Calculating your whiplash claim
Every whiplash compensation claim is different and the amount of whiplash compensation awarded depends upon a number of variable factors. There are many different types of neck injuries and many are found in conjunction with back and shoulder problems. First of all, compensation depends on how claimthe whiplash injury has affected you as an individual because we all react differently to pain and the effects will also impact differently on each individual's lifestyle.
If you decide to seek the advice of a whiplash solicitor to handle your whiplash compensation, then they will advise you about the merits of claiming for two types of damages:
1. General Damages
This is the award of compensation the physical pain and suffering you experience as a result of the accident.
Example: Damage such as a neck injury relating to whiplash.
General damages also cover claims for any disruption to your quality of life, emotional pain or psychological disorders (like depression) that you may have suffered as a consequence of the accident.
2. Special Damages
This is the reimbursement for financial losses incurred as a result of your accident
Example: Compensation for a loss of earnings during your recovery period.
Special damages compensation is based on the amount of money you have had to spend due to your accident, for example; rental cars, care, public transport, child care etc.
However, if you are to be compensated for these expenses then it is vital that you keep a log of what you have spent and copies of receipts as proof.
When making a claim for a whiplash injury you will want to know the amount of compensation that they are likely to receive. However, when calculating compensation awards for injuries like whiplash, there are several variables to take into consideration like:
- The length of time you have been experiencing pain
- The level of pain experienced
- Medical treatment / physiotherapy / rehabilitation required
- The injury outcome as estimated by the medical expert appointed by your solicitor.
Individual circumstances can alter the value of a claim considerably which means that general guidelines should not be relied on if you are looking for an accurate estimate - the only way to access a realistic and dependable quote is via whiplash solicitor. However if you are looking for a general idea of how much you might be likely to receive for your injury, here is a rough guideline:
