It’s perfectly natural. If you’re thinking about making a personal injury claim, one of the first things you’ll ask is – how much is that claim worth? But truthfully, there isn’t a quick and easy answer to this question.
All personal injury claims – including those regarding medical negligence, road traffic accidents, accidents at work etc. – are calculated in the same way by our solicitors. However, the exact amount of personal injury compensation that you could receive will depend on your individual circumstances. And to reach an appropriate figure, many factors will be taken into consideration.
Here we take a closer look at how we do the maths.
Calculating your personal injury compensation
To determine the value of your personal injury compensation claim, two types of compensation will be calculated separately – and then added together to get the final amount. These include:
General damages
First things first, we will calculate ‘general damages’.
This is compensation for any pain and suffering you have experienced due to the injury or illness.
Of course, it’s difficult to understand someone else’s unique experience. Pain is subjective and it’s almost impossible to measure. But here at Injury Lawyers Direct, we use extremely reliable methods. And to compensate you fairly, we will carefully consider the type and severity of the injury sustained, as well as loss of amenity (i.e. the impact the injury has had on your quality of life).
Judicial guidelines and previous cases may also be used to help determine an appropriate amount.
Special damages
Secondly, we will calculate ‘special damages’ – which is also referred to as ‘out of pocket expenses’.
This is a type of compensation designed to reimburse you for any financial losses you have incurred, as a direct result of the injury. It aims to restore your financial status to what it would have been if the accident had never happened. And to work out an accurate figure, your current and future finances will be examined and several factors considered.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Loss of earnings
Perhaps you’ve had to take time out of work to recover? Or find a different job, that is easier to manage alongside your pain? Maybe your injuries are so severe you can never work again? If your ability to earn a living has been affected, this will be taken into account during the calculation.
- Rehabilitation and care costs
Money should never be a barrier to your recovery. Therefore, if you require access to specialist care or medical treatments due to your injury, the cost of this will be factored into your compensation.
- Aids and adaptations
Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need mobility aids and equipment – such as a motorised wheelchair, stairlift or an accessible bathroom. These can all be expensive. So, to ensure you’re not out of pocket, they will all form part of your final compensation amount.
- Additional expenses
Perhaps your car was written off during the accident? Or you can no longer drive and therefore need to take a taxi to and from the hospital? Maybe you’re having to pay for repeat prescriptions? Or have had to hire a cleaner to maintain your home? Any additional day-to-day expenses that you have incurred, as a direct result of your accident, can also be covered in your compensation.
Get in touch for a tailored calculation
Personal injury compensation levels vary greatly. And as outlined above, they’re calculated based on a range of different factors – including the type of injury and its wider impact on your life.
General guidelines are set by the Judicial College and these offer a rough indication of how much your claim could be worth. But for a more accurate calculation, the best option is to contact our personal injury lawyers. Once we know more about the nature of your accident, and the injury sustained, we can give you a better idea of how much compensation you’re likely to receive.
Personal injury claims are our area of expertise. We have many years of experience achieving the best possible outcome for our clients. And we will carefully assess every aspect of your circumstances, to ensure you are fully compensated and get the financial justice you deserve.
For a free consultation, simply give us a call on 0800 110 5888. Or alternatively, fill out our online contact form and a member of the team will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
