How much compensation can I claim for a work accident?
If you have been injured at work, you may be able to claim financial compensation. The following article explains how compensation is calculated for a work injury claim, and what losses you can claim for.
In the UK, work injury compensation is divided into two parts:
General damages
General damages is the legal term for compensation awarded for ‘Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenity’ (PSLA).
PSLA refers to the pain and discomfort your injuries have caused and the broader impact your injuries have had on your life.
General damages are calculated with reference to a set of tables published by the Judicial College called the ‘Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Fifteenth Edition’ .
These guidelines include example awards for a wide range of injuries, illnesses and health conditions.
Awards are categorised based on the type and severity of the injury. General damages are 'general' in the sense that similar injuries will receive similar compensation amounts, regardless of the circumstances of the accident.
Injuries with long-term or permanent symptoms will generally result in larger compensation pay-outs.
Special damages
You can claim for any financial losses you incur as a direct consequence of your accident.
Special damages is the term for compensation awarded for any financial losses you incur as a direct consequence of your accident.
Financial losses you could claim for after a work accident include:
- Loss of earnings (including overtime, bonuses and pension contributions)
- Future loss of earnings (if you are still unable to return to work when you claim)
- Medical treatment costs
- Professional care costs
- Care provided by family and friends
- Prescription costs
- Travel expenses
- Housing modification costs (such as ramps or walk-in baths)
When making a claim, you must make reasonable endeavours to 'mitigate expenses and losses', however. When assessing special damages awards, the courts will assess whether or your financial losses and expenses were reasonably incurred.
You should retain any payslips, tickets, invoices and receipts as evidence to support your compensation claim.
How much can I claim for an occupational illness or health condition?
If you have been diagnosed with an occupational illness, you can claim compensation for the pain, loss of amenity, as well as any other negative effects the condition has on your life.
There are several illnesses and health conditions that are commonly associated with work accidents and working conditions. These include:
- Upper-limb disorders like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- Mesothelioma and Asbestosis
- Silicosis and other lung diseases
- Noise-induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), acoustic shock and tinnitus
The amount you can claim for an illness or condition caused by your working conditions will depend on:
- The impact on your daily life
- The impact on your ability to work
- Whether symptoms are temporary or permanent
- Whether symptoms are likely to get worse over time
The Judicial College guidelines do not set out specific awards for many occupational illnesses. However, our work injury calculator will give an estimate for these conditions.
Work injury tables
The Work Accident Advice Centre injury calculator refers to the latest published tables when calculating your compensation.
The following is an excerpt of the tables:
Category | Injury | Amount |
---|---|---|
Paralysis | Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia | £295,090 to £0 |
Paralysis | Paraplegia | £199,150 to £0 |
Brain damage | Very severe | £256,370 to £0 |
Brain damage | Severe | £199,150 to £0 |
Brain damage | Moderate - level 4 | £136,460 to £0 |
Brain damage | Moderate - level 3 | £82,470 to £0 |
Brain damage | Moderate - level 2 | £39,150 to £0 |
Brain damage | Moderate - level 1 | £13,930 to £0 |
Brain damage | Minor (relatively) | £2,010 to £0 |
Epilepsy | Epilepsy - Grand Mal | £92,730 to £0 |
Epilepsy | Epilepsy - Petit Mal | £49,850 to £0 |
Epilepsy | Epilepsy - other | £9,670 to £0 |
General Psychiatric damage | Severe | £49,850 to £0 |
