £21,810	Amputation of ring and little fingers.
Finger Injury	Serious Injury to Ring/Middle Fingers	£10,320 - £16,340	Breaks/fractures to ring/middle fingers, serious tendon damage, deformity, permanent loss of grip/dexterity.
Finger Injury	Total/Partial Loss of Index Finger	£12,170 - £18,740	The upper end of the range of compensation will likely be paid for the total loss of the finger.
Finger Injury	Broken/Fractured Index Finger	£9,110 - £12,240	Where grip remains impaired and pain from heavy use, likelihood of osteoarthritis.
Finger Injury	Little Finger Amputation	£8,640 - £12,240	Amputation of a little finger.
Finger Injury	Minor	Up to - £4,750	Minor finger injuries e.g. hairline fractures, minor scarring.
Foot Injury	Extremely Severe	£83,960 - £201,490	This range covers the amputation of one or both feet and how it might affect the persons life.
Foot Injury	Moderate to Severe	£13,740 - £70,030	Severe injury to one or both feet that causes restriction, fractures or disability to the foot.
Foot Injury	Mild	Up to £13,740	Covering injury to a foot that will recover.
Hand Injury	Extremely Severe	£140,660 - £201,490	This range of compensation amounts shall cover the amputation of one or both hands or if a hand is made completely useless due to the injury.
Hand Injury	Very Severe	£55,820 - £109,650	Injuries such as the total or effective loss of one hand that has been crushed and then amputated, or most of the palm and all fingers have been amputated.
Hand Injury	Severe	£29,000 - £61,910	Injuries in this range might include finger amputations, major loss in function.
Hand Injury	Less Severe	£14,450 - £29,000	Crush injuries to the hand, penetrating wounds, deep lacerations. The upper end of the bracket would be in cases where the claimant has been left unable to use a hand properly.
Hand Injury	Moderate	£5,720 - £13,280	Moderate crushing injuries, deep lacerations, penetration wounds.
Hand Injury	Minor	Up to £4,750	Minor soft tissue damage, penetration wounds, crush injuries where recovery time is usually 6 months or less.
Head Injury	Extremely Severe	£282,010 - £403,990	Victims who are unresponsive due to severe brain damage and are unresponsive or what might be referred to as a vegetative state.
Head Injury	Moderately Severe	£219,070 - £282,010	Serverely disabled from brain damage, lost feeling in limbs, change in personality and/or a mental disability.
Head Injury	Moderate	£43,060 - £219,070	Cases where memory may be affected with a reduced ability to work to more severe cases where there is no chance of being able to work, change in personality, high risk of epilepsy.
Head Injury	Less Severe	£15,320 - £43,060	There may still be some issues such as an affected memory or a slight chance of epilepsy but overall a good recovery has been made. Factors considered include any disability, severity of the original injury.
Head Injury	Mild	£2,210 - £12,770	Head injuries which haven't caused brain damage or very minimal brain damage but the head injury might still have lasting effects.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Severest	£78,400 - £130,930	Extremely severe injury involving multiple fractures of the pelvis which leads to other significant disability such as hip deformities, sexual dysfunction.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Severe	£61,910 - £78,400	Very severe injury to the pelvis , examples being fractures and dislocations that may involve issues such as impotence or traumatic myositis ossificans.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Less Severe	£39,170 - £52,500	Injury that leads to degenerative changes, leg instability, problems walking, possible future surgeries.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Significant	£26,590 - £39,170	Severe hip injury but any disability isn't major.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Less Significant	£12,590 - £26,590	Surgery to the hip or hip replacement, continuing symptoms deemed more severe than minor.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Moderate	£3,950 - £12,590	Injuries that may have led to minor or no lasting disability.
Hip/Pelvis Injury	Minor	Up to £3,950	Soft tissue injuries that will heal completely.
