Have you experienced a car accident that wasn’t your fault? Did you suffer resulting injuries? If the answer is yes, you’re probably wondering about the average compensation for a car accident. As such, please read our helpful road traffic accident guide and learn whether you could be entitled to a compensation pay-out.
Essential Information
- You could receive compensation for any financial losses you experienced as a result of your injuries.
- You could make a claim through the Motor Insurer’s Bureau (MIB) if you were involved in an accident with an uninsured or untraced driver
- One of the expert No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel can help you with evidence-gathering and signing key legal documents
- You could apply to receive interim payments whilst your claim progresses
- You won’t be required to pay any fees for your solicitor’s services at the beginning of your claim or as it progresses
At Public Interest Lawyers, our friendly team of advisors are here to help you. After you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, our advisors are here to answer any questions you may have about making a claim. As part of the free services that we offer, you could receive a case check to look at the merits of your claim. As such, you could be connected with one of the experienced No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel if your claim is strong. To start your claim today, please get in touch:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Contact us by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Average Compensation For A Car Accident
- Calculating Special Damages For Car Accident Compensation
- How Could The Whiplash Reforms Impact A Claim?
- Will A Claim Made Through The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) Impact Compensation?
- How Can Public Interest Lawyers Help With Car Accident Compensation?
- More Information
The Average Compensation For A Car Accident
Following a successful road traffic accident claim, you will be awarded with general damages as part of your settlement. In essence, general damages are concerned with compensating you for any physical or psychological pain and suffering you experienced due to an accident.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are customarily used by legal professionals when assigning values to injuries and different severities. For instance, a solicitor may use this publication when providing a client with a compensation guideline following a back injury sustained in a car accident.
Therefore, if you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident, you might be wondering what is the average compensation for a car accident. As such, please see the following tables and the common compensation guidelines related to each according injury. Please note that all figures have been taken from the JCG, aside from the first entry of each table. It must also be emphasised that they are merely guidelines and do not guarantee how much compensation you could receive.
Head Or Brain Injuries
The following list of compensation guidelines in this table relate to head or brain injuries:
| Injury | Estimated Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with special damages such as loss of earnings | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (ii) | £110,720 to £183,190 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 |
| Less Severe Brain Damage | £18,700 to £52,550 |
| Minor Brain Injury | £2,690 to £15,580 |
Orthopaedic Injuries After A Car Accident
Please see the below table where you’ll find compensation guidelines relating to orthopaedic injuries such as neck, leg, arm, pelvic and foot injuries. Please note that they are merely guidelines:
| Injury | Suggested Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with special damages such as travel expenses | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Loss of Both Legs | £293,850 to £344,150 |
| Severe Neck Injuries (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Severe Back Injuries (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Serious Damage to Both Hands | £68,070 to £103,200 |
| Severe Knee Injuries (ii) | £63,610 to £85,100 |
| Severe Foot Injuries | £51,220 to £85,460 |
| Amputation of All Toes | £44,570 to £68,430 |
| Wrist Injuries resulting in significant permanent disability b) | £29,900 to £47,870 |
| Wrist Injuries resulting in less severe injuries with some permanent disability c) | £15,370 to £29,900 |
Injuries To Internal Organs
The following table entries contains guideline compensation amounts for injuries to internal organs:
| Injury | Suggested Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with financial losses such as home modification costs | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Kidney injuries with serious and permanent damage to both kidneys | £206,730 to £256,780 |
| Total Incontinence Bowel Injuries | Up to £224,790 |
| Female infertility caused by injury or disease with sexual dysfunction | £140,210 to £207,260 |
| Male reproductive injuries with an effect on fertility and hormonal effect | In excess of £187,790 |
| Lung Disease of progressive worsening leading to a premature death | £122,850 to £165,860 |
| Traumatic chest injuries causing permanent heart damage | £80,240 to £122,850 |
| Traumatic digestive injuries with severe damage and continuing pain and discomfort | £52,490 to £75,550 |
| Serious non-penetrating chest injuries with permanent complications | £20,490 to £33,880 |
To learn more about the different compensation pay-outs you could receive, please contact our team today.