General Psychiatric damage | Serious | £17,340 to £0 |
General Psychiatric damage | Moderate | £5,330 to £0 |
General Psychiatric damage | Lesser | £1,400 to £0 |
Post-traumatic stress | Severe | £54,420 to £0 |
Post-traumatic stress | Serious | £21,050 to £0 |
Post-traumatic stress | Moderate | £7,440 to £0 |
Post-traumatic stress | Minor (relatively) | £3,590 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Total blindness and deafness | Around £367,260 |
Injuries affecting sight | Total blindness | Around £244,290 |
Injuries affecting sight | Loss of sight in one eye & reduced vision in the other | £87,260 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Loss of one eye | £49,850 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Loss of sight in one eye | £44,790 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Moderate loss of some vision in one or eye | £21,530 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Minor but permanent loss of some vision in one or both eyes | £8,280 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Minor eye injury | £3,590 to £0 |
Injuries affecting sight | Transient eye injury | £2,000 to £0 |
Injuries affecting hearing and speech | Total deafness and blindness | Around £367,260 |
Injuries affecting hearing and speech | Total deafness and loss of speech | £99,680 to £0 |
Injuries affecting hearing and speech | Total deafness | £82,500 to £0 |
Injuries affecting hearing and speech | Loss of hearing in one ear | £28,460 to £0 |
Tinnitus | Severe tinnitus and NIHL | £27,010 to £0 |
Tinnitus | Moderate tinnitus and NIHL | £13,550 to £0 |
Tinnitus | Mild tinnitus and NIHL | £11,450 to £0 |
Tinnitus | Mild tinnitus or mild NIHL | Around £10,650 |
Tinnitus | Slight or occasional tinnitus with slight NIHL | £6,690 to £0 |
Tinnitus | Slight tinnitus or slight NIHL | £0 to £6,370 |
Impairment of taste and smell | Total loss of taste & smell | Around £35,610 |
Impairment of taste and smell | Total loss of smell & significant loss of taste | £29,910 to £0 |
Impairment of taste and smell | Loss of smell | £22,720 to £0 |
Impairment of taste and smell | Loss of taste | £17,450 to £0 |
Asbestos-related disease | Mesothelioma | £63,650 to £0 |
Asbestos-related disease | Lung cancer | £63,660 to £0 |
Asbestos-related disease | Asbestosis and pleural thickening with significant respiratory disability | £32,270 to £0 |
Asbestos-related disease | Asbestosis and pleural thickening with low respiratory disability | £13,730 to £0 |
Asthma | Severe | £39,150 to £0 |
Asthma | Chronic | £23,900 to £0 |
Asthma | Bronchitis/Wheezing | £17,450 to £0 |
Asthma | Modest | £9,670 to £0 |
Asthma | Mild | £0 to £4,680 |
Bladder | Loss of bladder function & control (with other medical complications) | £0 to £167,450 |
Bladder | Loss of bladder function & control | £0 to £127,870 |
Bladder | Impaired bladder function and control | £58,160 to £0 |
Bladder | Near full recovery with minor long term effects | £21,280 to £0 |
Bowels | Loss of bladder and bowel function | £0 to £167,450 |
Bowels | Total loss of bowel function | £0 to £136,460 |
Bowels | Faecal urgency and passive incontinence | Around £72,650 |
Bowels | Impairment of function from abdominal injury | £40,540 to £0 |
Bowels | Some permanent damage - returning to natural function/control | £11,450 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Removal of one lung | £91,520 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Traumatic lung injury | £59,760 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Damage to chest or lung | £28,460 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Chest injury (no damage to lung) | £11,450 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Toxic fume/smoke inhalation | £4,840 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Collapsed lung | £1,990 to £0 |
Chest injuries | Rib fracture/soft tissue injury | £0 to £3,590 |
Traumatic injury | Severe damage | £39,100 to £0 |
Traumatic injury | Serious non-penetrating injury | £15,260 to £0 |
Non-traumatic injury | Non-traumatic - serious | £34,940 to £0 |
Non-traumatic injury | Non-traumatic - moderate | £3,590 to £0 |
