What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth? Ranges and What Reduces Them
Last reviewed: June 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors
Personal injury compensation has two parts: general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity and special damages for financial losses such as lost earnings, medical costs, care and travel. Totals range from a few hundred pounds for a minor soft tissue injury to several million for a catastrophic injury. No one can predict or guarantee an outcome.
TL;DR — Quick Summary
Key Points
- General damages — for the injury itself — are valued using the Judicial College Guidelines
- Special damages — financial losses — must be evidenced with receipts, payslips and medical records
- Future losses (earnings, care, treatment) can significantly exceed the injury award in serious cases
- Contributory negligence, pre-existing conditions, and failure to mitigate can reduce the award
- No solicitor can guarantee a specific outcome — be wary of any who do
The Two Components of Personal Injury Compensation
General Damages
General damages compensate you for the injury itself — the physical and psychological pain and suffering, and the impact on your quality of life (called loss of amenity). They are assessed by reference to the Judicial College Guidelines, which set out suggested ranges for hundreds of injury types based on their nature, severity, and likely duration.
Key factors that affect general damages:
- The type and severity of the injury
- How long recovery takes (or whether full recovery is expected)
- The impact on daily activities, hobbies, relationships, and sleep
- Whether there is ongoing pain or disability
- Any psychological effects (anxiety, PTSD, depression)
Special Damages
Special damages compensate you for financial losses caused by the injury. Unlike general damages, they must be evidenced — with receipts, payslips, invoices, or other documentation. Key heads of special damages include:
- Lost earnings — past and future, net of tax and NI
- Medical and rehabilitation costs — physiotherapy, consultations, medication, surgery
- Care and assistance — professional care or unpaid care provided by family/friends
- Travel costs — to and from medical appointments
- Home adaptations — in serious injury cases involving disability
- Aids and equipment — wheelchairs, prosthetics, specialist equipment
- Future losses — where the injury affects your long-term earning capacity or care needs
Indicative General Damages Ranges
The following figures are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (16th edition) and are provided for general information only. Actual awards depend on the specific facts and medical evidence in each case.
| Injury Type | Indicative Range |
|---|---|
| Minor soft tissue — full recovery within 3 months | £240 – £2,300 |
| Whiplash — recovery 6–12 months | £2,300 – £4,215 |
| Moderate back injury | £12,510 – £27,760 |
| Severe back injury | £38,780 – £69,730 |
| Moderate psychiatric injury | £5,860 – £19,070 |
| Moderate hearing loss (both ears) | £14,900 – £29,710 |
| Serious brain injury — some dependence | £205,580 – £264,650 |
| Very severe brain injury | £282,010 – £403,990 |
Source: Judicial College Guidelines, 16th edition. These are general damages only — financial losses are additional. Figures are indicative; every case is assessed individually.
What Can Reduce Your Compensation?
- Contributory negligence — if you were partly responsible, compensation is reduced proportionally
- Pre-existing conditions — you can only recover for the additional harm caused by the accident, not conditions that pre-dated it
- Failure to mitigate — you have a duty to take reasonable steps to limit your losses (e.g. attending recommended treatment)
- Exaggeration — if surveillance evidence or medical examination contradicts claims made, credibility and value can be significantly affected
Can Anyone Guarantee What My Claim Is Worth?
No reputable solicitor will guarantee a specific outcome. Compensation depends on the strength of evidence, the medical prognosis, how the defendant responds, and ultimately the view of the court if the case does not settle. Any solicitor or claims company that promises a specific figure before seeing the evidence should be treated with caution.
What we can do is give you an honest, informed assessment of the likely range once we have reviewed your case. Contact EA Personal Injury Solicitors for a free initial enquiry.