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Guide · England & Wales
How Is Personal Injury Compensation Calculated?
There's no single "average" figure because every claim is different. Two people with similar injuries can be affected in very different ways. One may be unable to work and lose earnings, while the other carries on as normal. Your compensation is worked out from your own injuries, the effect they have on your life, and the financial losses you've had, not from an online average.
Why online compensation figures vary so much, what goes into working out a claim, and how we make sure your compensation reflects your situation.
Reviewed by [solicitor name], NJS Law · Last reviewed [month year]
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Why do online compensation figures vary so much?
Search for "average compensation" after an accident and you'll find a huge range of figures. Averages can be a useful starting point for general awareness, but they don't reflect how compensation is actually worked out for an individual claim.
An average can't tell you how long your recovery will take, whether you've had to take time off work, what your treatment has cost, or how the injury has affected your day-to-day life. Those are the things that decide what your claim is worth.
For an overview of the whole claim, read how personal injury claims work.
"Quite simply, it's because every claim is different."
NJS Law personal injury teamWhat an online average leaves out
- How serious your injury is and how long it lasts
- Whether you've lost earnings, now or in the future
- The cost of treatment, care and travel
- The psychological impact on you
- How the injury affects your work, hobbies and family life
Why can similar injuries lead to different compensation?
Two people can have very similar physical injuries, yet the consequences for each of them can be very different.
"Although you may have two clients that have sustained quite similar injuries, the impact on each of those clients can be very different."
NJS Law personal injury teamUnable to work during recovery
A fractured wrist means they can't do their job for several months.
- Compensation for the injury itself
- Lost earnings while they're off work
- Treatment, travel and help at home
Able to carry on working
A similar wrist injury, but they can keep working in an office-based role.
- Compensation for the injury itself
- No lost earnings to claim
- Treatment and travel costs
An illustration only. Both people would claim for their injury, but Person A's claim also includes the earnings they've lost, so the total is likely to be higher.
What is personal injury compensation made up of?
Compensation is usually made up of two parts. Together, they aim to put you back in the position you'd have been in if the accident hadn't happened, as far as money can.
General damages
Compensation for the injury itself: the pain, suffering and loss of amenity, which means the effect on your quality of life, such as being unable to enjoy hobbies, sport or time with family.
Special damages
Compensation for the financial losses and costs the injury has caused, both what you've already lost and what you're likely to lose in the future. These are worked out from evidence such as payslips and receipts.
| Special damages can include | What's covered |
|---|---|
| Lost earnings | Income you've lost because of the injury, and future loss of earnings if you can't return to work or have to change jobs |
| Medical and treatment costs | Private treatment, physiotherapy, prescriptions and specialist appointments |
| Care and help at home | Professional care, and the time family or friends spend looking after you |
| Travel costs | Journeys to medical appointments and extra travel caused by the injury |
| Damaged property | Vehicle repairs, clothing, phones and other belongings damaged in the accident |
| Adaptations and equipment | Mobility aids, home adaptations or an adapted vehicle, usually in more serious injury claims |
How is the injury itself valued?
General damages are based on independent medical evidence. A medical expert examines you and writes a report setting out your injuries, the treatment you need, and how long your recovery is likely to take.
Your solicitor then compares your injuries with the Judicial College Guidelines, which the courts use to set out compensation brackets for different types of injury, and with similar cases the courts have decided.
Where your injury sits within a bracket depends on things such as:
- How serious the injury is
- How long your symptoms last, and whether they're permanent
- The pain and treatment involved
- The effect on your work, hobbies and everyday life
Whiplash from a road traffic accident
For many whiplash injuries from road traffic accidents, the amount for the injury itself is set by a fixed tariff under the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, based on how long your symptoms last, up to two years. Your financial losses are still claimed on top. Find out more about road traffic accident claims.
"Every client's different. Every injury is different. The impact it has on them is different."
NJS Law personal injury teamHow much compensation could I get?
These tables show indicative ranges for some of the most common injuries in each type of claim, based on the guidance used by the courts in England and Wales. They're a starting point, not an average: they cover the injury itself only, and your financial losses are added on top. Choose a claim type to see its table.
Road traffic accident compensation
Indicative ranges for some of the most common road traffic accident injuries.
| Injury type | Severity | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Whiplash / neck injurySoft tissue injury to the neck or back, often from a rear-end collision | Minor (up to 2 years) | £275 – £4,975 |
| Whiplash / neck injurySymptoms lasting longer, or needing ongoing treatment | Moderate (ongoing symptoms) | £5,750 – £33,020 |
| Back injuryStrains, sprains and soft tissue damage that heal over time | Minor | £3,240 – £16,520 |
| Back injuryDisc, ligament or muscle damage with longer-lasting symptoms | Moderate | £16,520 – £51,230 |
| Shoulder injurySoft tissue damage, frozen shoulder or restricted movement | Minor to moderate | £5,750 – £16,870 |
| Knee injuryTwisting, bruising or ligament injuries, including some ongoing aching | Minor to moderate | Up to £34,600 |
| Wrist injuryFractures or soft tissue injuries, with or without lasting stiffness | Minor to moderate | £4,670 – £32,370 |
| Fractured armA simple fracture of the forearm | Simple fracture | £8,730 – £25,370 |
| Head / brain injuryConcussion or a minor head injury with good recovery | Minor | £2,920 – £16,870 |
| Psychological injuryAnxiety, travel anxiety or low mood after the accident, improving with treatment | Moderate | £7,740 – £25,190 |
Whiplash figures are the fixed tariff amounts for road traffic accidents on or after 31 May 2025, where the injury lasts up to 2 years. The top of the range includes minor psychological injury. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists aren't covered by the tariff, so their injuries are valued using the guidelines instead.
