Last Updated 3rd January 2025. In this guide, we will explore car accident injury payouts in the UK. When you make a personal injury claim, the average car accident settlement involves two kinds of compensation covering injuries and financial losses. They vary from case to case and can be discussed with our advisors if you have any questions.
If you would prefer to keep reading, however, this guide will explain how damages are calculated and provide car accident compensation examples. We will also describe a case study to help you understand how a car accident settlement could work.
The criteria that your claim must meet to be made will also be covered, and we will provide some examples of car accidents that might lead to a successful claim.
Finally, our guide will explore the benefits of working with a No Win No Fee solicitor for your case. There are many benefits that a solicitor can bring to the claims process; read on to learn more, or contact our team of advisors to get started. They can evaluate your claim for free and answer any questions you might have about claiming a car accident settlement.
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Select A Section
- What Is The Average Payout For A Car Accident In The UK?
- When Could You Claim Car Accident Injury Payouts?
- Case Study: An Example Of A Car Crash Settlement
- Types of Car Accidents And Injuries
- What Evidence Do I Need To Make A Car Accident Claim?
- How Long Do I Have To Claim Car Crash Compensation?
- Car Accident Injury Payouts – Claim With A No Win No Fee Lawyer
- Learn More About Car Accident Injury Payouts
What Is The Average Payout For A Car Accident In The UK?
You may have already accessed our car accident compensation calculator to learn more about what general damages you could be eligible for. Here, we examine general damages in more detail.
In the table below, we provide examples that you may have seen when using our claims calculator but presented differently. This is to help you see how general damages could be valued.
In successful car accident claims, general damages compensate for pain and suffering. Legal professionals use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to arrive at these figures. The JCG contains injury categories alongside compensation brackets.
The table below may not represent any final compensation, as each claim is unique. We’ve provided it to help you understand the valuation process. The figures are from the latest update of the JCG, except for the first entry, which does not appear within the JCG. Additionally, the figures from the JCG are for England and Wales.
| Injury Type | Severity | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries Plus Special Damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain | Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Back | Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Leg | The Most Serious Injuries Short of Amputation | £117,460 to £165,860 |
| Serious | £47,840 to £66,920 | |
| Neck | Severe (iii) | £55,500 to £68,330 |
| Ankle | Severe | £38,210 to £61,090 |
| Arm | Simple Fractures of the Forearm | £8,060 to £23,430 |
| Whiplash | 18-24 Months with Psychological Injury | £4,345 |
| 18-24 Months | £4,215 |
Car Accident Compensation Examples For Financial Losses And Property Damage
Some car accident injury payouts may also include special damages. This compensates you for the financial losses you have suffered due to your injuries. For example, if you need to take time off work as a result of your injuries, this could result in a loss of earnings, which could be claimed back under special damages.
Some of the losses that could be claimed under special damages in compensation claims include:
- The cost of prescriptions
- Travel costs.
- Childcare and domestic help expenses.
- The cost of mobility aids, e.g. a wheelchair
To be able to claim special damages, you must be able to provide evidence of your losses. Because of this, keeping any receipts, bills, or invoices relevant to your claim could be beneficial.
Contact our team of advisors today to learn more about filing a personal injury claim for compensation after a car accident; they can offer a free consultation and help with the claims process.
How Is Car Accident Compensation Calculated?
Now that we’ve examined what you can claim generally, it’s important to understand how compensation is calculated in a car accident claim. There is no set compensation award except for whiplash, which is explained below. Each case is assessed based on its unique facts because injuries affect everyone differently.
For example, you may have had to take time off work, or the injury may not have healed in the way expected. As a result, your suffering and hardship are potentially worse than other people’s.
As part of the claim, your solicitor will take the following steps to calculate an accurate value of your claim:
- They’ll instruct a medical expert to assess your injuries. They’ll compile their findings into a report which will detail how severe the injuries are and how long it will take you to recover.