Non-traumatic injury | Non-traumatic - minor | £830 to £0 |
Hernia | Serious | £13,550 to £0 |
Hernia | Moderate | £6,370 to £0 |
Hernia | Lesser | £3,080 to £0 |
Kidney | Loss of both kidneys | £154,000 to £0 |
Kidney | Risk of loss of kidney function | £0 to £58,160 |
Kidney | Loss of one kidney | £27,970 to £0 |
Lung disease | Severe lung disease | £91,520 to £0 |
Lung disease | Lung cancer | £63,660 to £0 |
Lung disease | Lung disease | £49,850 to £0 |
Lung disease | Breathing difficulties | £28,460 to £0 |
Lung disease | Bronchitis and wheezing | £18,910 to £0 |
Lung disease | Slight breathlessness | £9,670 to £0 |
Lung disease | Temporary aggravation of bronchitis | £2,000 to £0 |
Male reproductive injury | Total loss of reproductive organs | £139,880 to £0 |
Male reproductive injury | Orchidectomy | £18,250 to £0 |
Impotence | Impotence - young man | £104,450 to £0 |
Impotence | Impotence - middle aged man | £39,100 to £0 |
Sterility | Sterility - young man | £0 to £127,910 |
Sterility | Sterility - older man | Around £17,050 |
Sterility | Sterility - young man (uncomplicated) | £50,980 to £0 |
Sterility | Sterility - man who may have wanted more children | £21,540 to £0 |
Sterility | Sterility - no intention of having children | £6,010 to £0 |
Female reproductive injury | Infertility - severe psychological impact | £104,450 to £0 |
Female reproductive injury | Infertility - failure to diagnose ectopic pregnancy with medical complications | £39,100 to £0 |
Female reproductive injury | Infertility - no medical complications | £16,330 to £0 |
Female reproductive injury | Infertility - where no plan to have children | £6,010 to £0 |
Female reproductive injury | Failed sterilisation and unwanted pregnancy | Around £9,270 |
Female reproductive injury | Delayed diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy | £3,080 to £0 |
Spleen | Loss of spleen - continuing risk of disorder or infection | £18,910 to £0 |
Spleen | Loss of spleen - no risk of disorder or infection | £3,950 to £0 |
Other neck injuries | Very Severe | Around £134,850 |
Other neck injuries | Severe | £59,760 to £0 |
Other neck injuries | Serious | £41,350 to £0 |
Other neck injuries | Moderate | £22,720 to £0 |
Other neck injuries | Minor (relatively) | £2,230 to £0 |
Whiplash | Recovery in 1 to 2 years | £1,200 to £0 |
Whiplash | Recovery in 3 to 12 months | £220 to £0 |
Whiplash | Recovery in under 3 months | £0 to £220 |
Other back injury | Severe | £35,250 to £0 |
Other back injury | Moderate | £11,370 to £0 |
Other back injury | Minor (relatively) | £2,230 to £0 |
Other shoulder injuries | Severe | £17,450 to £0 |
Other shoulder injuries | Serious | £11,610 to £0 |
Other shoulder injuries | Moderate | £7,170 to £0 |
Other shoulder injuries | Soft tissue injury | £2,230 to £0 |
Other shoulder injuries | Clavicle fracture | £4,680 to £0 |
Pelvis and hips | Very severe | £71,270 to £0 |
Pelvis and hips | Severe | £56,270 to £0 |
Pelvis and hips | Serious | £35,610 to £0 |
Pelvis and hips | Moderate | £11,450 to £0 |
Pelvis and hips | Minor (relatively) | £3,590 to £0 |
Arm amputation | Loss of both arms | £218,900 to £0 |
Arm amputation | Loss of one arm at shoulder | £124,690 to £0 |
Arm amputation | Loss of one arm above elbow | £99,680 to £0 |
Arm amputation | Loss of one arm below elbow | £87,420 to £0 |
Other arm injuries | Severe | £87,420 to £0 |
Other arm injuries | Serious | £35,610 to £0 |
Other arm injuries | Less severe - some recovery | £17,450 to £0 |
Other arm injuries | Less severe - forearm fracture | £6,010 to £0 |
Elbow injury | Permanent - disabling | £35,610 to £0 |
Elbow injury | Permanent - impairement of function | £14,230 to £0 |
Elbow injury | Recovery within 18 months | £0 to £3,210 |
Elbow injury | Recovery between 18 to 36 months | £0 to £5,910 |
Elbow injury | Recovery after 36 months | £0 to £11,450 |
Wrist injury | Very Severe - Complete loss of function | £43,290 to £0 |
Wrist injury | Severe - Some useful movement retained | £22,270 to £0 |
Wrist injury | Serious | £11,450 to £0 |
Wrist injury | Moderate - complete recovery | £5,530 to £0 |
Wrist injury | Moderate - Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £6,750 |
