Personal Injury Compensation Calculator
Estimate general damages and special damages for personal injury claims in England & Wales. Based on JC Guidelines 17th edition.
Last updated: March 2026
Personal Injury Compensation Estimator — England & Wales
Enter your injury details and financial losses for an indicative claim range based on Judicial College Guidelines
JC Guidelines General Damages Reference — 17th Edition
| Injury Category | Severity | JCG Range |
|---|---|---|
| Neck — Whiplash/Soft Tissue | Minor (full recovery <2yr) | £240 – £7,890 |
| Neck — Whiplash/Soft Tissue | Moderate (ongoing symptoms) | £7,890 – £38,490 |
| Back Injury | Minor | £2,450 – £12,510 |
| Back Injury | Moderate | £12,510 – £27,760 |
| Back Injury | Severe | £27,760 – £91,090 |
| Arm / Fracture (simple) | Minor | £6,190 – £19,200 |
| Arm / Fracture | Moderate | £19,200 – £39,170 |
| Arm / Fracture | Severe | £39,170 – £159,770 |
| Psychiatric / PTSD | Minor | £1,540 – £5,860 |
| Psychiatric / PTSD | Moderate | £5,860 – £19,070 |
| Psychiatric / PTSD | Severe | £54,830 – £115,730 |
| Head / Brain | Minor (no brain damage) | £2,370 – £12,770 |
| Head / Brain | Moderate | £43,060 – £219,070 |
| Head / Brain | Severe (vegetative) | £282,010 – £403,990 |
Source: Judicial College Guidelines 17th Edition (England & Wales). Ranges are indicative — actual awards depend on individual facts.
Expert Guide to Personal Injury Compensation in England & Wales
Personal injury law in England and Wales allows anyone injured through another person's negligence or a breach of duty of care to claim compensation. Claims can arise from road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, slips and trips, clinical negligence, criminal injuries, and many other circumstances. Understanding how compensation is structured helps you assess the value of your claim and negotiate effectively.
General Damages vs Special Damages
Compensation is divided into two principal categories:
General Damages
Compensate for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Calculated by reference to the Judicial College Guidelines. Cannot be precisely quantified — a judge assesses the appropriate figure within the relevant bracket.
Special Damages
Compensate for specific, quantifiable financial losses. These must be proven with receipts and documentation. Include: loss of earnings, medical costs, care, travel, and future losses.
The Judicial College Guidelines (17th Edition)
The Judicial College Guidelines (formerly the Judicial Studies Board Guidelines) are the authoritative reference for general damages in England and Wales. Updated to the 17th edition in 2022, the guidelines provide compensation brackets by injury type and severity. Courts are not bound by them but use them as a strong guide. Both solicitors and insurers reference the JCG when valuing claims and making settlement offers. The figures are periodically uplifted by the Simmons v Castle uplift (currently 10% added to the JCG figures for claims under conditional fee agreements post-April 2013).
Special Damages: What Can You Claim?
- Loss of earnings: Net (after-tax) earnings lost due to absence from work. Includes loss of overtime, bonuses and self-employment income. Future loss of earnings uses a multiplier based on actuarial tables.
- Medical costs: GP visits, hospital treatment, physiotherapy, consultant fees, prescription costs, psychological therapy, aids and adaptations.
- Care and assistance: Paid care (nursing, home help) or gratuitous care provided by family members. Even unpaid care is recoverable at commercial rates (typically 25% discount on paid rates to reflect non-commercial nature: Housecroft v Burnett).
- Travel expenses: Mileage to medical appointments, parking, public transport. HMRC mileage rates apply for private vehicle use.
- Property damage: Vehicle repair or replacement, damaged personal effects, clothing.
- Future losses: Calculated using Ogden Tables actuarial multipliers, applying a discount rate (the Ogden rate) to capitalise future annual losses into a present-day lump sum.
Contributory Negligence and Its Effect
Contributory negligence reduces your award by the percentage you contributed to your own injury:
| Scenario | Typical Reduction |
|---|---|
| Not wearing a seatbelt (would have avoided injury) | 25% |
| Not wearing a seatbelt (injury would have been less severe) | 15% |
| Cyclist not wearing a helmet (brain injury) | 10–25% |
| Pedestrian crossing without looking | 20–50% |
| Passenger knowingly travelling with drunk driver | 20–25% |
Limitation Period — Act Quickly
The Limitation Act 1980 gives claimants 3 years from the date of accident (or date of knowledge) to issue proceedings. Missing this deadline almost always bars a claim. Key exceptions:
- Children: 3 years runs from their 18th birthday (so claims can be issued up to age 21)
- Mental incapacity: time does not run while incapacity continues
- Fatal accidents: 3 years from date of death or knowledge of dependants
- Criminal Injuries: 2 years for CICA applications
No Win No Fee and the Claims Process
Since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) removed legal aid for most personal injury claims, conditional fee agreements (CFAs — "no win no fee") have been the standard funding method. Key features:
- No fees if you lose (your solicitor takes the risk)
- Success fee of up to 25% of general damages and past losses if you win (paid by you)
- After-the-event (ATE) insurance covers defendant's costs if you lose
- Fixed costs apply to most low-value RTA and EL/PL claims under the portal
- The MoJ Claims Portal handles claims up to £25,000 (RTA) and £100,000 (EL/PL)
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) provides compensation for victims of violent crime regardless of whether the perpetrator is caught or convicted. CICA awards are separate from civil claims and use a fixed tariff scheme (ranging from £1,000 to £500,000).
Sources & Methodology
General damages estimates are based on Judicial College Guidelines 17th Edition brackets. Special damages are calculated from user-input financial losses. No Simmons v Castle uplift is applied in this calculator — your solicitor will apply this as appropriate.
- Judicial College Guidelines — 17th Edition
- Limitation Act 1980 — gov.uk
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
Disclaimer: This tool provides indicative estimates only. Actual compensation depends on the specific facts of your case. Always consult a qualified personal injury solicitor. This is not legal advice.