
An accurate assessment of the value of your injury can
be undertaken by us once a medical report is obtained.
Sometimes more than one expert report is needed and that
really depends upon the nature and extent of the injury
sustained.
Your injury is valued using experience and knowledge but
also by researching previous case law that has been decided
in the Courts over many years. It is also possible to
get a broad valuation from a book issued to Judges which
gives guidance as to the relevant tariffs for particular
injuries.
In general terms, for valuation purposes, injuries are
separated into different categories and there are varying
degrees of severity within each of those categories.
It is not really possible for us to give every valuation
for every injury here so we will set out in broad terms
the general valuations for the most common of injuries
suffered as a result of a hit and run accident.
You can read more about the types of injury commonly sustained
in hit and run accidents by clicking on the highlighted
injury type. If your injury type isn't listed please call
or email us for more information.
Remember the figures given below do not include any out
of pocket expenses which would usually be in addition.
We can help you work out your other losses which might
include loss of earnings, car hire charges, medical treatment
fees and so on.
Whiplash and neck injury
Minor whiplash with a full recovery between
a few weeks and a year might attract an award of £750
to £2,550.
Where the recovery period is within two years you would
expect to receive £2,550 to £4,575.
In those cases where the period of recovery has been fairly
long and where there remains an increased vulnerability
to further trauma the figure is something like £4,575
to £8,150.
Where there is permanent or recurring pain and serious
limitation of movement of the neck and the chance of surgery
the value is likely to be in the region of £8,150
to £14,500.
Fractures or dislocations which might mean spinal fusion
would attract £14,500 to £19,100.
Very serious neck injuries then attract awards depending
upon their severity from £19,100 up to £86,500.
Back
Strains, sprains, disc prolapses and soft tissue
injuries from which a full recovery or recovery to 'nuisance
value' has been made without surgery:
(i) Within about five
years will attract an award of £4,575 to £7,125
(ii) Within about two
years will attract an award up to £4,575.
Where there is 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 award
would be in the region of £7,125 to £16,300.
Where there is a substantial risk of osteoarthritis and
constant pain and discomfort with impairment of sexual
function and/or where a spinal fusion is probably necessary
the award will be in the region of £16,300 to £22,650.
Cases of disc lesions or fractures of the 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 the award will be £22,650 to £40,750.
In more serious cases involving impaired bladder and bowel
function, severe sexual difficulties and unsightly scarring
and the possibility of future surgery the award will be
in the region of £46,300.
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 the award is likely to be £58,500 to
£98,500.
Fractures
A simple fracture to a leg where a complete
recovery is made might attract an award of £5,350.
A serious leg fracture where an incomplete recovery is
made would be valued at £10,500 to £16,300.
The most serious leg injuries not involving the actual
loss of a leg would attract an award of £56,000
to £79,000.
A simple fracture to the forearm with a complete recovery
within a short time would justify an award of £3,700.
Injuries involving worse symptoms or where there is
a degree of disability or deformity would merit an award
in the region of £11,200.
Serious fractures of one or both forearms leaving a
significant permanent disability would be valued at
£22,650 to £34,850.
An uncomplicated wrist fracture would attract an award
in the region of £4,300.
Head Injury
The most minor of head injuries involving
symptoms for only a few weeks will attract an award
of £1,300.
Where there has been minor brain damage and the person
has made a good recovery and has been able to return
to a normal way of life including going back to work
but may still have some persisting problems the figure
would be £9,000 to £25,000.
Moderate brain damage might range from lowered levels
of concentration and memory through to severe intellectual
deficit, a personality change, an effect on speech or
sight and an increased risk of epilepsy. The range here
would be £25,000 to £127,250.
Very severe brain injury would attract an award of £165,000
to £235,000.
Psychiatric Injury
Not everyone who suffers psychiatric injury
following a hit and run accident will have true Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD"); some people
will suffer a general psychiatric injury. A minor temporary
anxiety state will attract an award of £840 to
£3,450 whereas more severe forms of general psychiatric
injury might be valued at £32,000 to £67,200.
