One of the most common questions injured workers have is: how much compensation will I get? It is a completely understandable question — but it cannot honestly be answered without knowing the facts of your case. No reputable solicitor can promise a specific sum without reviewing the evidence.
General Damages — Compensation for the Injury Itself
General damages are awarded for the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by your injuries. They are assessed by reference to: the nature and severity of the injury, the duration of symptoms, the impact on your daily life, and the prognosis for recovery.
Courts and legal practitioners use the Judicial College Guidelines as a reference point for general damages. These set out bracket ranges for different types of injury. The actual award depends on the specific evidence in your case, including an independent medical report.
Special Damages — Compensation for Financial Losses
Special damages compensate you for actual financial losses caused by the accident. These must be proved with evidence:
- Past lost earnings — net earnings lost from the date of injury to settlement or trial
- Future loss of earnings — if injuries affect your ability to work long-term
- Medical treatment including private physiotherapy and surgery
- Rehabilitation costs
- Travel expenses to medical appointments
- Care and assistance including value of care from a family member
- Home adaptations for serious injuries
- Pension loss in serious long-term cases
Why No Website Can Tell You What Your Claim Is Worth
The value depends entirely on the medical evidence, the financial losses you can prove, the legal arguments on liability, and the individual facts of your case. Any service that tells you a guaranteed specific sum without reviewing your case is not being honest with you.
What a solicitor can do — after reviewing your evidence and obtaining a medical report — is give you an informed assessment of the likely range of compensation.