How is my compensation calculated?

Compensation for personal injury matters in England and Wales includes damages for the injury, classified as pain, suffering and loss of amenity and also known as “general damages” alongside expenses and losses directly related to the injuries sustained, also know as “special damages”.

In order to value general damages, legal representatives value injuries using the Judicial College Guidelines alongside previously decided cases. Thes guidelines are the standard reference for Judges and Lawyers in England and Wales in relation to the value of injuries.  These guidelines assist to achieve consistency in awarding damages in personal injury claims and are regularly updated to reflect inflation.

They cover a wide range of injuries, including fractures, soft tissue injuries, injuries to organs and psychiatric harm. 

When you enquire about a personal injury claim, your legal representative will firstly determine the estimated  value of your injury. This allows them to consider whether your claim falls into one of three ‘tracks’:

• Fast track: This is for claims worth up to £25,000
• Intermediate track: This is for claims worth between £25,000 - £100,000
• Multi track: This is for claims worth in excess of £100,000

Each track has its own requirements and procedures.

Your legal representative will need to be kept updated on the progress of your injury and recovery to accurately establish the value of your claim. As such, it is important that you provide any significant details about your injuries, any ongoing treatment and your recovery as this can affect the potential value of your claim.