Knee Injury	Severe	£26,190 - £96,210	Disability because of a knee injury, major damage to muscles, muscle wastage and soft tissue damage.
Knee Injury	Moderate	Up to £26,190	Minor disability because of the knee injury, damage to the muscle, cartilage, soft tissue injury, that causes pain and suffering.
Leg Injury	Extremely Severe	£97,980 - £282,010	Amputation of one or both legs. The compensation range also takes into consideration should the leg have been amputated below or above the knee.
Leg Injury	Moderate to Severe	£27,760 - £96,250	Injuries to the leg which has caused restriction in movement and disability that might have a life long prognosis.
Leg Injury	Less Severe	Up to £27,760	From simple leg fractures, breaks or soft tissue damage which has affected the muscle to leg fractures with an incomplete recovery.
Neck Injury	Extremely Severe	£45,470 - £148,330	Very severe neck injuries, those causing movement problems to other parts of the body.
Neck Injury	Moderate to Severe	£7,890 - £38,490	Neck fractures, causing pain when moving, causing stiffness and inability to use the full movement of the persons neck.
Neck Injury	Mild	Up to £7,890	Whiplash type injuries, can depend on the length of time the injury lasts, how painful the injury is and what the long-term prognosis is.
Nose Injury	Severe	£10,640 - £23,130	Serious/multiple fractures to the nose that will have resulted in permanent damage and/or requiring a number of operations to repair.
Nose Injury	Less Severe	£3,950 - £5,100	Example displaced nose fractures where there has been complete recovery after surgery.
Nose Injury	Moderate	£2,520 - £3,150	Moderate nose injuries such as displaced nose fractures that do not need surgery.
Nose Injury	Minor	£1,710 - £2,520	Example being simple undisplaced fractures with full recovery.
PTSD	Severe	£59,860 - £100,670	The most severe cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with permanent effects of trauma badly affecting the individual preventing them from being able to work or function anywhere close prior to the trauma might see compensation payouts within this range.
PTSD	Moderately Severe	£23,150 - £59,860	PTSD causing significant disability but the individual has a better future prognosis than the most severe cases might see compensation payouts within this range.
PTSD	Moderate	£8,180 - £23,15	PTSD where any lasting effects are not grossly disabling with the individual has largely recovered.
PTSD	Less Severe	£3,950 - £8,180	PTSD where the individual should essentially have made a full recovery in a year or two but minor symptoms could persist for longer.
Shoulder Injury	Severe	£12,770 - £48,030	Paralysis, limb numbness, restriction in movement because of the injury in the neck and shoulder.
Shoulder Injury	Moderate	£7,890 - £12,770	Neck tissue damage that might last for a considerable length of time and that restricts the movement in the persons arm and elbow.
Shoulder Injury	Mild	Up to £7,890	Damage to soft tissue that should recover within the year or slightly longer, and causes or has caused moderate pain.
Toe Injury	Extremely Severe	£36,,520 - £56,080	Amputation of all toes. Depending on whether the amputation was traumatic or surgical can affect level of compensation.
Toe Injury	Very Severe	In the vicinity of £31,310	Amputation of a big toe.
Toe Injury	Severe	£13,740 - £21,070	Severe crush injuries that lead to amputation of a single or more toes, partial amputations.
Toe Injury	Serious	£9,600 - £13,740	Multiple fractures, crushed toes.
Toe Injury	Moderate	Up to £9,600	Straightforward toe fractures.
Toe Injury	Minor	Up to £5,590	Minor toe injuries such as simple fractures that are expected heal fully and short-term injuries.
Wrist Injury	Very Severe	£47,620 - £59,860	Wrist injury causing complete loss of function.
Wrist Injury	Significant	£24,500 - £39,170	Wrist injury leaving significant and permanent disability, there is still some useful movement.
Wrist Injury	Less Severe	£12,590 - £24,500	Broken wrist causing some permanent disability such as continuing pain/stiffness.
Wrist Injury	Moderate	Up to £10,350	Wrist fractures, soft tissue injury where recovery is complete or expected to be complete but may take longer than 12 months.
Wrist Injury	Minor	Up to £7,430	Uncomplicated Colles' fracture and minor wrist fractures.

