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Compensation Amounts – General Damages – JSB Guidelines
Please roll mouse over different parts of the image (left) to display part name and click for a summary on compensations.
The calculator is based on Judicial Boards Guidelines (JSB) of what a particular type of injury may be valued by a Court of Law. An injury is valued by the Courts on the basis of the Guidelines provided by the guide and specific cases that the Courts have settled. Value of each claim will depend upon the injury and the medical evidence obtained, though this calculator gives you some idea as to where your injury would be within the bracket.
The Guidelines provide a bracket and where you are within the bracket will depend upon the expert medical evidence.
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Injuries Involving Paralysis
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Quadriplegia | £212,500 to £265,000 |
| The level of the award within the bracket will be affected by the following considerations: | |
| (i) the extent of any residual movement; | |
| (ii)the presence and extent of pain; | |
| (iii) depression; | |
| (iv) age and life expectancy. | |
| The top of the bracket will be appropriate only where there is significant effect on senses or ability to communicate. It will also often involve significant brain damage | |
| (b) Paraplegia | £144,000 to £186,500 |
| The level of the award within the bracket will be affected by the following considerations: | |
| (i) the presence and extent of pain; | |
| (ii) the degree of independence; | |
| (iii) depression; | |
| (iv) age and life expectancy. | |
| The presence of increasing paralysis or the degree of risk that this will occur, for example, from syringomyelia, might take the case above this bracket. The latter might be the subject of a provisional damages order. | |
Head
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (A) Brain Damage | |
| (a) Very Severe Brain Damage | £185,000 to £265,000 |
| In cases at the top of this bracket the injured person will have a degree of insight. There may be some ability to follow basic commands, recovery of eye opening and return of sleep and waking patterns and postural refl ex movement. There will be little, if any, evidence of meaningful response to environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and the need for full-time nursing care. | |
| The level of the award within the bracket will be affected by: | |
| (i) the degree of insight; | |
| (ii) life expectancy; | |
| (iii) the extent of physical limitations. | |
| The top of the bracket will be appropriate only where there is signifi cant effect on the senses and severe physical limitation. | |
| Where there is a persistent vegetative state and/ or death occurs very soon after the injuries were suffered and there has been no awareness by the injured person of his or her condition the award will be solely for loss of amenity and will fall substantially below the above bracket. | |
| (b) Moderately Severe Brain Injury | £144,000 to £185,000 |
| The injured person will be very seriously disabled. There will be substantial dependence on others and a need for constant professional and other care. Disabilities may be physical, for example, limb paralysis, or cognitive, with marked impairment of intellect and personality. Cases otherwise within (a) above may fall into this bracket if life expectancy has been greatly reduced. | |
| The level of the award within the bracket will be affected by the following considerations: | |
| (i) the degree of insight; | |
| (ii) life expectancy; | |
| (iii) the extent of physical limitations; | |
| (iv) the degree of dependence on others; | |
| (v) ability to communicate; | |
| (vi) behavioural abnormality; | |
| (vii) epilepsy or a significant risk of epilepsy (unless a provisional damages order provides for this risk). | |
| (c) Moderate Brain Damage | |
| (i) Cases in which there is moderate to severe intellectual deficit, a personality change, an effect on sight, speech and senses with a significant risk of epilepsy and no prospect of employment. | £98,500 to £144,000 |
| (ii) Cases in which there is a moderate to modest intellectual deficit, the ability to work is greatly reduced if not removed and there is some risk of epilepsy (unless a provisional damages order provides for this risk). | £59,500 to £98,500 |
| (iii) Cases in which concentration and memory are affected, the ability to work is reduced, where there is a small risk of epilepsy and any dependence on others is very limited. | £28,250 to £59,500 |
| (d) Minor Brain Damage | £10,000 to £28,250 |
| In these cases the injured person will have made a good recovery and will be able to take part in normal social life and to return to work. There may not have been a restoration of all normal functions so there may still be persisting problems such as poor concentration and memory or disinhibition of mood, which may interfere with lifestyle, leisure activities and future work prospects. At the top of this bracket there may be a small risk of epilepsy. | |
| The level of the award within the bracket will be affected by: | |
| (i) the extent and severity of the initial injury; | |
| (ii) the extent of any continuing, and possibly permanent, disability; | |
| (iii) the extent of any personality change; | |
| (iv) depression. | |
| (B) Minor Head Injury | £1,450 to £8,400 |
| In these cases brain damage, if any, will have been minimal. The level of the award will be affected by the following considerations: | |
| (i) the severity of the initial injury; | |
| (ii) the period taken to recover from any symptoms; | |
| (iii) the extent of continuing symptoms; | |
| (iv) the presence or absence of headaches. | |
| The bottom of the bracket will reflect full recovery within a few weeks. | |
| (C) Epilepsy | |
| (a) Established Grand Mal | £66,000 to £98,500 |
| (b) Established Petit Mal | £36,000 to £86,000 |
| The level of the award within these brackets will be affected by the following factors | |
| (i) whether attacks are successfully controlled by medication and the extent to which the need for medication is likely to persist; | |
| (ii) the extent to which the appreciation of life is blunted by such medication; | |
| (iii) the effect on working and/or social life; | |
| (iv) the existence of associated behavioural problems; | |
| (v) the prognosis. | |
| (c) Other Epileptic Conditions | £7,000 to £17,250 |
| Cases where there are one or two discrete epileptic episodes, or a temporary resurgence of epilepsy, but there is no risk of further recurrence beyond that applicable to the population at large. The level of the award within the bracket will be affected by the extent of any consequences of the attacks on, for example, education, sporting activities, working and social life, and their duration. | |
Psychiatric Damage (Generally)