Facial Injuries And Scarring From Car Accidents
Below is a list of compensation guidelines relating to facial injuries and scarring, such as burns, scars and facial disfigurement:
| Injury | Potential Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with financial losses such as childcare costs | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Burns Covering 40% or More of the Body | Likely to exceed £127,930 |
| Noticeable Laceration Scars or One Single Scar Creating Disfigurement | £9,560 to £27,740 |
| Very Severe Facial Scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less Severe Facial Scarring | £21,920 to £59,090 |
| Significant Facial Scarring | £11,120 to £36,720 |
| Le Fort Fractures of Frontal Facial Bones | £29,060 to £44,840 |
| Multiple Fractures of Facial Bones | £18,180 to £29,220 |
| Fractures of Nose or Nasal Complex (i) | £12,990 to £28,220 |
| Fractures of Cheekbones (i) | £12,450 to £19,260 |
Car Accident Paralysis Injuries
Please see the following list of compensation guidelines relating to paralysis and resulting injuries, such as brain, back, neck and shoulder:
| Injury | Suggested Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with financial losses such as medical expenses | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Tetraplegia (a) | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia (b) | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Shorter durations of paralysis (c) | £60,210 |
Psychiatric Damage After A Car Accident
As previously mentioned, you can claim for any both physical and psychological injuries under general damages following a car accident. Therefore, relating to psychiatric damage, you may be wondering what is the average compensation for a car accident is.
Notably, psychological injuries can be claimed for alone. For instance, you may have been involved in a road traffic accident but you didn’t suffer any physical injuries. Despite this, you may have suffered severe PTSD which could still be included in your claim. Other examples of psychiatric damage may include anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder.
Please see below some of the figures that can be awarded depending on the psychiatric damage suffered:
| Injury | Suggested Compensation Pay-Out |
|---|---|
| Severe multiple injuries with financial losses such as travel expenses | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Severe Psychiatric Damage | £66,920 to £141,240 |
| Moderately Severe Psychiatric Damage | £23,270 to £66,920 |
| Moderate Psychiatric Damage | £7,150 to £23,270 |
| Less Severe Psychiatric Damage | £1,880 to £7,150 |
| Severe PTSD | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| Moderately Severe PTSD | £28,250 to £73,050 |
| Moderate PTSD | £9,980 to £28,250 |
| Less Severe PTSD | £4,820 to £9,980 |
| Mental Anguish | £5,700 |
After looking through these tables, you may still be wondering what is the average compensation for a car accident. Whilst the compensation guidelines will give you an idea, please note that each case is valued on a case-by-case basis due to their unique nature. As such, the following factors are often taken into account when calculating compensation:
- The severity of the injury
- The length of your recovery period
- The effect on your quality of life
- The impact on your daily activities
To learn more, please talk to one o our friendly advisors today.
Calculating Special Damages For Car Accident Compensation
In addition to general damages, you could also be entitled to receiving special damages as part of your settlement. The award of special damages essentially aims to compensate you for any financial losses you suffered as a result of your injuries.
As such, please see the following examples of special damages below that you could include in your claim:
Loss Of Income
If you’ve taken time off work due to any injuries, you could be entitled to claim for any loss of earnings you experienced. For example, a claim for loss of income could extend to the following:
- A loss of a bonus
- A loss of overtime pay
- A loss of workplace benefits such as pension schemes and healthcare contributions
- A loss in current and future lost wages
- A loss of a promotion
Moreover, your loss of earnings calculation will depend on a number of factors, such as:
- The amount of time you had off work
- If you’re still off work, the prognosis period of your injuries will be taken into account
- Whether your employer offered sick pay and if you accepted
- Your net income at the time of the accident
Medical Expenses
You may have also incurred private medical bills to help aid your injuries, such as through private healthcare. Therefore, the following losses could be included as part of your special damages:
- Private medical appointments
- Medication and prescription costs
- Any recommended treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling
Cost Of Care
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it could seriously impact your ability to perform simple tasks and to care for yourself. As a result, you may have needed to consult outside help, often at an extra cost. As such, please see the following examples of costs of care that you could include:
- Direct care costs for any long-term assistance you may have needed for your own injuries
- Indirect care costs, such as the loss of earnings of a family member who took time off work to look after you.
- Elderly or childcare costs
Rehabilitation Or Recovery
If you received any short or long-term physiotherapy sessions to aid your injuries, you could include them as part of your special damages. For example, you could claim for:
- The costs of suggested treatment, such as ligament support, bandages and ointments to aid your injuries
- Private physiotherapy sessions
- The costs of prosthetics
- Wheelchair costs
Home And Car Adaptations
If a car accident left you with a disability of a permanent or semi-permanent nature, you may require home and car adaptations to improve your quality of life. These adaptations could therefore be included as part of your special damages, such as:
- Vehicle adaptations to accommodate wheelchair access
- The costs of specialist equipment equipment such as chairlifts, hoists, ramps and widened doors to fit wheelchairs
Travel Expenses
You could also claim for any travel expenses that you incurred as a result of your injuries. For example, you could claim for:
- Fuel costs to and from appointments or physiotherapy sessions
- Public transport costs to and from appointments or physiotherapy sessions
Essentially, special damages must be supported with evidence which can be provided via:
- Receipts
- Bank statements
- Invoices
- Payslips
Interim Payments After A Car Accident
You could also apply to receive interim payments throughout the claims process in certain circumstances. In essence, interim payments in personal injury claims are advance payments of compensation made to a claimant before their claim is fully settled. They are intended to provide financial support for immediate needs arising from the injury, such as medical expenses, lost earnings or adapting to new living situations. For example, you could receive ongoing payments for loss of earnings whilst you recover from severe leg injuries at home. Essentially, interim payments will ensure that you’re not at a financial disadvantage after an accident that wasn’t your fault.
