Calculating how much injury compensation you may get, helps you to know where you stand before making an injury claim.
The aim of compensating you for your accident injury is to put you back in financial terms, where you would have been if not for your injury.
You may have incurred some expenses such as paying for prescribed medication or travel costs to hospital appointments as a result of your injuries. You can make a claim for these expenses.
In terms of compensating you for your injury itself, the idea is to compensate you for your “pain and suffering” and the level of the award will depend on the kind of and seriousness of your injury.
Compensation is divided into what is called Special and General Damages.
Special Damages
Special Damages is loss that can be calculated precisely. This refers therefore to your out of pocket expenses. Some types of losses under
Special Damages are as follows:
Loss of earnings – when you are unable to work as a result of your injuries and therefore not paid by your employer. If you are unable to work but you receive full pay from your employer then your compensation for loss of earnings would be nil.
Medical expenses – if you had to buy medication as a result of the injuries you sustained this will be paid back to you.
Care expenses – if you needed someone to help look after you for example to do the cleaning and the cooking which you would normally have done yourself, or in more serious situations if you needed a nurse or carer, then you will be paid back this expense.
Car repairs – if your car was damaged you can either repair it yourself and be paid back or your own insurers may repair your car and make a claim directly from the Defendant’s insurers.
Pre-accident value of your car – if your car was damaged beyond economical repair the Defendant will have to pay the pre-accident value. This is normally based on the “book value” of the vehicle.
Damaged items – if your personal items such as your mobile phone, laptop, watch, items of clothing etc were damaged during the accident, you can claim the value of these items.
Hire charges – If your car was damaged, while it is being repaired, if you hire a vehicle you can claim the cost of the hire charges from the Defendant.
You should try to keep records and documents as proof of expenses. It is up to you to be able to prove the extent of your loss. Continue to keep a record of ongoing expenses.
General damages
General damages is the compensation you will receive for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity (the phrase loss of amenity is used to describe a condition of being unable to pursue hobbies, take planned holidays etc).
The amount of compensation under this heading will be based on previous cases where judges have determined the amount awarded.
The compensation you can expect to receive will depend on the type and extent of your injuries. For example, head injuries will fall into five categories:
(a) Very severe brain injury £218,875
(b) Moderately severe brain injury £160,000
(c) Moderate brain injury £118,000
(d) Minor brain injury £18,687
(e) Minor head injury £4,750
These are average figures for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The actual compensation you will get will depend of the particular facts of your case.
Balinda & Co have many years experience and have helped a lot of people who have suffered injuries in accidents to get compensation.
Injury Claim Help for You Now
Want help with your injury claim? Please contact us or call 0800 321 3287 and let us talk it through.