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| severe | £36,000 - £76,000 |
| Moderately severe | £12,500 - £36,000 |
| Moderate | £3,875 - £12,500 |
| Minor | £1,000 - £3,875 |
Post traumatic stress disorder
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| severe | £40,000 - £66,000 |
| Such cases will involve permanent effects which prevent the injured person from working at all or at least from functioning at anything approaching the pre-trauma level. All aspects of the life of the injured person will be badly affected. | |
| Moderately severe | £15,250 - £40,000 |
| This category is distinct from (a) above because of the better prognosis which will be for some recovery with professional help. However, the effects are still likely to cause significant disability for the foreseeable future. While there are awards which support both extremes of this bracket, the majority are between £20,000 and £25,000. | |
| Moderate | £5,400 - £15,250 |
| In these cases the injured person will have largely recovered and any continuing effects will not be grossly disabling. | |
| Minor | £2,600 - £5,400 |
| In these cases a virtually full recovery will have been made within one to two years and only minor symptoms will persist over any longer period | |
Chronic Pain
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Chronic Pain Syndrome | |
| (i) Severe | £27,500 to £42,000 |
| (ii) Moderate | £7,000 to £21,600 |
| (b) Fibromyalgia | £22,350 to £42,000 |
| (c) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | In the region of £32,750 |
| (d) Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Also called complex regional pain syndrome) | |
| (i) Severe | £33,400 to £66,000 |
| (ii) Moderate | £16,700 to £25,250 |
| (e) Somatoform Disorder | In the region of £30,000 |
| |
Injuries affecting Sight - Eye Injury
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Total Blindness and Deafness | in the region of £265,000 |
| Such cases must be considered as ranking with the most devastating injuries. | |
| (b) Total Blindness | in the region of £175,000 |
| (c) Loss of Sight in One Eye with Reduced Vision in the Remaining Eye | |
| (i) Where there is serious risk of further deterioration in the remaining eye, going beyond some risk of sympathetic ophthalmia | £63,000 - £118,000 |
| (ii) Where there is reduced vision in the remaining eye and/or additional problems such as double vision | £42,000 to £69,500 |
| (d) Total Loss of One Eye | £36,000 - £43,000 |
| The level of the award within the bracket will depend on age and cosmetic effect. | |
| (e) Complete Loss of Sight in One Eye | £32,250 - £36,000 |
| This award takes account of some risk of sympathetic ophthalmia. The upper end of the bracket is appropriate where there is scarring in the region of the eye which is not sufficiently serious to merit a separate award. | |
| (f) Cases of serious but incomplete loss of vision in one eye without significant risk of loss or reduction of vision in the remaining eye, or where there is constant double vision | £15,500 to £25,750 |
| (g) Minor but permanent impairment of vision in one eye, including cases where there is some double vision, which may not be constant. | £8,250 to £13,750 |
| (h) Minor Eye Injuries | £2,600 - £5,750 |
| In this bracket fall cases of minor injuries, such as being struck in the eye, exposure to fumes including smoke, or being splashed by liquids, causing initial pain and some temporary interference with vision. | |
| (i) Transient Eye Injuries | £1,450 - £2,600 |
| In these cases the injured person will have recovered completely within a few weeks. | |
Deafness
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Total Deafness and Loss of Speech | £72,000 to £92,000 |
| (b) Total Deafness | £59,500 to £72,000 |
| (c) Total Loss of Hearing in One Ear | £20,500 to £30,000 |
| (d) Partial Hearing Loss/Tinnitus | |
| (i) Severe tinnitus/hearing loss | £19,500 to £30,000 |
| (ii) Moderate tinnitus/hearing loss | £9,750 to £19,500 |
| (iii) Mild tinnitus with some hearing loss | £8,250 to £9,570 |
| (iv) Slight or occasional tinnitus with slight hearing loss | £4,850 to £8,250 |
Impairment of taste and smell
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Total Loss of Taste and Smell | In the region of £25,750 |
| (b) Total Loss of Smell and Significant Loss of Taste | £21,600 to £25,750 |
| It must be remembered that in nearly all cases of loss of smell there is some impairment of taste. Such cases fall into the next bracket. | |
| (c) Loss of Smell | £16,400 to £21,600 |
| (d) Loss of Taste | £12,600 to £16,400 |
Injuries to Internal Organs
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (A) Chest Injuries | |
| (a) The worst type of case will be of total removal of one lung and/or serious heart damage with serious and prolonged pain and suffering and permanent significant scarring | £66,000 to £98,500 |
| (b) Traumatic injury to chest, lung(s) and/or heart causing permanent damage, impairment of function, physical disability and reduction of life expectancy | £43,000 to £66,000 |
| (c) Damage to chest and lung(s) causing some continuing disability | £20,500 to £36,000 |
| (d) A relatively simple injury (such as a single penetrating wound) causing some permanent damage to tissue but with no significant long-term effect on lung function | £8,250 to £11,800 |
| (e) Toxic fume/smoke inhalation, leaving some residual damage, not serious enough to interfere permanently with lung function. | £3,500 to £8,250 |
| (f) Injuries leading to collapsed lungs from which a full and uncomplicated recovery is made | £1,450 to £3,500 |
| (g) Fractures of ribs or soft tissue injuries causing serious pain and disability over a period of weeks only | Up to £2,600 |
| (B) Lung Disease | |
| (a) For a young person with serious disability where there is a probability of progressive worsening leading to premature death. | £66,000 to £89,000 |
| (b) Lung cancer (typically in an older person) causing severe pain and impairment both of function and of quality of life. The duration of pain and suffering accounts for variations within this bracket. See also section b under Asbestos | £51,500 to £66,000 |
| (c) Disease, e.g., emphysema, causing significant and worsening lung function and impairment of breathing, prolonged and frequent coughing, sleep disturbance and restriction of physical activity and employment | £36,000 to £51,500 |
| (d) Breathing difficulties (short of disabling breathlessness) requiring fairly frequent use of an inhaler; where there is inability to tolerate a smoky environment and an uncertain prognosis but already significant effect on social and working life. | £20,500 to £36,000 |
| (e) Bronchitis and wheezing not causing serious symptoms; little or no serious or permanent effect on working or social life; varying levels of anxiety about the future | £13,650 to £20,500 |
| (f) Some slight breathlessness with no effect on working life and the likelihood of substantial and permanent recovery within a few years of the exposure to the cause or the aggravation of an existing condition | £7,000 to £13,650 |
| (g) Provisional awards for cases otherwise falling within (f), or the least serious cases within (e) where the provisional award excludes any risk of malignancy. | £3,500 to £7,000 |
| (h) Temporary aggravation of bronchitis or other chest problems resolving within a very few months. | £1,450 to £3,500 |
Asbestos Diseases
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Mesothelioma causing severe pain and impairment of both function and quality of life. This may be of the pleura (the lung lining) or of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity); the latter being typically more painful. The duration of pain and suffering accounts for variations within this bracket | £35,000 to £83,750 |
| (b) Lung cancer, again a disease proving fatal in most cases, the symptoms of which may not be as painful as those of mesothelioma, but more protracted. See also lung disease (b). | £51,500 to £66,000 |
| (c) Asbestosis, causing impairment of the extremities of the lungs so that oxygen uptake to the blood stream is reduced. In the early stages the disease may be symptomless but progresses to cause severe breathlessness. Mobility is likely to become seriously impaired and quality of life reduced. Respiratory disability of between 10 and 20 per cent will probably attract an award in the region of £45,000 | £31,500 to £69,500 |
| (d) Pleural thickening, typically causing progressive symptoms of breathlessness by inhibiting expansion of the lungs (the so-called cuirasse restriction). Disease may gradually progress to cause more serious respiratory disability. | £25,250 to £51,500 |
| (f) Provisional awards for the least serious cases within (d)where the provisional award excludes any risk of the development of mesothelioma, lung or other cancer or asbestosis. | £4,350 to £7,250 |
Asthma
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Severe and permanent disabling asthma, causing prolonged and regular coughing, disturbance of sleep, severe impairment of physical activity and enjoyment of life and where employment prospects, if any, are grossly restricted. | £28,250 to £43,000 |
| (b) Chronic asthma causing breathing difficulties, the need to use an inhaler from time to time and restriction of employment prospects, with uncertain prognosis. | £17,250 to £28,250 |
| (c) Bronchitis and wheezing, affecting working or social life, with the likelihood of substantial recovery within a few years of the exposure to the cause. | £12,600 to £17,250 |
| (d) Relatively mild asthma-like symptoms often resulting, for instance, from exposure to harmful irritating vapour. | £7,000 to £12,600 |
| (e) Mild asthma, bronchitis, colds and chest problems (usually resulting from unfit housing or similar exposure, particularly in cases of young children) treated by a general practitioner and resolving within a few months | Up to £3,400 |
Reproductive System: Male
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Impotence | In the region of £97,500 |
| (i) Total impotence and loss of sexual function and sterility in the case of a young man. The level of the award will depend on: | |
| (1) age; | |
| (2) psychological reaction and the effect on social and domestic life. | |
| (ii) Impotence which is likely to be permanent, in the case of a middle-aged man with children | £28,250 to £51,500 |
| (b) Cases of sterility | |
| (i) The most serious cases merit awards approaching | 92000 |
| (ii) The bottom of the range is the case of the much older man and merits an award of about | 12250 |
| (c) An uncomplicated case of sterility without impotence and without any aggravating features for a young man without children | £37,000 to £46,750 |
| (d) A similar case but involving a family man who might have intended to have more children. | £15,500 to £20,500 |
| (e) Cases where the sterility amounts to little more than an 'insult'. | In the region of £4,350 |
Reproductive System: Female
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Infertility whether by reason of injury or disease, with severe depression and anxiety, pain and scarring | £75,500 to £111,000 |
| (b) Infertility without any medical complication and where the injured person already has children. The upper end of the bracket is appropriate in cases where there is significant psychological damage | £11,800 to £24,100 |
| (c) Infertility where the injured person would not have had children in any event (for example, because of age). | £4,350 to £8,250 |
| (d) Failed sterilisation leading to unwanted pregnancy where there is no serious psychological impact or depression. | In the region of £6,750 |
Digestive System
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Damage Resulting from Traumatic Injury | |
| (i) Severe damage with continuing pain and discomfort. | £28,250 to £40,650 |
| (ii) Serious non-penetrating injury causing long-standing or permanent complications, for example, severe indigestion, aggravated by physical strain. Any such symptoms having these consequences and lasting for longer, even indefinitely, are likely to merit and award between the top of this bracket and the bottom of the bracket in (i) above. | £11,000 to £18,250 |
| (iii) Penetrating stab wounds or industrial laceration or serious seat-belt pressure cases | £4,350 to £8,250 |
| (b) Illness/Damage Resulting from Non-traumatic Injury, e.g. Food Poisoning | |
| (i) Severe toxicosis causing serious acute pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, requiring hospital admission for some days or weeks and some continuing incontinence, haemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome, having a significant impact on ability to work and enjoyment of life. | £25,250 to £34,500 |
| (ii) Serious but short-lived food poisoning, diarrhoea and vomiting diminishing over two to four weeks with some remaining discomfort and disturbance of bowel function and impact on sex life and enjoyment of food over a few years. Any such symptoms having these consequences and lasting for longer, even indefinitely, are likely to merit an award between the top of this bracket and the bottom of the bracket in (i) above | £6,300 to £12,600 |
| (iii) Food poisoning causing significant discomfort, stomach cramps, alteration of bowel function and fatigue. Hospital admission for some days with symptoms lasting for a few weeks but complete recovery within a year or two. | £2,600 to £6,300 |
| (iv) Varying degrees of disabling pain, cramps and diarrhoea continuing for some days or weeks. | £600 to £2,600 |
Kidney
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Serious and permanent damage to or loss of both kidneys. | £111,000 to £138,000 |
"| (b) Where there is a significant risk of future urinary tract infection or other total loss of natural kidney function.
Such cases will invariably carry with them substantial future medical expenses, which in this field are particularly high.
| Up to £42,000 | "
| (c) Loss of one kidney with no damage to the other. | £20,250 to £30,000 |
Bowels
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Total loss of natural function and dependence on colostomy, depending on age. | Up to £98,500 |
| (b) Severe abdominal injury causing impairment of function and often necessitating temporary colostomy (leaving disfiguring scars) and/or restriction on employment and on diet. | £29,250 to £45,750 |
| (c) Penetrating injuries causing some permanent damage but with an eventual return to natural function and control. | £8,250 to £16,000 |
Bladder
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Complete loss of function and control. | Up to £92,000 |
| (b) Serious impairment of control with some pain and incontinence. | £42,000 to £52,500 |
| (c) Almost a complete recovery/but some fairly long-term interference with natural function. | £15,400 to £20,500 |
Spleen
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Loss of spleen where there is continuing risk of internal infection and disorders due to the damage to the immune system | £13,650 to £17,250 |
| (b) Where the above risks are not present or are minimal. | £2,850 to £5,700 |
Hernia
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Continuing pain and/or limitation on physical activities, sport or employment, after repair. | £9,750 to £15,850 |
| (b) Direct (where there was no pre-existing weakness) inguinal hernia, with some risk of recurrence, after repair. | £4,600 to £6,000 |
| (c) Uncomplicated indirect inguinal hernia, possibly repaired, and with no other associated abdominal injury or damage. | £2,200 to £4,850 |
NECK
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Severe | |
| (i) Neck injury associated with incomplete paraplegia or resulting in permanent spastic quadriparesis or where the injured person, despite wearing a collar 24 hours a day for a period of years, still has little or no movement in the neck and suffers severe headaches which have proved intractable | In the region of £97,500 |
| (ii) Injuries which give rise to disabilities which fall short of those in (a)(i) above but which are of considerable severity; for example, permanent damage to the brachial plexus. | £43,000 to £86,000 |
| (iii) Injuries causing severe damage to soft tissues and/or ruptured tendons. They result in significant disability of a permanent nature. The precise award depends on the length of time during which the most serious symptoms are ameliorated, and on the prognosis. | In the region of £36,000 |
| (iv) Injuries such as fractures or dislocations which cause severe immediate symptoms and which may necessitate spinal fusion. They leave markedly impaired function or vulnerability to further trauma, and some limitation of activities. | £16,400 to £21,600 |
| (b) Moderate | |
| (i) Cases involving whiplash or wrenching-type injury and disc lesion of the more severe type resulting in cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement, permanent or recurring pain, stiffness or discomfort and the possible need for further surgery or increased vulnerability to further trauma | £9,000 to £16,400 |
| (ii) Injuries which may have exacerbated or accelerated some pre-existing unrelated condition. There will have been a complete recovery or recovery to 'nuisance' level from the effects of the accident within a few years. This bracket will also apply to moderate whiplash injuries where the period of recovery has been fairly protracted and where there remains an increased vulnerability to further trauma. | £5,150 to £9,000 |
| (c) Minor | |
| (i) and a full recovery takes place within about two years; | £2,850 to £5,150 |
| (ii) with a full recovery between a few weeks and a year. | £875 to £2,850 |
Back Inujuries
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Severe | |
| (i) Cases of the most severe injury which do not involve paralysis but where there may be very serious consequences not normally found in cases of back injury, such as impotence or double incontinence. | £66,000 to £111,000 |
| (ii) Cases which have special features taking them outside any lower bracket applicable to orthopaedic injury to the back. Such features include impaired bladder and bowel function, severe sexual difficulties and unsightly scarring and the possibility of future surgery | In the region of £53,000 |
| (iii) Cases of disc lesions or fractures of discs or of vertebral bodies where, despite treatment, there remain disabilities such as continuing severe pain and discomfort, impaired agility, impaired sexual function, depression, personality change, alcoholism, unemployability and the risk of arthritis. | £25,500 to £45,750 |
| (b) Moderate | |
| (i) Cases where any residual disability is of less severity than that in (a)(iii) above. The bracket contains a wide variety of injuries. Examples are a case of a crush fracture of the lumbar vertebrae where there is a substantial risk of osteoarthritis and constant pain and discomfort with impairment of sexual function; that of a traumatic spondylolisthesis with continuous pain and a probability that spinal fusion will be necessary; or that of a prolapsed intervertebral disc with substantial acceleration of back degeneration. | £18,250 to £25,500 |
| (ii) Many frequently encountered injuries to the back such as disturbance of ligaments and muscles giving rise to backache, soft tissue injuries resulting in exacerbation of an existing back condition or prolapsed discs necessitating laminectomy or resulting in repeated relapses. The precise figure depends upon the severity of the original injury and/or whether there is some permanent or chronic disability. | £8,000 to £17,750 |