Read our road traffic accident claims guide →Accident at work compensation
Indicative ranges for some of the most common workplace injuries.
| Type of injury | Key factors | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Minor soft tissue injurySprains, strains and whiplash-type injuries to the neck or back | Recovery period, impact on daily activities | Up to £16,500 |
| Moderate back injuryDisc, ligament or muscle damage with longer-lasting symptoms | Duration of symptoms, impact on mobility and work | £16,500 – £51,000 |
| Serious back injuryLasting damage that may need surgery | Permanent symptoms, disc damage, nerve involvement | £51,000 – £212,000+ |
| Leg fracture (simple)A simple fracture of the tibia, fibula or femur | Recovery time, surgery required, long-term impact | Up to £18,500 |
| Serious leg / limb injuryComplex fractures and injuries with lasting effects | Multiple fractures, permanent disability, amputation | £36,500 – £117,000+ |
| Arm / shoulder injuryFrom soft tissue damage to fractures and elbow injuries | Severity, dominant arm affected, impact on work | £5,500 – £42,000 |
| Head and brain injuryFrom less severe brain injuries to life-changing damage | Cognitive impairment, personality change, long-term care | £20,000 – £530,000+ |
| Psychological injury (incl. PTSD)Anxiety, depression or PTSD caused by the accident | Severity, duration, impact on employment and relationships | £2,000 – £150,000+ |
The whiplash tariff doesn't apply to accidents at work, so minor neck and back injuries are valued using the guidelines. Compensation is usually paid by your employer's insurer, not your employer personally. Employers must have employer's liability insurance by law.
Read our accident at work claims guide →Occupiers' liability compensation
Indicative ranges for some of the most common injuries caused by unsafe premises, such as slips, trips and falls.
| Injury | Severity | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue injurySprains, strains and bruising to the neck, back or limbs | Minor (full recovery within 2 years) | Up to £10,400 |
| Soft tissue injurySymptoms lasting longer, or needing ongoing treatment | Moderate | £10,400 – £33,000 |
| Wrist fractureA break that leaves some lasting pain or stiffness | Moderate | £16,600 – £32,400 |
| Knee injuryLigament, cartilage or meniscus damage, such as from a fall | Moderate | £19,600 – £34,600 |
| Back injuryFrom strains and sprains to disc or ligament damage | Minor to moderate | £3,200 – £51,200 |
| Shoulder injuryFrozen shoulder or soft tissue damage with restricted movement | Moderate | £10,400 – £16,900 |
| Hip / pelvis fractureA fracture with some lasting effects, such as stiffness or pain | Moderate | £16,600 – £51,800 |
Compensation is usually paid by the occupier's insurer, such as the business, landlord or council's public liability insurance, rather than by an individual.
Read our occupiers' liability claims guide →Public liability compensation
Indicative ranges for some of the most common injuries from accidents in public places, such as pavement trips, playground accidents and dog bites.
| Injury | Severity | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle injurySprains, ligament damage or fractures, such as from a trip on a damaged pavement | Modest to moderate | Up to £35,100 |
| Knee injuryLigament, cartilage or meniscus damage with some ongoing symptoms | Moderate | £19,600 – £34,600 |
| Shoulder injurySoft tissue damage or restricted movement, sometimes needing surgery | Moderate | £10,400 – £25,400 |
| Wrist or hand injuryFractures or soft tissue damage that leave some pain or stiffness | Moderate | £16,600 – £38,700 |
| Back injuryFrom strains and sprains to disc or ligament damage | Minor to moderate | £3,200 – £51,200 |
| Dental damageChipped, broken or lost teeth, such as from a fall | Loss of or damage to teeth | £2,900 – £15,000 |
Compensation is usually paid by the public liability insurer of the business or organisation responsible, or by the council if the claim is against them, rather than by an individual.