- Your solicitor will assess your financial losses, such as lost earnings or out-of-pocket expenses.
- Using the medical report, your solicitor will hone in on a value for your physical and psychological injuries. They may look at other similar cases that have been heard in the courts, which they can rely on as an authority when seeking a certain amount.
- Your solicitor will then advise you on the total value of your claim, as well as your general and special damages values specifically.
If you’d like to speak with us about the valuation of your claim, or to get some first-hand car accident compensation examples, get in touch with us today on the number above.
What Is The Whiplash Reform Programme And Does It Affect My Claim?
When seeking car accident claim payouts, it’s important to consider whether the whiplash reforms could affect your settlement. As per changes brought in by the Whiplash Reform Programme, you will need to make your road traffic accident claim for whiplash or soft tissue injuries differently if the following applies:
- You are a passenger or driver over the age of 18.
- Your injuries are worth less than £5,000.
Additionally, the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 will determine the value of your injuries. If you have other injuries that make your claim worth more than £5,000, your claim will be made normally. However, whiplash injuries will still be valued using the tariff. Any injuries not included in the tariff will be valued traditionally.
Get in touch with our advisors today to find out more about how to claim for a car accident injury, as well as potential compensation amounts you could receive.
When Could You Claim Car Accident Injury Payouts?
Road users, including pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists, owe each other a duty of care to navigate the roads safely and minimise the risk of harm or damage to others and themselves.
As part of this duty, road users should follow the mandatory rules set out in the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988. The steps you are expected to take can vary, depending on whether you are driving a car, riding a bike or motorcycle, or walking as a pedestrian.
In order to form the basis of a valid road traffic accident claim, you have to be able to prove that:
- Another road user owed you a duty of care
- They breached this duty
- You were injured as a result of this breach
To learn more about your eligibility to seek a car accident settlement, contact our team of helpful advisors today. They’re available 24/7 to discuss car accident claims.
Could I Make A Car Accident Injury Claim On Behalf Of A Child?
Children under the age of eighteen can’t claim a car accident settlement for themselves, but this doesn’t mean that they aren’t entitled to compensation. If your child was injured in a car accident, then you may be able to claim on their behalf as a litigation friend.
You can apply to be a litigation friend, or the Court can appoint you. In either case, when you take on this role, you are responsible for carrying out the claim and acting in the child’s best interests.
If the claim succeeds, your child’s car crash settlement will be held in trust by the Court Funds Office (CFO) until they turn eighteen. To withdraw from their fund, you will have to submit evidence to the Court that the withdrawal is for the sake of the child, and the Court will then decide whether or not to release funds.
If you do not claim on their behalf prior to their 18th birthday, they will have 3 years to start their claim from this date.
To learn more about claiming a car injury settlement on behalf of a child, get in touch with our team of advisors today. Or, keep reading for more information on car accident injury payouts.
Case Study: An Example Of A Car Crash Settlement
The following figurative case study provides an idea of how compensation could be awarded for a successful car accident claim.
Mr J was stopped at a red light light. The car behind him was driving under the influence of alcohol and failed to come to a stop, causing him to crash into the back of Mr J’s car. In the accident, Mr J suffered multiple injuries, including a broken leg, dislocated shoulder and a neck injury that required him to wear a neck collar.
Mr J was unable to attend his job as a mechanic for a few months while his injuries healed, causing him to experience a loss of earnings. He was also unable to drive due to his broken leg and had to pay for taxis to his medical appointments. He also had to pay for a wheelchair and a ramp to be installed so the wheelchair could enter and exit his home.
Mr J talked with a solicitor and decided to pursue a claim with their help. He was awarded a car crash settlement totalling £700,000, compensation for both his injuries and the financial losses they caused him.
To discuss your situation and see whether one of our experienced solicitors could help you with making a claim, you can contact our advisors.