| (c) Minor | |
| (i) within about five years; | £5,150 to £8,250 |
| (ii) within about two years. | Up to £5,150 |
SHOULDER INJURY
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Severe | |
| Often associated with neck injuries and involving damage to the brachial plexus (see (A)(a)(ii)) resulting in significant disability | £12,600 to £31,500 |
| (b) Serious | £8,400 to £12,600 |
| Dislocation of the shoulder and damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus causing pain in shoulder and neck, aching in elbow, sensory symptoms in the forearm and hand, and weakness of grip or a fractured humerus leading to restricted shoulder movement | |
| (c) Moderate | £5,150 to £8,400 |
| Frozen shoulder with limitation of movement and discomfort with symptoms persisting for about two years. | |
| (d) Minor | |
| Soft tissue injury to shoulder with considerable pain but almost complete recovery: | |
| (i) in less than two years; | £2,850 to £5,150 |
| (ii) within a year. | Up to £2,850 |
| (e) Fracture of Clavicle | £3,400 to £8,000 |
| The level of the award will depend on extent of fracture, level of disability, residual symptoms, and whether temporary or permanent, and whether union is anatomically displaced. | |
Injuries to the Pelvis and Hips
| Type | Estimated |
|---|
| (a) Severe | |
| (i) Extensive fractures of the pelvis involving, for example, dislocation of a low back joint and a ruptured bladder, or a hip injury resulting in spondylolisthesis of a low back joint with intolerable pain and necessitating spinal fusion. Inevitably there will be substantial residual disabilities such as a complicated arthrodesis with resulting lack of bladder and bowel control, sexual dysfunction or hip deformity making the use of a calliper essential; or may present difficulties for natural delivery. | £51,500 to £86,000 |
| (ii) Injuries only a little less severe than in (a)(i) above but with particular distinguishing features lifting them above any lower bracket. Examples are: (a) fracture dislocation of the pelvis involving both ischial and pubic rami and resulting in impotence; or (b) traumatic myositis ossificans with formation of ectopic bone around the hip. | £40,650 to £51,500 |
| (iii) Many injuries fall within this bracket: a fracture of the acetabulum leading to degenerative changes and leg instability requiring an osteotomy and the likelihood of hip replacement surgery in the future; the fracture of an arthritic femur or hip necessitating hip replacement; or a fracture resulting in a hip replacement which is only partially successful so that there is a clear risk of the need for revision surgery. | £25,750 to £34,500 |
| (b) Moderate | £17,500 to £25,750 |
| (c) Injuries of Limited Severity | £8,250 to £17,500 |
| (d) Lesser Injuries | |
| (i) Cases where despite significant injury there is little or no residual disability | £2,600 to £8,250 |
| (ii) Minor injuries with complete recovery. | Up to £2600 |
AMPUTATION OF ARMS
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Loss of Both Arms | £158,000 to £197,000 |
| (b) Loss of One Arm | |
| (i) Arm Amputated at the Shoulder | Not less than £90,000 |
| (ii) Above-elbow Amputation | £72,000 to £86,000 |
| A shorter stump may create difficulties in the use of a prosthesis. This will make the level of the award towards the top end of the bracket. Amputation through the elbow will normally produce an award at the bottom end of the bracket. | |
| (iii) Below-elbow Amputation | £63,000 to £72,000 |
| Amputation through the forearm with residual severe organic and phantom pains would attract an award at the top end of the bracket.The value of such an injury depends upon: | |
| (i) whether the amputation is above or below the elbow. The loss of the additional joint adds greatly to the disability; | |
| (ii) whether or not the amputation was of the dominant arm | |
| (iii) the intensity of any phantom pains. | |
OTHER ARM INJURIES
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Severe Injuries | £63,000 to £86,000 |
| Injuries which fall short of amputation but which are extremely serious and leave the injured person little better off than if the arm had been lost; for example, a serious brachial plexus injury | |
| (b) Injuries resulting in Permanent and Substantial | £25,750 to £39,300 |
| Serious fractures of one or both forearms where there is significant permanent residual disability whether functional or cosmetic. | |
| (c) Less Severe Injury | £12,600 to £25,750 |
| While there will have been significant disabilities, a substantial degree of recovery will have taken place or will be expected. | |
| (d) Simple Fractures of the Forearm | £4,350 to £12,600 |
Injuries to the elbow
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) A Severely Disabling Injury | £25,750 to £36,000 |
| (b) Less Severe Injuries | £10,300 to £21,000 |
| Injuries causing impairment of function but not involving major surgery or significant disability. | |
| (c) Moderate or Minor Injury | Up to £8,250 |
| Most elbow injuries fall into this category. They comprise simple fractures, tennis elbow syndrome and lacerations; i.e., those injuries which cause no permanent damage and do not result in any permanent impairment of function | |
Wrist Injuries
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| a) Injuries resulting in complete loss of function in the wrist, for example, where an arthrodesis has been performed. | £31,300 to £39,300 |
| (b) Injury resulting in significant permanent disability, but where some useful movement remains. | £16,100 to £25,750 |
| (c) Less severe injuries where these still result in some permanent disability as, for example, a degree of persisting pain and stiffness. | £8,250 to £16,100 |
| (d) An uncomplicated Colles' fracture. | In the region of £4,850 |
| (e) Very minor undisplaced or minimally displaced fractures and soft tissue injuries necessitating application of plaster or bandage for a matter of weeks and a full or virtual recovery within a matter of months. | £2,300 to £3,125 |
Hand Injuries
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Total or Effective Loss of Both Hands | £92,000 to £132,000 |
| Serious injury resulting in extensive damage to both hands such as to render them little more than useless will justify an award of £85,000 or more. The top of the bracket is applicable where no effective prosthesis can be used. | |
| (b) Serious Damage to Both Hands | £36,000 to £55,500 |
| Such injuries will have given rise to permanent cosmetic disability and significant loss of function. | |
| (c) Total or Effective Loss of One Hand | £63,000 to £72,000 |
| This bracket will apply to a hand which was crushed and thereafter surgically amputated or where all fingers and most of the palm have been traumatically amputated. The upper end of the bracket is indicated where the hand so damaged was the dominant one. | |
| (d) Amputation of Index and Middle and/or Ring Fingers | £40,650 to £59,500 |
| The hand will have been rendered of very little use and such grip as remains will be exceedingly weak | |
| (e) Serious Hand Injuries | £19,000 to £40,650 |
| Such injuries will, for example, have reduced the hand to about 50 per cent capacity. Included would be cases where several fingers have been amputated but rejoined to the hand leaving it clawed, clumsy and unsightly, or amputation of some fingers together with part of the palm resulting in gross diminution of grip and dexterity and gross cosmetic disfigurement. | |
| (f) Less Serious Hand Injury | £9,500 to £19,000 |
| Such as a severe crush injury resulting in significantly impaired function without future surgery or despite operative treatment undergone. | |
| (g) Moderate Hand Injury | £4,100 to £8,700 |
| Crush injuries, penetrating wounds, soft tissue type and deep lacerations. The top of the bracket would be appropriate where surgery has failed and permanent disability remains. | |
| (h) Minor Hand Injuries | £600 to £2,850 |
| Injuries similar to but less serious than (g) above with recovery within a few months. | |
| (i) Severe Fractures to Fingers | Up to £24,100 |
| These may lead to partial amputations and result in deformity, impairment of grip, reduced mechanical function and disturbed sensation. | |
| (j) Total Loss of Index Finger | In the region of £12,250 |
| (k) Partial Loss of Index Finger | £8,000 to £12,250 |
| This bracket also covers cases of injury to the index finger giving rise to disfigurement and impairment of grip or dexterity. | |
| (l) Fracture of Index Finger | £6,000 to £8,000 |
| This level is appropriate where a fracture has mended quickly but grip has remained impaired, there is pain on heavy use and osteoarthritis is likely in due course. | |
| (m) Total Loss of Middle Finger | In the region of £10,250 |
| (n) Serious Injury to Ring or Middle Fingers | £9,750 to £10,750 |
| Fractures or serious injury to tendons causing stiffness, deformity and permanent loss of grip or dexterity will fall within this bracket. | |
| (o) Loss of the Terminal Phalanx of the Ring or Middle Fingers | £2,600 to £5,150 |
| (p) Amputation of Little Finger | £5,700 to £8,000 |
| (q) Loss of Part of the Little Finger | £2,600 to £3,850 |
| (r) Amputation of Ring and Little Fingers | In the region of £14,350 |
| (s) Amputation of the Terminal Phalanges of the Index and Middle Fingers | In the region of £16,400 |
| Such injury will involve scarring, restriction of movement and impairment of grip and fine handling | |
| (t) Fracture of One Finger | £2,000 to £3,125 |
| (u) Loss of Thumb | £23,250 to £36,000 |
| (v) Very Serious Injury to Thumb | £12,900 to £23,000 |
| This bracket is appropriate where the thumb has been severed at the base and grafted back leaving a virtually useless and deformed digit, or where the thumb has been amputated through the interphalangeal joint. | |
| (w) Serious Injury to the Thumb | £8,250 to £11,000 |
| Such injuries may involve amputation of the tip, nerve damage or fracture necessitating the insertion of wires as a result of which the thumb is cold and ultra-sensitive and there is impaired grip and loss of manual dexterity. | |
| (x) Moderate Injuries to the Thumb | £6,300 to £8,250 |
| These are injuries such as those necessitating arthrodesis of the interphalangeal joint or causing damage to tendons or nerves. Such injuries result in impairment of sensation and function and cosmetic deformity. | |
| (y) Severe Dislocation of the Thumb | £2,600 to £4,450 |
| (z) Minor Injuries to the Thumb | In the region of £2,600 |
| Such an injury would be a fracture which has recovered in six months except for residual stiffness and some discomfort. | |
| (aa) Trivial Thumb Injuries | In the region of £1,450 |
| These may have caused severe pain for a very short time but will have resolved within a few months. | |
Vibration White Finger (VWF) and /or Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (i) Most Serious | £20,750 to £25,250 |
| (ii) Serious | £11,000 to £20,750 |
| (iii) Moderate | £5,700 to £11,000 |
| (iv) Minor | £2,000 to £5,700 |
Work-related Upper Limb Disorders
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| a) Continuing bilateral disability with surgery and loss of employment. | £14,350 to £15,200 |
| (b) Continuing, but fluctuating and unilateral symptoms. | £9,750 to £10,750 |