However, the following criteria must be fulfilled in order to apply for interim payments:
- The defendant has already admitted fault, or;
- Your court agrees that your claim has high chances of success
To learn more about interim payments and the average settlement for a car accident, please contact us today.
How Could The Whiplash Reforms Impact A Claim?
The Whiplash Reform Programme changed how minor injuries are compensated in road traffic accident claims. You will therefore need to make your claim through a different avenue if:
- You were injured as a passenger or driver of a vehicle
- You are aged 18 years old or above
- Your injuries were valued at £5,000 or less
All whiplash, soft tissue and minor psychological injuries are assessed using the set tariffs found in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. Any additional injuries that you’ve suffered that are not covered by this tariff will be valued traditionally by the JCG. Despite this, if the injury you suffered was valued at less than £5,000 and wasn’t whiplash, your claim would still be made through the new route. Furthermore, if the overall value of your claim exceeds £5,000 with the additional injuries, your claim would then be made via the traditional avenue. Regardless, the tariffs will still apply.
Please see the below table which provides examples of the tariffs found in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021:
| Injury | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|
| Whiplash with a minor psychological injury that lasts between 18-24 months | £4,345 |
| Whiplash that lasts between 18-24 months | £4,215 |
| Whiplash with a minor psychological injury that lasts between 15-18 months | £3,100 |
| Whiplash that lasts between 15-18 months | £3,005 |
To learn more about the average compensation for a car accident when suffering whiplash injuries, please speak to one of our advisors today.
Will A Claim Made Through The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) Impact Compensation?
No, a claim that is made through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) will not impact the amount of compensation you would normally receive.
The MIB is an organisation that helps victims of road traffic accidents claim compensation where the driver is uninsured or untraced, or when the accident involves a foreign-registered vehicle.
Notably, the MIB will pay-out using the same JCG figures as traditional claims, unless it is whiplash. Therefore, making a claim through the MIB will not impact your compensation in any shape or form.
To learn more about making a claim through the MIB in car accident claims, please contact one of our friendly advisors today for help.
How Can Public Interest Lawyers Help With Car Accident Compensation?
If you’re wondering what the average compensation for a car accident is, our team is here to help you. At Public Interest Lawyers, our group of advisors work around the clock to provide the best service they can. Following a free case check, you could also be connected with one of the specialist No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel to help you make your claim. With decades of experience, our panel of highly skilled solicitors work meticulously and delicately to prioritise your health and wellbeing following a car accident. By operating a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you could experience:
- No upfront or ongoing fees for your solicitor’s services
- No requirement to pay any solicitor fees if your claim is unsuccessful
- A requirement to pay a small success fee for your solicitor’s services if your claim is successful. This success fee is legally capped and the percentage will be deducted from your compensation. Therefore, you’ll always receive the bulk of your compensation.
You could also experience following benefits from Public Interest Lawyers:
- Regular claim updates so you always know where your case stands
- Arrangement of an independent medical appointment to support your injuries
- Assistance with signing legal documents
- Help with arranging physiotherapy sessions to aid any ongoing injuries
- Advice that strictly adheres to the rules of confidentiality
- Explanations of key legal terminologies
- Attempts to reach a compensation settlement that accurately reflects your pain and suffering
To learn more about how CFAs can help you, please get in touch with one of our experienced advisors today.
Get In Touch With Our Advisors
Are you still wondering what the average compensation for a car accident is? If so, please get in touch with one of our friendly advisors today to start your claim:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Contact us by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
More Information
To learn more about personal injury claims, please see some of our other guides:
- Learn about rotator cuff tear compensation claims
- Get help with making a toe amputation compensation claim
- See the following advice on crush injury claims
Additional external resources:
- Learn about whiplash from the NHS
- Get help with how to request CCTV footage of yourself from Gov.Uk
- See the following advice about managing sick leave and return to work from HSE
Thank you for reading our useful guide about the average compensation for a car accident.