Read our public liability claims guide →Serious injury compensation
Serious injury claims are valued on your individual circumstances, so awards vary widely. Indicative ranges for some of the most common serious and life-changing injuries:
| Injury type | Severity | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Brain injuryTraumatic brain injury affecting memory, concentration, personality or independence | Moderate to severe, with ongoing symptoms or disability | £56,900 – £533,700+ |
| Spinal injurySerious damage to the back or spine, including nerve damage | Serious back or spinal damage with long-term symptoms | £51,200 – £212,600+ |
| AmputationLoss of a hand, arm, foot or leg, including below or above the knee | Loss of part or all of a limb | £113,500 – £372,500+ |
| Leg injuryComplex or multiple fractures, often needing surgery | Serious fractures, permanent symptoms or disability | £36,700 – £117,200+ |
| Arm injuryFractures or nerve damage that leave lasting weakness or loss of use | Serious fracture, nerve damage or loss of function | £25,400 – £172,900+ |
| Serious burnsBurns needing grafts or leaving lasting scarring | Significant burns, scarring or disfigurement | £12,000 – £128,600+ |
| Serious scarringScars to the face or body that are noticeable or permanent | Noticeable or permanent scarring | £5,200 – £128,600 |
| Loss of sightDamage to one or both eyes | Partial or total loss of vision | From £72,400 |
| Loss of hearingDamage to hearing in one or both ears, sometimes with tinnitus | Partial or total hearing loss | From £41,400 |
| Psychological injuryPTSD, depression or anxiety after a serious accident | Severe impact on daily life, work and relationships | £25,200 – £152,900+ |
In serious injury claims, financial losses are often much larger than the amount for the injury itself, and can include future loss of earnings, care, rehabilitation, home adaptations, equipment and transport. A "+" means the most severe cases can be worth more.
Read our serious injury claims guide →How to read these figures
- These are indicative ranges for pain, suffering and loss of amenity only. Your financial losses, such as lost earnings, treatment, care and travel costs, are added on top.
- Figures are rounded and based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026), apart from the road traffic accident whiplash tariff amounts.
- Every claim is different. The amount you receive depends on your medical evidence and circumstances, and past results don't guarantee future outcomes.
Wondering what your claim might be worth?
We'll look at your own circumstances rather than relying on general averages, at no cost and with no obligation.
What else can change the amount you receive?
A few other things can affect the final figure. We'll explain any that apply to you at the start, so there are no surprises.
If you were partly to blame
You can often still claim if you were partly responsible for the accident, for example by not wearing a seatbelt. Your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of the blame. This is known as contributory negligence.
Future losses
If your injury will affect you for a long time, your claim should include future losses, such as ongoing care, treatment and lost earnings. This is why we don't settle until the long-term effects are clear.
State benefits
If you've received certain benefits because of your injury, the other side may have to repay them to the government. This can reduce the parts of your compensation for lost earnings, care or mobility, but never the compensation for the injury itself.
Interim payments
Where fault is accepted, you may be able to get part of your compensation before your claim settles, to help with lost income, treatment or rehabilitation. It's taken off your final settlement.
No win, no fee costs
If your claim succeeds, a success fee, agreed with you in advance and capped by law, is taken from your compensation. Read no win no fee explained.
Evidence
Your financial losses have to be backed by evidence, such as payslips, receipts and records of travel. Keep everything. We'll tell you what we need and help you gather it.
How we make sure your compensation reflects your situation
Rather than working from a generic figure, we build a full picture of your circumstances.
"We make sure that we're taking on board your situation, the injuries you've suffered, the impact on you and the financial losses you've suffered, and that the compensation we're recovering is right for you."
NJS Law personal injury teamFor every stage of a claim, read our guide to the personal injury claims process.
We listen to you
We find out what happened, what your injuries are, and how they're affecting your work, home life and wellbeing.
Independent medical evidence
We arrange a medical report, so your injuries and recovery are properly assessed and recorded.
We value your injury
We compare the medical evidence with the Judicial College Guidelines and similar cases to value your general damages.
We add up your losses
We gather evidence of your lost earnings and costs, and work out any future losses.
We negotiate for you
We negotiate with the other side's insurer for the full amount your claim is worth. Most claims settle without going to court.
You decide
We advise you on every offer, but you decide whether to accept. We explain every deduction before you're paid.
Compensation guides by claim type
What your claim could include, the time limits and how the process works for each type of claim.
Personal injury compensation: FAQs
Why do average compensation figures online vary so much?
Because every claim is different. Averages group together people whose injuries, recovery and financial losses can be very different, so they can only give you a rough idea. Your compensation is worked out from your own circumstances.
Can two people with the same injury get different amounts of compensation?
Yes. The injury may be similar, but the effect on each person can be very different. For example, one person may be unable to work and lose earnings while another carries on working. The psychological impact and financial losses are different for every client, so the compensation is too.
How is my own compensation worked out?
We look at your injuries, using independent medical evidence, and the effect they've had on you, and value them against the Judicial College Guidelines and similar cases. We then add your financial losses, such as lost earnings, treatment, care and travel costs, including any future losses.
Can I use an online compensation calculator?
A calculator can give you a rough idea, but it can't take account of your recovery, your financial losses or the effect on your life. The most reliable way to find out what your claim could be worth is a free assessment of your circumstances.
Will I get less compensation if I was partly to blame?
You can often still claim, but your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility for the accident. We'll tell you if we think this could apply to your claim.
Can I get some compensation before my claim settles?
Sometimes. If the other side accepts fault, we can ask for an interim payment, an advance on your compensation, to help with lost earnings, treatment or rehabilitation while your claim continues. It's taken off your final settlement.
Think you may have a claim?
Get in touch and we'll look at your circumstances, explain what your claim could include, and support you every step of the way. Eligible claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis.