Examples of injuries falling into the upper compensation bracket are limited and unusual such as significant deformity or bilateral ankle fractures causing disgeneration of joints at a young age, or necessatating extensive treatment e.g. where pins and plates have to be inserted. 

The vast majority of ankle injuries will see compensation awards of significantly less than £12,500. 

 A minor or undisplaced fracture or sprain is unlikely to exceed £3000 where the recovery is within one year.

A loss of both arms has the effect of reducing a person to a state of considerable helplessness and as such general damages awards may be in the range of £140,000 to £175,000.

Total loss of one arm would typically see awards in the region of £80,000 where the amputation is at the shoulder. Amputations below the shoulder but above the elbow will typically be in the range of £60,000 to £75,000. Where the amputation is through the elbow the compensation award will normally be at the lower end of this range, the significance here being the size of the remaining stump and the difficulties presented in the use of a prosthesis with a shorter stump.

Amputation below the elbow may see general damages awards of between £50,000 and £60,000, which may depend upon whether or not the amputation was of the dominant arm and the intensity of any residual pains. 

Injuries falling short of amputation but which are extremely serious and leave the injured person no better off than if the arm had been lost may see general damages awards of between £50,000 and £70,000.

Serious injuries of one or both forearms with permanat disability or scarring can see typical compensation awards of £20,000 to £35,000

At the lower end of the spectrum simple fractures of the forearm and where a full recovery was made within a short period of time, would warrant a compensation award of around £3,500, but if left with serious disability then the damages would be up to £12,000

Asbestos related illness including but not limited to Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma are among the most serious of illnesses leading to serious respiratory diasbility, vastly reduced quality of life and often proving fatal.

Severe pain and impairment of function of the lung lining or the lining of the abdominal cavity are found with cases of Mesothelioma, for which general damages compensation is calculated based upon the duration of pain and suffering. For periods up to 18 months the typical award would be in the region of £47,000 with longer periods of four years or more possibly seeing an award nearer £74,000.

Lung cancer may see awards of between £45,000 and £58,000 with other asbestos related illnesses ranging between £4,000 and £61,500 depending upon severity and impact upon quality of life.

Severe Injuries not involving paralysis but where there are very serious consequences (not normally symptomatic of back injury), such as impotence or impairment to bladder, bowel and/or sexual function, may be entitled to compensation up to the upper limit of £100,000. Relatively few back injuries which do not give rise to paralysis do not usually receive compensation awards exceeding £25,000.

Moderate injuries where there is residual disability and risk of oesteoarthritis, constant pain etc, up to £22,500

Minor injuries such as strains, sprains or disc prolepsis from which there is recovery within two years may receive up to £5,000.

Any cases involving total blindness and deafness would be considered as ranking with the most devastating of injuries and may therefore see awards up to £250,000.

Total blindness can see compensation awards of up to £155,000. Transient eye injuries from which the injured person recovers within matter of weeks may see compensation of between £1,000 to £2,000 and persons with minor eye injuries, where the injury results in temporary interference with vision may receive up to £5,000 in compensation.

Compensation awards for brain damage, as with all other injury types will depend very much upon the severity of the injury. 

The upper level of this compensation bracket refers to those who have been severely brain damaged and would take into consideration the life expectancy, degree of insight and full extent of physical limitations of the injured party

The lower end of this scale is for minor brain damage, where a person would have made a good recovery and be able to take part in normal social life and return to work, but with some persisting problems.

Compensation awards for partial or total loss of hearing may depend upon whether the injury has occurred or developed over a period of time or whether it occurred suddenly allowing no opportunity for the injured to adapt. The compensation awards may also depend upon age and whether it affects balance or speech.

Total deafness and loss of speech where the loss is at an early age and seriously affects speech may see general damages compensation between £60,000 £85,000.

Total loss of hearing in one ear may see compensation of between £18,000 and £26,000, with partial loss of hearing / Tinnitus compensation levels ranging from £4,000 to £26,500. 

The human hand is incredibly complex both in functionality and the types of injuries that may affect it, the loss of which is likely to see compensation settlements on par with the loss of an entire arm. Total or effective loss of both hands may warrant an award up to £120,000. Serious damage to both hands up to £50,000, where there is cosmetic disabilty and loss of function. 