Types of Car Accidents And Injuries
You could suffer various types of injuries in a car accident. These include:
- Soft tissue injuries and broken bones. These could occur in a head-on collision. For example, if a car is trying to overtake a large vehicle, such as a lorry, and fails to consider whether they have enough room. You might be able to seek compensation for your accident in the UK if you can prove another driver breached their duty of care.
- Back and hip injuries. A rear-end collision could cause you to suffer back and hip injuries. You might be eligible to make a car accident claim for these injuries. For example, if you slow down to stop at a stop sign and the vehicle behind you does not leave enough distance or the other driver is not paying attention.
- Head and brain injuries. These could occur if another driver fails to stop at a red light and crashes into you at a junction.
- Burn injuries. These may occur in a collision if the petrol tank leaks due to the crash and a spark ignites a fire. However, they may also occur as a result of an airbag injury. For example, if the airbag ruptures in the crash, the releasing gases could cause a chemical burn. You could be eligible to seek personal injury compensation for these injuries, but you will need to prove the other driver’s liability for the accident.
If you would like to discuss car accident injury payouts, speak with one of our team’s advisors.
What Evidence Do I Need To Make A Car Accident Claim?
When you start a car accident claim, you need to be able to establish negligence. To do this and to support your claim, you’re expected to provide evidence. Evidence can help you prove who is responsible for your injuries, how they occurred, and how they will affect your day-to-day life.
Some examples of evidence you could use to support your claim for a car accident settlement include:
- CCTV or dashcam footage: Video footage of the accident can help prove who was responsible and how it occurred.
- Photographs: Taking photographs of both the accident site and your injuries can help demonstrate their severity.
- Medical records: Your medical records can offer further insight into your injuries, the treatment you need, and how they will affect you in the future.
- Police report: If a police report was made regarding the accident, this could also be used as evidence.
- Witness contact details: A witness statement can be collected at a later date.
For more information on gathering evidence for a car accident claim, contact our team of advisors today. If they find your claim to be valid, they may connect you with one of our solicitors. Or, read on to get more information on car accident compensation examples for UK claims.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Car Crash Compensation?
If you would like to make a car crash compensation claim, you must start the claims process within the correct time limit. The Limitation Act 1980 sets the personal injury claims time limit typically three years from the date of your accident.
However, there are some exceptions to this time limit:
- The time limit for children is frozen until their 18th birthday. Alternatively, a court-appointed litigation friend could file the claim on their behalf.
- For those without the mental capacity to claim, the limitation period is suspended indefinitely until they gain or recover this capacity. Alternatively, a court-appointed litigation friend could file the claim on their behalf.
If you have any questions about the personal injury claims time limits, please speak to one of our advisors. They can also answer any questions you have about car accident injury payouts.
Car Accident Injury Payouts – Claim With A No Win No Fee Lawyer
If you’re eligible to claim compensation for a car crash, you might wish to get help with your case. One of our lawyers may be able to help you. They could assist you with gathering evidence and ensuring your claim is filled in full within the limitation period.
One of our lawyers could also offer to work on your claim under a type of No Win No Fee arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under this agreement, you would not have to pay them anything for their services upfront or while your claim is ongoing. Furthermore, you won’t have to pay them for their work should your claim be unsuccessful.
If your claim is a success, your lawyer will deduct a success fee from your car accident injuries compensation. This is a small, legally capped percentage.
Contact Us To Discuss Your Accident In The UK
To see if one of our No Win No Fee lawyers could help you with your claim, you can contact our friendly team of advisors. They can also help answer any additional questions you may have. To speak with one today, you can:
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online.
- Use our live chat service to discuss compensation claims.
Learn More About Car Accident Injury Payouts
For more information on the Highway Code, please follow the link provided:
- The Highway Code
- Diagnosis and treatment of whiplash
- A guide to whiplash compensation
- The importance of a medical report in personal injury claims
Thank you for reading our guide on car accident injury payouts.
