When it comes to how much compensation you can claim for your accident, there are a few factors that will determine a fair and proportionate pay-out. These are:
- The extent of your injuries;
- Your estimated recovery period;
- Your prognoses for the future;
- The acceleration of any pre-existing medical conditions.
The correct name for personal injury compensation is ‘general damages’. General damages are the damages you claim for your injuries. So, if you have been involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault and you sustained whiplash and cuts and cruises, then you would put in a claim for these injuries. The severity of your injuries and your prognosis for the future are very important factors here. The worse your injuries are, and the worse the impact these will have on you long-term, the more compensation you can claim.
However, this isn’t the end of the story. You can also put in a claim for ‘special damages’ alongside general damages. Special damages aim to recover the financial costs of your accident, so you can put in a claim for loss of earnings including overtime and for any debts you incurred as a result of your accident. For example, if you had to take out a small loan to pay for food due to your inability to work, you can claim these costs back.
The total amount of compensation you receive will be comprised of both types of damages or compensation. So for example, if you have been involved in a road traffic accident and you broke your leg, and you have been unable to work for four months, then you would be able to claim back those lost monthly earnings on top of your injury.
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible for any compensation lawyers to give you an accurate figure when asking about how much compensation you can claim. While a lawyer can refer to past cases similar to your own, you will only have an estimate. The true settlement figure is the one your solicitor demands from the other side.
As previously mentioned, this will be comprised of general damages and special damages. To give you an idea as to how much you could claim, minor whiplash injuries usually have a pay-out of £1,000-£3,500. This is in proportion to the average recovery time of the injuries.
If you are thinking about making a claim, then it’s important to get the right advice. You should contact specialist compensation lawyers at a law firm for this. A lawyer will be able to ascertain your eligibility to make a claim and answer all your claims-related questions, so that you can make an informed decision moving forward.