*All figures in the table above are advised general damage compensation levels set by the Judicial College and should be used only as a guide as each individual personal injury claim is different as special damages compensation may need to be factored in. The difference between general and special damages is explained here. How much compensation you might get for your personal injury claim may differ from the figures shown so call us today to get a more accurate evaluation.

Different Kinds Of Personal Injury Compensation

1. Solatium/General Damages

General Damages are the damages that relate to the pain and suffering of an individual. In Scotland, general damages are referred to as ‘Solatium’. Strange though it may sound, there is actually a kind of ‘price list’ that has been created by our legal system. They use this price list as a kind of reference when calculating compensation for different kinds of injuries and diseases.

Although the figures mentioned are not the exact amount, there is a usual trend of asking for compensation within a certain band. The following are examples of the average amounts usually asked for while calculating different kinds of personal injury claims. For expert advice on what the true value of your claim could be worth you should contact a personal injury solicitor.

• Compensation Amounts for Head Injuries

Any injury to the head is a major concern, especially as it also puts the brain at high risk of injury. A person suffering from a minor head injury and minimal (if any) injury to the brain may be eligible to claim compensation in the region of about £2,000 to £13,000. However, major damage to the head and brain can result in compensation up to around £430,000.

• Compensation Amounts for Mental or Psychological Injury

The amount of compensation for a psychological injury that could be claimed will depend on the degree of “harm”. If the psychiatric harm is deemed to be temporary and the prognosis is that everything will return to near normal relatively soon, a typical claim of an amount between £1,500 and £6,000 isn’t unusual.

For mental harm and psychological injuries that are more severe or permanent, the compensation can approach up to £115,000.

• Compensation Amounts for Injury to the Upper Body

Minor wounds to the upper body area (which includes the neck and the shoulders) can warrant compensation in the region of £4,000 to £8,000. More serious injuries may result in successful claims in the region of £8,000 to £150,000.

• Compensation Amounts for Back Injury

Back injuries can be extremely painful and debilitating. Moreover, there is a high risk of spinal damage when the back is injured. This could result in severe mobility restrictions or in extreme circumstances, paralysis. Compensation for back injuries could reach as high as £160,000.

• Compensation Amounts for Injuries to the Arms, Hands or Wrists

The tricky part with injuries to the arms, hands or wrists is that it can be difficult to calculate the potential loss that can be suffered by the person after getting injured in these areas. It is not uncommon for less severe injuries to fetch in the region of £3,000 – £5,000, meanwhile, an injury that leads to a permanent form of disability and substantial disablement could lead to compensation in the region of £39,000 – £130,000.

• Compensation Amounts for Lower Body Injury

The lower body area will include any kind of injury to the ankles, the knees, the hips and the legs. As with most other cases, the seriousness of the injury will help to determine the amount of compensation that can be claimed by the injured party.

Claims for less serious injuries that have a good chance of recovery can reach between £3,000 and £12,000. More serious injuries that lead to a permanent disability, loss of use or constant pain could potentially reach up to £135,000.

2. Claims For Loss of Earning

The law has been framed in such a way that if an injured person cannot continue to work due to the injury, they can ask for damages as a way of being compensated for the loss of income.

Personal Injury solicitors usually consult with medical professionals in order to determine the amount of time that their clients would require to recover from the injury and how long before they would be well enough to go back to work. Based on this time, both during the pendency of the case as well as after, an amount is put forth to the court as fair compensation that should be awarded.

3. Expenses that are ‘Out of Pocket’

Any out-of-pocket expense includes all expenses that are made during the process of getting the injuries taken care of. So any transportation costs, extra living costs and other incidentals that were incurred while addressing the injury will be counted as out-of-pocket expenses.

4. Services Compensation

Services compensation is given to people who have been badly injured and require an extra level of care by any professional service for their care. In some cases, this compensation is even given to family members who need to take care of the needs of the individual who has been in the accident.

5. Loss of Society

This category of compensation will only apply to a few people such as those who have lost a spouse, a child or a parent.

If there is an accident which results in the death of a close family member, the remaining members of the family may be able to ask for a certain sum as compensation for this loss. Usually, the amount you could claim for a fatal accident is calculated using a particular formula by the solicitors.

6. Loss of Support

If a member who provided financially for the family dies, the rest of the family may ask for compensation as a way of repayment for this loss of financial support. For example, if a man who is the sole earner in the family passes away, his wife and children could ask for compensation under this category.

If you’ve suffered a personal injury and would like to find out how much compensation you could claim, contact our specialist advisors today on 0800 6524 881 for a free consultation.