What could my personal injury claim be worth?
If you’ve been injured and someone else was at fault, you may be able to claim compensation. Courts and insurers often start with the Judicial College Guidelines. Below are indicative ranges — not a quote for your case.
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Important disclaimer
These figures are illustrative only and reflect the approach in the Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases (18th Edition).
They are indicative brackets for pain, suffering and loss of amenity: not the official tables, not a guarantee and not legal advice.
Your award may also include special damages such as lost earnings, care, treatment and travel. Some road-traffic whiplash claims use a separate tariff. Only a solicitor reviewing your circumstances and medical evidence can give a meaningful estimate.
How personal injury claims are valued
- General damages — pain, suffering and impact on daily life.
- Special damages — wages, care, treatment, travel and similar costs.
- Evidence — medical reports, records, photos and the impact on work and life.
Severity, recovery time, lasting effects and impact on work usually matter more than the label alone.
Indicative brackets — general damages only
Judicial College Guidelines 18th Edition — indicative only.
Head and brain injuries
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Very severe brain damage | £372,570 – £533,720 |
| Moderately severe | £289,420 – £372,570 |
| Moderate (higher) | £198,320 – £289,420 |
| Moderate (middle) | £119,860 – £198,320 |
| Moderate (lower) | £56,890 – £119,860 |
| Less severe | £20,240 – £56,890 |
| Minor brain injury | £2,920 – £16,870 |
Paralysis
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Tetraplegia / quadriplegia | £428,850 – £533,720 |
| Paraplegia | £289,420 – £375,540 |
| Short-duration paralysis | Around £65,180 |
Amputations
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Loss of both arms | £318,120 – £396,340 |
| Arm at shoulder | Not less than £181,200 |
| Above-elbow | £144,860 – £172,970 |
| Below-elbow | £127,050 – £144,860 |
| Loss of both legs | £318,120 – £372,570 |
Back injuries
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Severe spinal cord / nerve roots | £120,340 – £212,670 |
| Severe, special features | £97,980 – £116,820 |
| Chronic post-treatment | £51,230 – £92,130 |
| Moderate (higher) | £36,680 – £51,230 |
| Moderate (lower) | £16,520 – £36,680 |
| Minor, 2–5 years | £10,420 – £16,520 |
| Minor, 1–2 years | £5,750 – £10,420 |
| Minor, under 3 months | Up to £3,240 |
Neck injuries
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Severe with paralysis | Around £195,970 |
| Severe — major disability | £86,860 – £172,970 |
| Severe — chronic permanent | £60,080 – £73,970 |
| Moderate (higher) | £33,020 – £50,850 |
| Moderate (lower) | £10,420 – £18,150 |
| Minor, under 3 months | Up to £3,240 |
Many RTA whiplash claims use a separate tariff — see below.
Shoulder injuries
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Severe | £25,370 – £63,450 |
| Serious | £16,870 – £25,370 |
| Moderate | £10,420 – £16,870 |
| Minor | £5,750 – £10,420 |
| Clavicle fracture | £6,800 – £16,170 |
Leg injuries (non-amputation)
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Most serious short of amputation | £127,160 – £179,560 |
| Very serious | £72,440 – £117,210 |
| Serious | £51,790 – £72,440 |
| Moderate / complicated | £36,680 – £51,790 |
| Simple femur fracture | £12,040 – £18,600 |
| Tibia/fibula or soft tissue | Up to £15,640 |
Psychiatric injury
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Severe | £72,440 – £152,900 |
| Moderately severe | £25,190 – £72,440 |
| Moderate | £7,740 – £25,190 |
| Less severe | £2,040 – £7,740 |
PTSD
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Severe | £79,080 – £133,000 |
| Moderately severe | £30,580 – £79,080 |
| Moderate | £10,810 – £30,580 |
| Less severe | £5,220 – £10,810 |
Epilepsy
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Established | £72,440 – £198,320 |
| Other conditions | £14,060 – £38,000 |
Facial injuries and scarring
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Very severe scarring | £39,340 – £128,590 |
| Less severe scarring | £23,730 – £63,970 |
| Significant scarring | £12,040 – £39,750 |
| Less significant | £5,220 – £18,150 |
| Trivial scarring | £2,260 – £4,670 |
| Multiple facial-bone fractures | £19,680 – £31,640 |
| Very serious jaw fracture | £40,280 – £60,160 |
| Simple jaw fracture | £8,530 – £11,540 |
Scarring and burns
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Significant burns (40%+) | Likely to exceed £138,490 |
| Noticeable limb / torso scarring | £10,350 – £30,030 |
| Superficial scars | £3,130 – £10,350 |
Sexual and/or physical abuse
| Severity | Range |
|---|---|
| Severe | £129,920 – £197,440 |
| Moderately severe | £59,450 – £129,920 |
| Moderate | £27,170 – £59,450 |
| Less severe | £12,850 – £27,170 |
Road traffic whiplash — important separate note
Many driver and passenger whiplash claims in England and Wales on or after 31 May 2021 use a statutory tariff, not the open Guidelines brackets. Motorcycle, cyclist and pedestrian cases are generally outside it.
For accidents on or after 31 May 2025, tariff orientation was roughly £275–£4,830 (whiplash only) and £300–£4,975 (with minor psychological injury), across bands up to 18–24 months. Mixed claims follow recent case law including Hassam v Rabot.
What usually increases or reduces value?
May increase value
- More serious or long-lasting injury
- Ongoing pain, disability or care needs
- Significant impact on work or earning capacity
- More than one injury
- Clear prognosis and treatment needs
May reduce value
- Quick, full recovery
- Limited medical evidence
- Shared responsibility
- Gaps in treatment or inconsistent records
Every case is different. Evidence and daily impact matter.
What we need for a useful estimate
- What happened and when
- Your injuries and current symptoms
- Medical treatment so far
- Time off work and money spent
- How daily life has changed
You do not need everything ready before you call. We can guide you.
FAQs
Is this what I will definitely get?
No. The ranges are illustrative only. A solicitor assesses general damages, special damages and your evidence.
Do these figures include lost wages?
No. These tables relate mainly to general damages. Lost earnings and other financial losses are usually special damages.
Which edition do you use?
These ranges align with the Judicial College Guidelines 18th Edition. They do not replace judgement of your case.
What if I was partly at fault?
You may still have a claim. Compensation can be reduced for shared responsibility.
How long will a claim take?
It depends on recovery, medical evidence and whether liability is agreed. We will give a realistic timescale.
Will it cost me anything?
Initial assessment is free and confidential. Eligible claims may proceed on a no win no fee basis; we confirm terms before you commit.
Next step
Unsure where you sit on the tables? Tell us what happened. We’ll explain in plain English whether you may have a claim and what it’s roughly worth.
Call 0333 777 5001 or request a callback.
Free consultation. No win no fee for eligible claims.