Injuries can range from partial or total loss of a single finger or thumb including amputation, where typical settlements would be up to £50,000. Injuries to each of the component parts are assessed upon the importance of that part, for instance a thumb would alone be considered more important than the loss or impairment of a little finger and would therefore fetch higher compensation awards.  Moderate hand injuries, including crush injuries, up to £8,000 where permanant disability remains. Minor hand injuries up to £3,000

Because of the complexity of this type of injury it is very difficult to give guidance on the general damages awards without knowing more about your situation. If you have sustained a hand injury, please contact us for further information. 

Minor injuries with no brain damage up to £6,000.  If the injury specifically relates to brain damage, then please see the relevant section.

Serious Injuries to the knee where there is  severe disruption to the joint and arthrodesis or arthroplasty up to £55,000

Moderate injuries involving dislocation, torn cartlidge, with minor risidual up to £16,000

Minor injuries where recovery is complete including twisting or bruising, up to £3,500 

Leg injuries are typically defined in one of 3 categories; amputations, severe injuries and less serious injuries.

The high end of this compensation award could apply where both legs are lost above the knee (total loss, up to £170,000), partial loss up to £80,000 (one leg). 

Serious injuries including de-gloving and gross deformity up to £80,000. Injuries involving long periods of trauma etc, arthodesis / hip replacement up to £32,000. Simple fractures and less serious injuries £5,000 - £17,000. Scaling down to the lower levels of compensation, simple fractures and soft tissue injuries can see compensation ranging up to £5,000

Many neck injuries can be found in conjunction with back and shoulder problems. At the highest level are injuries which shatter life and leave the injured severely disabled. In these situations compensation may be awarded up to the upper value of £90,000. 

Severe neck injuries with incomplete paraplegia up to £85,000. Fractures and dislocations causing severe symptoms which necessitates spinal fusion up to £20,000. 

Moderate injuries including whiplash, limitation of movement and residual disabilities up to £15,000

Minor soft tissue injuries / whiplash injuries, with up to two years recovery, between £1,000 - £5,000 

For those cases in which the injured suffer minor strain, and do not require any time off work, the justifiable compensation may be as little as £1,000

Injuries to the Pelvis and hips can be as devastating as a leg amputation in the most serious cases and may therefore attract a similar compensation award approaching £80,000.

Less severe injuries can fetch up to £50,000

Moderate injuries to the pelvis or hip up to £22,000

Lesser injuries to the pelvis or hip, £2,500 up to £7,500 with little or no residual disability  

General damages compensation awards for Psychiatric damage including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain will depend very much upon the injured person’s ability to cope with day to day life and work and their future vulnerability and susceptibility to recurring psychological episodes.

A specific diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the most extreme cases may entitle the injured person to compensation up to £60,000 where the symptoms effect basic functions such as bowel, pulse rate, breathing and constant re-experiencing of the relevant event.

Moderately severe symptoms would be between the bracket of £20,000 - £25,000 and minor symptoms where full recovery is between 1 - 2 years, compensation awards would be between £2,500 - £5,000.

Cases of temporary 'anxiety' by comparison are likely to settle below £1,000.

Cases involving damage or injury to the female reproductive system and the associated general damages compensation will typically depend upon a number of factors. Whether or not the affected woman has already had children or whether she had plans for extending her family, whether she was carrying at the time of the accident or injury.  Depression or psychological scarring is also likely to be taken into consideration.

Infertility, be that by injury or disease with severe depression, anxiety, pain and scarring would typically see compensation awards of up to £100,000. Infertility where age may have been a factor i.e. where the injured person would not have been able to have children in any event may see typical compensation entitlements in the region of £4,000 to £8,000.

Injuries leading to sterility, impotence or loss of sexual function may see general damages compensation awards in the region of £90,000 for a young man. The full level of compensation will depend upon the age of the individual, phychological reaction and the effect upon the individuals domestic and social life.

 A young man without children; and suffering from sterility without impotence or any additional aggravating features may be entitled to between £30,000 and £40,000 by way of compensation.

A family man who might have intended to have more children, up to £20,000

 It is not possible to give an accurate compensation guide for scarring because it depends upon the extent of disfigurement, visibility and the effect upon the claimant, e.g. a single disfiguring scar on the left forearm could be between £4,000 and £8,000.

Severe injuries involving brachial plexus damage, resulting in significant disability may receive up to £30,000.

Moderate frozen shoulder with discomfort up to year, £7,500

Minor soft tissue damage, causing considerable pain, but with recovery almost complete within one year are likely to be awarded between £2,500 and £5,000 in compensation.