When something happens to you that is not your fault, where you are caused physical or psychological harm or injury, there is a chance that you could make a personal injury claim against the party that is responsible for the incident. These pay-outs are aimed at compensating you for the harm or injury that you have suffered (known as general damages) as well as the financial losses that you have suffered – known as special damages.
When it comes to the amount of money that you can be paid out, it varies according to your unique circumstances. There are, of course, guidelines relating to the amount that you will be awarded, but there are other factors that are also taken into consideration such as how your personal injury affects your quality of life both now and in the future, or modifications that need to be carried out to your home and care needs.
Having an expert and experienced solicitor such as ours here at Waldrons Solicitors is the best way for you to get the best pay-out for you if you feel that you have a personal injury claim case.
The biggest personal injury claims in the UK
In the UK, personal injury claims are awarded through the court system, although most of the time they are settled out of court. The biggest personal injury claim in the UK so far was awarded to a young lady who was injured in a car accident. She was under 10 years old and sitting in her parent’s parked car when the car was hit at speed. Her injuries caused her to lose the use of her arms, left her unable to walk, and in need of 24-hour care.
The young lady was awarded a record-breaking £28 million in general damages and special damages.
Other significant personal injury claim pay-outs in the UK have gone to:
- JR – £23.5 million for medical negligence
- Agnes Collier – £23 million for spinal injuries caused by a car crash
- Chrissie Johnson – £17.5 million for paralysis for life as a result of a car accident
- Suzanne and James Adams – £14.6 million for birth complications resulting in cerebral palsy
- Manny Helmot – £14 million having been knocked off a bicycle on the road
- Wasim Mohammed – £11.15 million who was paralysed in a car accident
- Milly Evans – £10.8 million for birth injuries
Average pay out for road accident claim
The government states that 23,529 people were killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads in 2020. This was also a year that we spent much of in lockdown, meaning that in reality, the number could have been far higher. If you have been in a road accident that was not your fault, there is a chance that you can claim for damages. The amount that you will be awarded will normally reflect the seriousness of your injuries, with more serious injuries being compensated with more money.
It is impossible to give an average pay-out amount for a road accident claim because they vary so much in their nature. However, for an idea, here are some typical pay-out values:
Minor head/brain injury – £1,940 – £11,200
Moderate head/brain injury – £13,430 – £37,760
Severe head/brain injury – £247,280 – £354,260
Minor arm injury – £5,810 – £16,830
Severe arm injury such as loss of use – £84,310 – £114,810
In addition to these general damages, you may also be awarded a pay-out for the financial losses that you have incurred, known as special damages, including loss of earnings and compensation for care now and in the future.
Average pay out for medical negligence claim
Medical negligence claims can be made against a medical professional or healthcare provider who you believe has caused you harm or an injury due to their action or inaction in a medical setting. Successful claims have been made for missed diagnosis, errors during surgery, and mis-prescribing amongst other things, and the amount that is typically awarded for medical negligence varies according to the severity of the injury, the circumstances around the situation, and the effect that it has had, is having, and will have on your life.
According to NHS Resolution – the body that resolves medical negligence claims in the NHS – the “cost of harm arising from clinical activity during 2019/20 covered by the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts was £8.3 billion”. Half of these claims were received for childbirth and gynaecological claims.
Some examples of medical negligence claim values include:
Loss of a kidney due to an error in surgery – up to £39,500
Minor post-traumatic stress – up to £7,200
Severe brain damage – up to £354,000
As with the other types of personal injury claims, the law stipulates that you must make the claim within three years of the incident occurring – or when you have noticed the harm. If the harm was inflicted on a child, they have until their 21st birthday to make a claim. If the person does not have the mental capacity to make a claim, there is no time limit.
Average pay out for workplace claim
In the workplace, an employer has the duty to ensure that their employees are safe and properly cared for. If you are involved in a workplace accident that is not your fault, you might be able to make a claim for compensation.
According to the HSE, 0.4 million workers suffered from a work-related injury in 2020-2021, 0.6 million suffered a work-related illness, and the most common accident was a trip, slip or fall. The amount that you are awarded depends on the severity of your injury or illness, and you will probably need to have medical examinations to be able to gauge this.
Typical injury at work pay-outs include:
Serious hand injuries – £27,220 to £58,100
Simple jaw fractures – £6,060 to £8,200
Severe shoulder injuries – £18,020 to £45,070
Average pay out for wrongful death claim
It is unfortunate that sometimes an accident can cause someone’s death. Sometimes a third party might be at fault, and if this is the case, the deceased person’s loved ones might be able to make a claim. To be successful, you must be able to prove that the third party was negligent either in their duty of care to the person or through their dangerous actions.
Wrongful death claims can be made by the family, dependents, or the deceased person’s estate. There are several factors that can make up the amount that is awarded for wrongful deaths. These include:
- Punitive – as a type of punishment for causing the death
- Funeral costs
- Medical expenses that the deceased incurred prior to their passing away
- Bereavement compensation
- General – loss of income to the family, pain and suffering in the claimant’s future life
No-win No-fee with Waldrons Solicitors
If you have suffered a personal injury that was not your fault, you might be able to make a personal injury claim. Our expert team of no-win-no-fee solicitors is on hand to discuss your situation.
Contact Waldrons solicitors
Whatever your query, get in touch with us here at Waldrons today.
More information on Personal Injury
Last reviewed on 11/07/23 by Joseph Norton who is a Director and Head of Compensation