The amount of compensation that you receive will depend on the injuries that you suffered and the extent and value of the losses arising from these injuries. Compensation will be awarded under various different categories. The most common categories are:
- Compensation for your pain and suffering, known officially as solatium;
- Loss of wages;
- The help provided to you by your family on account of your injuries; and
- Other financial losses such as household modifications or associated purchases e.g. installing a stair lift or buying a wheelchair.
The amount of compensation you receive will also depend on whether you are awarded a full and final settlement (which is usual) or interim payments. The latter is less common and is usually awarded only in cases where liability is clear and there is pressing need on the part of the pursuer.
To give you some idea of the amounts involved, we’ve put together a few examples of payments made for pain and suffering caused by some common injuries.
- Whiplash Compensation
- Back Injury Compensation
- Knee Injury Compensation
- Shoulder Injury Compensation
- Head Injury Compensation
- Skin Condition Compensation
Amounts are only a guide
It is important to remember that the amounts described in the links above should serve only as guides. In order to gain a clearer idea of how much compensation is appropriate for you and your case you should consult a specialist personal injury solicitor who can then make a preliminary assessment of your claim.
Ultimately, it is up to courts or solicitor-insurance company negotiations to determine the right amount of compensation. In some cases courts may find that a pursuer is partly to blame for an accident and will reduce the amount of damages accordingly; for example, if you are found to be twenty percent responsible for a work accident, you will have your damages reduced by 20 percent.
Social security benefits
In some cases once you receive your compensation you may have to repay social security benefits you have received as a result of your accident injuries.
However, working out which benefits you need to repay can be a complex process, so it is a good idea to discuss this in depth with your personal injury solicitor.
Thompsons, authoritative advice with a difference
As you will appreciate, every case is different so it is important that you speak with a specialist solicitor who can identify the important factors in your case. We will be able to give you a better idea about how much you are likely to be awarded after we have spoken to you about the details and carried out initial investigations. However, it is worth remembering that there are no hard and fast rules regarding compensation amounts; suggested sums should only ever serve as a guide.
How much could you claim? Call 0800 0891 331 for free legal advice. Thompsons is the largest personal injury firm in Scotland. We win more than 90% of the cases we take on and each week secure £1 million in compensation for our clients.