| (c) Symptoms resolving withinf two years. | £5,700 to £6,300 |
| (d) Complete recovery within a short period. | £1,450 to £2,300 |
Leg Injury
| Type | Estimated |
|---|
| (a) Amputations | |
| (i) Total Loss of Both Legs | £158,000 to £185,000 |
| (ii) Below-knee Amputation of Both Legs | £132,000 to £177,500 |
| (iii) Above-knee Amputation of One Leg | £63,000 to £92,000 |
| (iv) Below-knee Amputation of One Leg | £60,000 to £86,000 |
| (b) Severe Leg Injuries | |
| (i) The Most Serious Injuries short of Amputation | £63,000 to £89,000 |
| Some injuries, although not involving amputation, are so severe that the courts have awarded damages at a comparable level. Such injuries would include extensive degloving of the leg, where there is gross shortening of the leg or where fractures have not united and extensive bone grafting has been undertaken. | |
| (ii) Very Serious | £36,000 to £55,500 |
| Injuries leading to permanent problems with mobility, the need for crutches for the remainder of the injured person's life; injuries where multiple fractures have taken years to heal and have led to serious deformity and limitation of movement, or where arthritis has developed in a joint so that further surgical treatment is likely. | |
| (iii) Serious | £25,750 to £36,000 |
| Serious injuries to joints or ligaments resulting in instability, prolonged treatment, a lengthy period of non-weight-bearing, the near certainty that arthritis will ensue; injuries involving the hip, requiring arthrodesis or hip replacement, extensive scarring. To justify an award within this bracket a combination of such features will generally be necessary. | |
| (iv) Moderate | £18,250 to £25,750 |
| This bracket includes severe, complicated or multiple fractures. The level of an award within the bracket will be influenced by the period off work; the presence or risk of degenerative changes; imperfect union of fractures, muscle wasting; limited joint movements; instability in the knee; unsightly scarring or permanently increased vulnerability to future damage. | |
| (c) Less Serious Leg Injuries | |
| (i) Fractures from which an Incomplete Recovery is Made | £11,800 to £18,250 |
| (ii) Simple Fracture of a Femur with No Damage to Articular Surfaces | £6,000 to £9,200 |
| (iii) Simple Fractures and Soft Tissue Injuries | Up to £6,000 |
Knee Injury
| Type | Estimated |
|---|
| (a) Severe | |
| (i) Serious knee injury where there has been disruption of the joint, gross ligamentous damage, lengthy treatment, considerable pain and loss of function and an arthrodesis or arthroplasty has taken place or is inevitable | £45,750 to £63,000 |
| (ii) Leg fracture extending into the knee joint causing pain which is constant, permanent, limiting movement or impairing agility and rendering the injured person prone to osteoarthritis and the risk of arthroplasty. | £34,250 to £45,750 |
| (iii) Less severe injuries than those in (a)(ii) above and/or injuries which result in less severe disability. There may be continuing symptoms by way of pain and discomfort and limitation of movement or instability or deformity with the risk that degenerative changes may occur in the long term as a result of damage to the kneecap, ligamentous or meniscal injury or muscular wasting. | £17,500 to £28,250 |
| (b) Moderate | |
| (i) Injuries involving dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus or which accelerate symptoms from a pre-existing condition but which additionally result in minor instability, wasting, weakness or other mild future disability. | £9,750 to £17,500 |
| (ii) This bracket includes injuries similar to those in (b)(i) above, but less serious, and also lacerations, twisting or bruising injuries. Where recovery has been complete the award is unlikely to exceed £3,750. Where there is continuous aching or discomfort, or occasional pain, the award will be towards the upper end of the bracket | Up to £9,000 |
Ankle Injury
| Type | Estimated |
|---|
| The vast majority of ankle injuries are worth significantly less than £15,000. | |
| (a) Very Severe | £32,750 to £45,750 |
| Examples of injuries falling within this bracket are limited and unusual. They include cases of a transmalleolar fracture of the ankle with extensive soft-tissue damage resulting in deformity and the risk that any future injury to the leg might necessitate a below-knee amputation, or cases of bilateral ankle fractures causing degeneration of the joints at a young age so that arthrodesis is necessary | |
| (b) Severe | £20,500 to £32,750 |
| Injuries necessitating an extensive period of treatment and/or a lengthy period in plaster or where pins and plates have been inserted and there is significant residual disability in the form of ankle instability, severely limited ability to walk. The level of the award within the bracket will be determined in part by such features as a failed arthrodesis, regular sleep disturbance, unsightly scarring and any need to wear special footwear. | |
| (c) Moderate | £8,700 to £17,500 |
| Fractures, ligamentous tears and the like which give rise to less serious disabilities such as difficulty in walking on uneven ground, awkwardness on stairs, irritation from metal plates and residual scarring. | |
| (d) Modest Injuries | Up to £9,000 |
"| The less serious, minor or undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligamentous injuries. The level of the award within the bracket will be determined by whether or not a complete recovery has been made and, if recovery is incomplete, whether there is any tendency for the ankle to give way, and whether there is scarring, aching or discomfort or the possibility of later osteoarthritis.
Where recovery is within a year, the award is unlikely to exceed £3,600.
