If you’ve suffered a head injury in a road traffic collision that wasn’t your fault, you’re probably wondering “how much compensation could I get?” The short answer is: it depends. But as solicitors specialising in personal injury, we can walk you through how claims are valued, typical compensation ranges, and the key factors that might influence your payout.
So, what determines the value of a head injury claim? When assessing a head injury claim, solicitors and insurers (or the courts) look at a number of different things. Broadly, your compensation is broken into:
- General damages — for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (how the injury has impacted your life).
- Special damages — for financial losses, both past and future (e.g., lost earnings, medical treatment, care, travel, home adaptations).
A few of the most important factors include:
- Severity of injury: Was it a mild concussion, or something more serious like brain damage?
- Long-term effects: Will symptoms like memory loss, personality change, or epilepsy persist?
- Care needs: Do you need ongoing support, professional carers, or home adaptations?
- Loss of earnings: Has the injury prevented you from returning to work, or changed your career prospects?
- Rehabilitation and medical costs: Any therapy, specialist treatment, or assistive equipment.
- Life expectancy and future costs: For very serious injuries, future care and loss of earnings are calculated
Typical compensation ranges for head injuries in the UK
To give you a realistic idea of what people commonly receive, here are some compensation ranges based on different severities of head injury, as guided by the Judicial College Guidelines and what UK solicitors handle in practice. (Note: these are for general damages; your total settlement may be much higher once you add special damages which include loss of earnings, care & Assistance and a range of other losses.)
Minor head injury (e.g., concussion, short-term symptoms) – from £2,690 – £15,580
Less severe / “mild” brain damage – from £18,700 – £52,550
Moderate brain damage – from £52,550 – £267,340
Moderately severe brain damage – from £267,340 – £344,150
Very severe brain injury (life-changing, possibly requiring full-time care) – from £344,150 – £493,000
In order to maximise your compensation, seek legal advice early. Talk to a solicitor with experience in brain or head injury claims, they’ll help gather the right evidence and structure your claim effectively. You’ll also likely need an independent medical expert to assess your injury and prognosis – again your solicitors can help here. Keep detailed records (receipts, invoices, records of care, and any medical reports) and remember to document the ongoing impact of your injury. Head injury claims vary wildly in value, but with the right legal help, you can make sure your claim fully reflects the impact of what you’ve been through.