Wrist injury | Lesser | £3,210 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Total or effective loss of both hands | £127,870 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Serious damage to both hands | £50,750 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Total or effective loss of one hand | £87,420 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Serious injuries to one hand | £26,360 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Moderate/serious injuries to one or both hands | £13,140 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Moderate injuries to one or both hands | £5,200 to £0 |
Other hand injuries | Minor (relatively) injuries to one or both hands | £0 to £4,320 |
Finger amputation | Amputation of finger/s | £56,280 to £0 |
Finger injury | Fractured finger/s | £0 to £33,400 |
Finger loss | Loss of index finger | £11,060 to £0 |
Finger injury | Fracture of index finger | £8,280 to £0 |
Finger injury | Serious injury to ring or middle finger | £9,380 to £0 |
Finger loss | Loss of terminal phalanx of ring or middle finger | £3,590 to £0 |
Finger amputation | Amputation - little finger | £7,850 to £0 |
Finger loss | Loss of part of little finger | £3,590 to £0 |
Finger amputation | Amputation - ring or index finger | Around £19,830 |
Finger amputation | Amputation - terminal phalanx of index or middle finger | Around £22,720 |
Finger injury | Relatively minor finger injury | £0 to £4,320 |
Thumb injury | Loss of thumb | £32,290 to £0 |
Thumb injury | Very serious | £17,820 to £0 |
Thumb injury | Serious | £11,450 to £0 |
Thumb injury | Moderate | £8,790 to £0 |
Thumb injury | Dislocation | £5,760 to £0 |
Thumb injury | Minor (relatively) | £0 to £4,320 |
VWF | Severe | £28,760 to £0 |
VWF | Serious | £15,240 to £0 |
VWF | Moderate | £7,850 to £0 |
VWF | Lesser | £2,720 to £0 |
WRULDS | Severe | £19,920 to £0 |
WRULDS | Serious | £13,550 to £0 |
WRULDS | Moderate | £7,850 to £0 |
WRULDS | Minor (relatively) | £2,000 to £0 |
Leg amputation | Loss of both legs | £218,900 to £0 |
Leg amputation | Below-knee Amputation of Both Legs | £183,170 to £0 |
Leg amputation | Above-knee amputation of one leg | £95,300 to £0 |
Leg amputation | Below-knee amputation of one leg | £89,070 to £0 |
Other leg injury | Severe | £87,500 to £0 |
Other leg injury | Very Serious | £49,850 to £0 |
Other leg injury | Serious | £35,640 to £0 |
Other leg injury | Moderate | £25,240 to £0 |
Other leg injury | Less serious | £8,280 to £0 |
Other leg injury | Minor (relatively) | £0 to £10,760 |
Knee injury | Very severe | £63,390 to £0 |
Knee injury | Severe | £47,380 to £0 |
Knee injury | Serious | £23,810 to £0 |
Knee injury | Moderate | £13,490 to £0 |
Knee injury | Minor (relatively) | £0 to £12,490 |
Ankle injury | Very severe | £45,510 to £0 |
Ankle injury | Severe | £28,460 to £0 |
Ankle injury | Moderate | £12,490 to £0 |
Ankle injury | Minor (relatively) | £0 to £12,490 |
Achilles tendon injury | Severe | Around £34,940 |
Achilles tendon injury | Serious | £22,720 to £0 |
Achilles tendon injury | Moderate | £11,450 to £0 |
Achilles tendon injury | Minor (relatively) | £6,610 to £0 |
Foot amputation | Amputation of both feet | £154,000 to £0 |
Foot amputation | Amputation of one foot | £76,330 to £0 |
Other foot injuries | Very Severe | £76,330 to £0 |
Other foot injuries | Severe | £38,150 to £0 |
Other foot injuries | Serious | £22,720 to £0 |
Other foot injuries | Moderate | £12,490 to £0 |
Other foot injuries | Modest | £0 to £12,490 |
Toe injury | Amputation of all toes | £33,200 to £0 |
Toe injury | Amputation of the big toe | Around £28,460 |
Toe injury | Severe toe injuries | £12,490 to £0 |
Toe injury | Serious toe injuries | £8,730 to £0 |
Toe injury | Moderate toe injuries | £0 to £8,730 |
CRPS | Severe | £47,730 to £0 |
CRPS | Moderate | £25,480 to £0 |
Other pain disorders | Severe | £38,300 to £0 |
Other pain disorders | Moderate | £19,150 to £0 |
Skeletal injury | Skeletal injuries | £21,650 to £0 |
Skeletal injury | Multiple fractures | £13,550 to £0 |
Nose fracture | Serious/multiple fractures | £9,670 to £0 |
Nose fracture | Displaced fracture recovery after surgery | £3,590 to £0 |
Nose fracture | Displaced fracture | £2,290 to £0 |
Nose fracture | Undisplaced fracture | £1,550 to £0 |
Cheekbone fracture | Serious fractures | £9,270 to £0 |
Cheekbone fracture | Simple fractures with surgery | £3,950 to £0 |
Cheekbone fracture | Simple fractures without surgery | £2,110 to £0 |
Jaw fracture | Very serious | £27,720 to £0 |
Jaw fracture | Serious | £16,330 to £0 |
Jaw fracture | Minor/moderate | £5,870 to £0 |
Teeth loss or damage | Chronic tooth pain | £0 to £34,660 |
Teeth loss or damage | Several front teeth | £7,940 to £0 |
Teeth loss or damage | Two front teeth | £3,950 to £0 |
Teeth loss or damage | One front tooth | £2,000 to £0 |
Teeth loss or damage | Back teeth | £990 to £0 |
Facial scars | Severe | £27,070 to £0 |
Facial scars | Serious | £16,330 to £0 |
Facial scars | Significant | £8,280 to £0 |
Facial scars | Moderate | £3,590 to £0 |
Facial scars | Minor (relatively) | £1,550 to £0 |
Other parts of the body | Serious (excluding facial) | £7,120 to £0 |
Other parts of the body | Moderate (excluding facial) | Around £7,850 |
Other parts of the body | Minor (excluding facial) | £2,150 to £0 |
Other parts of the body | Severe (excluding facial) | £95,300 to £0 |
Facial scarring | Severe | £27,070 to £0 |
Facial scarring | Serious | £16,330 to £0 |
Facial scarring | Significant | £8,280 to £0 |
Facial scarring | Moderate | £3,590 to £0 |
Facial scarring | Minor (relatively) | £1,550 to £0 |
Hair damage | Serious | £6,670 to £0 |
Hair damage | Moderate | £6,670 to £0 |
Hair damage | Lesser | £3,590 to £0 |
Dermatitis | Dermatitis lasting years or indefinitely | £12,490 to £0 |
Dermatitis | Longer-term dermatitis | £7,850 to £0 |
Dermatitis | Short-term dermatitis | £1,550 to £0 |
Finger injury | Finger(s) amputation | Around £0 |
Finger injury | Finger(s) loss | Around £0 |
Arm-related conditions | Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) | Around £0 |
HAVS | Severe | £28,760 to £0 |
HAVS | Serious | £15,240 to £0 |
HAVS | Moderate | £7,850 to £0 |
HAVS | Minor (relatively) | £2,720 to £0 |
Disease | Other | Around £0 |
Leg injury | Leg fractures | Around £0 |
Leg fractures | More serious fractures | £16,330 to £0 |
Leg fractures | Simple femur fracture | £8,280 to £0 |
Leg fractures | Simple tibia or fibula fracture | £0 to £10,760 |
Arm-related conditions | Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Around £0 |
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Severe | £19,920 to £0 |
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Serious | £13,550 to £0 |
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Moderate | £7,850 to £0 |
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Minor (relatively) | £2,000 to £0 |
Arm-related conditions | Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) | Around £0 |
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) | Severe | £19,920 to £0 |
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) | Serious | £13,550 to £0 |
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) | Moderate | £7,850 to £0 |
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) | Minor (relatively) | £2,000 to £0 |
Cold injury | Less serious | Around £15,000 |
Cold injury | More serious | Around £32,500 |
How does the work injury calculator work?
Our easy to use compensation calculator uses the following steps to work out how much compensation you could receive for your injury:
Step1 - Calculate general damages
The work injury calculator helps you identify the correct injury category and injury severity, as set out in the Judicial College guidelines) to calculate your general damages.
The calculator also considers the impact of multiple injuries on your total compensation award.
Step2 - Calculate special damages
The calculator also provides valuable insights into what financial losses you will be able to claim for.
Any expenses and losses you have incurred are then included in the special damages calculation.
Step3 - Check claim eligibility
Finally, the calculator asks you a few questions about the circumstances of your accident and checks whether you are eligible to claim compensation.
