Sarah's Story

Sarah had parked her car at a signal when suddenly another car banged into her car from behind. The violent jerk resulted in injuries to her neck. Later, Sarah thought of filing a claim for compensation for her injuries. She believed that her compensation amount would not be more than £2,000. Then she consulted a solicitor who helped her calculate the real worth of her claim. He also advised her on how to file a claim for compensation.

The result: Sarah won £4,000.

To calculate your compensation amount, you do not need a solicitor (though you need one to help you file a claim). Use this easy whiplash claim calculator to know how to do that.

What You Should Know

What Sarah suffered is known as a whiplash injury, or in simpler words, a neck injury or sprain that occurs after a sudden, violent jerk. Several factors influence the compensation amount for such injuries including:

• Extent of injuries suffered

• The duration of your suffering (physical and mental)

• Loss of income due to inability to perform work, medical bills, damage to car, etc.

Whiplash Claim Calculator

The first thing to do after an accident is go to a doctor and seek medical help. Your doctor will diagnose your injuries and document them in a medical report, which serves as vital evidence in a whiplash claim. After you have spoken to your doctor to know the severity of your injuries, use the following whiplash claim calculator to know how much you can claim for.

In general, all whiplash claims can be classified by their severity as:

• Almost Negligible: Injuries are negligible and you recover completely within a few weeks or months of the accident. Compensation amount: £800 - £2,500.

• Minor: Recovery takes a couple of years for minor neck damage. Compensation amount: £2,500 - £4,000.

• Moderate: If there is recurring severe pain, difficulty in movement, stiffness, etc. but complete recovery is eventually possible, then your whiplash can be classified as moderate. Compensation amount: £4,000 - £8,000

• Serious: The accident has resulted in cervical spondylitis, recurring severe pain, and difficulty in movement, needing further treatment. Complete recovery may not be possible. Compensation amount: £8,000 - £14,000.

• Severe: The accident has caused fractures or damages to soft tissues that impair your ability to move or work. £14,000 - £30,000

• Very Severe: This includes severe disabilities such as paralysis of the neck or other parts of the body that may cause a permanent inability to work. Compensation amount: £30,000 - £90,000

Remember, all cases are unique and the figures given here may not necessarily match your case. This whiplash claim calculator can only tell you how much your claim MAY be worth. To win a claim for that amount, speak to a solicitor with experience in whiplash injury claims.