| | "
Achilles Tendon
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Most Serious | In the region of £25,250 |
| Severance of the tendon and the peroneus longus muscle giving rise to cramp, swelling and restricted ankle movement necessitating the cessation of active sports. | |
| (b) Serious | £16,400 to £19,750 |
| Where complete division of the tendon has been successfully repaired but there is residual weakness, a limitation of ankle movements, a limp and residual scarring and where further improvement is unlikely. | |
| (c) Moderate | £9,750 to £11,800 |
| Complete division of the tendon but where its repair has left no significant functional disability | |
| (d) Minor | £4,850 to £6,600 |
| A turning of the ankle resulting in some damage to the tendon and a feeling of being unsure of ankle support. | |
Toe Injuries
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Amputation of All Toes | £24,000 to £37,000 |
| The position within the bracket will be determined by, for example, whether or not the amputation was traumatic or surgical and the extent of the loss of the forefoot together with the residual effects on mobility. | |
| (b) Amputation of the Great Toe | In the region of £20,500 |
| (c) Severe Toe Injuries | £9,000 to £12,600 |
| This is the appropriate bracket for severe crush injuries, falling short of the need for amputation or necessitating only partial amputation. It also includes bursting wounds and injuries resulting in severe damage and in any event producing significant continuing symptoms. | |
| (d) Serious Toe Injuries | £6,300 to £9,000 |
| Such injuries will be serious injuries to the great toe or crush and multiple fractures of two or more toes. There will be some permanent disability by way of discomfort, pain or sensitive scarring to justify an award within this bracket. Where there have been a number of unsuccessful operations or persisting stabbing pains, impaired gait or the like the award will tend towards the top end of the bracket. | |
| (e) Moderate Toe Injuries | Up to £6,300 |
| These injuries include relatively straightforward fractures or the exacerbation of a pre-existing degenerative condition. Only £3,500 or less would be awarded for straightforward fractures of one or more toes with complete resolution within a short period of time and less still for minor injuries involving lacerations, cuts, contusions and bruises, in respect of all of which there would have been a complete or near complete recovery. | |
Skeletal Injuries
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Le Fort Fractures of Frontal Facial Bones | £15,500 to £24,100 |
| (b) Multiple Fractures of Facial Bones | £9,750 to £15,750 |
| Involving some facial deformity of a permanent nature. | |
| (c) Fractures of Nose or Nasal Complex | |
| (i) Serious or multiple fractures requiring a number of operations and/or resulting in permanent damage to airways and/or nerves or tear ducts and/or facial deformity. | £7,000 to £15,200 |
| (ii) Displaced fracture where recovery complete but only after surgery | £2,600 to £3,350 |
| (iii) Displaced fracture requiring no more than manipulation. | £1,650 to £2,050 |
| (iv) Simple undisplaced fracture with full recovery. | £1,125 to £1,650 |
| (d) Fractures of Cheekbones | |
| (i) Serious fractures requiring surgery but with lasting consequences such as paraesthesia in the cheeks or the lips or some element of disfigurement. | £6,750 to £10,350 |
| (ii) Simple fracture of cheekbones for which some reconstructive surgery is necessary but from which there is a complete recovery with no or only minimal cosmetic effects. | £2,850 to £4,250 |
| (iii) Simple fracture of cheekbone for which no surgery is required and where a complete recovery is effected | £1,550 to £1,900 |
| (e) Fractures of Jaws | |
| (i) Very serious multiple fractures followed by prolonged treatment and permanent consequences, including severe pain, restriction in eating, paraesthesia and/or the risk of arthritis in the joints. | £20,000 to £30,000 |
| (ii) Serious fracture with permanent consequences such as difficulty in opening the mouth or with eating or where there is paraesthesia in the area of the jaw. | £11,800 to £20,000 |
| (iii) Simple fracture requiring immobilisation but from which recovery is complete | £4,250 to £5,750 |
| (f) Damage to Teeth | |
| (i) Loss of or serious damage to several front teeth. | £5,750 to £7,500 |
| (ii) Loss of or serious damage to two front teeth. | £2,850 to £5,000 |
| (iii) Loss of or serious damage to one front tooth. | £1,450 to £2,600 |
| (iv) Loss of or damage to back teeth: per tooth: | £720 to £1,125 |
FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| Females | |
| Very severe scarring (plus severe pyschological reaction) | £31,750 to £64,000 |
| Less severe scarring (plus significant pyschological reaction) | £20,000 to £31,750 |
| Significant scarring | £11,800 to £19,750 |
| Less Significant scarring | £2,600 to £9,000 |
| Trivial Scarring | £1,125 to £2,300 |
| Males | |
| Very severe scarring (plus considerable element of pyschological reaction) | £19,500 to £43,000 |
| Less severe scarring (permanent) | £11,800 to £19,750 |
| Significant scarring (visible) | £6,000 to £11,800 |
| Less significant scarring | £2,600 to £6,000 |
| Trivial scarring | £1,125 to £2,300 |
Scaring to other parts of the body
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| A large proportion of awards for a number of noticeable laceration scars, or a single disfiguring scar, of leg(s) or arm(s) or hand(s) or back or chest (male), | £5,000 to £15,000. |
| In cases where an exploratory laparotomy has been performed but no significant internal injury has been found, the award for the operation and the inevitable scar | In the region of £5,700 |
| A single noticeable scar, or several superficial scars, of leg(s) or arm(s) or hand(s), with some minor cosmetic deficit | £1,500 to £5,000. |
Damge to Hair
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Damage to hair in consequence of defective permanent waving, tinting or the like, where the effects are dermatitis or tingling or 'burning' of the scalp causing dry, brittle hair, which breaks off and/or falls out, leading to distress, depression, embarrassment and loss of confidence, and inhibiting social life. In the more serious cases thinning continues and the prospects of re-growth are poor or there has been total loss of areas of hair and re-growth is slow. | £4,800 to £7,250 |
| (b) Less serious versions of the above where symptoms are fewer or only of a minor character; also, cases where hair has been pulled out leaving bald patches. The level of the award will depend on the length of time taken before re-growth occurs. | £2,600 to £4,800 |
Dermatitis
| Type |
Estimated (£) |
| (a) Dermatitis of both hands, with cracking and soreness, affecting employment and domestic capability, possibly with some psychological consequences, lasting for some years, perhaps indefinitely. | £9,000 to £12,600 |
| (b) Dermatitis of both hands, continuing for a significant period, but settling with treatment and/or use of gloves for specific tasks. | £5,700 to £7,500 |
| (c) Itching, irritation of and/or rashes on one or both hands, but resolving within a few months with treatment | £1,125 to £2,600 |
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