Calculator results
Once you have answered all of the questions on the calculator, you will be provided with a detailed estimate of how much compensation you could receive.
The calculator will also confirm whether you meet the basic criteria to start a no win, no fee claim.
Is the work injury calculator accurate?
The way the Judicial College guidelines are applied in practice makes it difficult to factor in all of the considerations needed to calculate an exact compensation figure.
The compensation scales in the guidelines can be wide. When making a claim, your solicitor will refer to a medical report to help determine where on the scale your injuries are.
The majority of claims are settled out of court in a negotiation between your solicitor and the defendant’s insurance company. You may, for example, decide to accept a lower early offer to secure a quick pay-out from the insurer.
However, our calculator has been designed to take into account as many of the knowable factors as possible, to produce an estimate that is more accurate than simply referring to the guideline tables.
No win, no fee compensation
Most work injury compensation claims will be made on a no win, no fee basis.
If you have been injured at work, no win, no fee means you can start a compensation claim without the risk of having to pay any legal fees if your claim is not successful.
If your claim is successful, your solicitor will receive a success fee. The success fee will be deducted from the total compensation award. Under a no win, no fee agreement, a solicitor will receive a success fee of up to 25% of a claimant's compensation.
Find out more: about how No Win, No Fee works.
FAQ’s
Is the compensation amount reduced if I was partly to blame?
It depends. In other circumstances, such as a road accident, your compensation could be reduced if you were partly responsible for an accident.
For a work accident, however, the principle of 'vicarious liability' applies, making your employer liable for foreseeable actions or errors of its employees. If you make a mistake and are injured at work, your employer may still be held liable for your injuries.
Who would have to pay my compensation?
In almost all cases, your employer will not pay compensation from their own pocket.
By law, companies must have employers' liability insurance in place. Compensation is paid by the insurer.
Will I have to pay tax on my compensation?
Personal injury compensation is exempt from taxation in the UK. No tax is payable even if the amount is paid in instalments.
However, you may earn a small amount of interest between the date that your claim is settled and the date you receive your compensation. Technically, this interest may be taxable.
Will my work accident compensation affect my benefits?
Maybe. When you receive your compensation award, certain means-tested benefits could be affected. Whether any benefits you receive will be affected will also depend on how much compensation you are awarded.
Some benefits, including incapacity benefit and Working Tax Credit are not affected.
Can I get a more accurate estimate?
The calculator is designed to give you a good idea of a potential compensation award or settlement by asking you a few simple questions. The more information we have, however, the more we can tell you about how your claim might pan out. The best place to start is to contact us on 0800 218 2227 and speak to one of our legally trained advisors.
A FREE consultation gives you a clear understanding of your claim prospects and options.
Is there a time limit for making a claim?
Yes. If you were over 18 when you were injured, you must start a claim within 3 years of the date of diagnosis. If you were under 18, you have until your 21st birthday. There are exceptions, however.
For more information call us now for a FREE consultation.
Will my employment status affect the compensation award?
Compensation calculations do not take your employment status into account. Whether you are employed, self-employed, on a zero-hours contract or a volunteer, your injury compensation award will be the same.
There are, however, differences in the claims process, depending on your employment status.
How much can I claim for multiple injuries after a work accident?
It is more difficult to predict how much compensation you might receive if you have suffered multiple injuries.
Calculating special damages for a multiple injury claim is still just a matter of adding up any costs or losses resulting from your accident.
Calculating general damages for multiple injuries is more complex, however, as you cannot simply add two guideline injury awards together.
In most cases, you would receive less compensation for multiple injuries than you would get if you added several single awards together.
Pain might be spread across multiple injuries and no greater than the pain from a single injury. With loss of amenity, whether you have broken two fingers or three doesn’t materially change what you can do.
In some cases, however, you could receive more compensation for certain multiple injuries than you would by adding the single amounts together. For example, having broken both legs will mean you are much less mobile than if you had broken only one leg.
Which principle applies will depend on the medical evidence. This complexity means that solicitors, courts and insurers will consider the appropriate level of compensation for a multiple injury claim on a case by case basis.
Our compensation calculator uses a basic algorithm to give you a rough idea of how much compensation you could receive for a multiple injuries compensation claim.