Where a specific diagnosis of PTSD can be made the injury,
depending upon the severity of the symptoms and the
recovery period, would attract an award of anything
from £2,300 up to £58,500.
Whatever the injury you have sustained we will be able
to assess the value of the injury and advise you as
to the correct level of your compensation.
Damage to Teeth
Loss of or serious damage to several front
teeth would attract an award of £5,100 to £6,600
whereas the loss of or damage to one back tooth would
be in the region of £630 to £1,000. Any
difficulty eating would put the award at the higher
end of the relevant bracket of award.
Fractures of Jaws
A simple fracture where recovery is complete
would attract an award of £3,800 to £5,100.
The values increase with the severity of the injury
up to very serious multiple fractures followed by prolonged
treatment and permanent consequences including severe
pain, difficulty eating and/or a risk of arthritis in
the joints which would attract an award of £17,800
to £26,500.
Eye Injury
A few weeks of discomfort in one eye is worth
in the region of £1,300 to £2,300 and the
value increases according to the severity of the injury.
Minor injuries causing temporary interference with vision
such as being hit in the eye, exposure to fumes or smoke
or being splashed with liquids will attract an award
of £2,300 to £5,100.
Minor but permanent impairment of vision in one eye
including cases of double vision will be worth £7,375
to £12,200.
Cases of serious but incomplete loss of vision in one
eye without significant risk of loss or reduction of
vision in the remaining eye will attract an award of
£13,750 to £22,650.
Complete loss of sight in one eye will attract an award
of £28,750 to £32,000.
Total loss of one eye is worth £32,000 to £38,175.
Loss of sight in one eye with reduced vision in the
other will attract an award between £37,150 and
£104,500 depending upon the symptoms and whether
or not there is a risk of the remaining eye deteriorating.
Total blindness will attract an award in the region
of £155,250.
Chest
Fractures of the ribs causing pain and disability
over a period of weeks only will attract an award of
up to £2,300.
An injury leading to collapsed lungs from which a full
and uncomplicated recovery is made is worth £1,300
to £3,175.
A relatively simple injury such as a single penetrating
wound causing some permanent damage to tissue but no
significant long term effect on lung function will attract
an award of £7,375 to £10,500.
Damage to chest and lung(s) causing some continuing
disability will attract an award of £18,325 to
£32,000.
Traumatic injury to chest, lung(s) and/or heart causing
permanent damage, impairment of function, physical disability
and reduction of life expectancy will be worth £38,175
to £58,500.
The worst type of case will be of total removal of one
lung with prolonged and serious pain and suffering and
permanent significant scarring and this will attract
an award of £58,500 to £87,500.
Shoulder
A simple fracture to the clavicle will attract
an award in the region of £3,000 to £7,125.
A minor soft tissue injury to the shoulder with considerable
pain but almost complete recovery:
(i) In less than
two years will attract an award of £2,550 to £4,575.
(ii) Within a year
will attract an award up to £2,550.
A moderate injury such as a frozen shoulder with limitation
of movement and discomfort with symptoms persisting
for about two years will be worth £4,575 to £7,375.
A serious 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 will attract
an award of £7,375 to £11,200.
A severe shoulder injury and probably associated with
neck injury and involving damage to the brachial plexus
resulting in significant disability will attract an
award of £11,200 to £28,000.
Pelvis and Hips
Minor injuries with complete recovery will
be worth up to £2,175.
Where there is little or no residual disability but
a significant injury the award will be £2,175
to £7,375.
Where perhaps a hip has to be replaced now or some time
in the future the award will be £7,375 to £15,000.
Significant injury to the pelvis or hip but any permanent
disability is not major and any future risk not great
the award will be £15,500 to £22,650.
Where a hip has to be replaced and there is a need to
have revision surgery the award will be £22,650
to £30,500.
A fracture dislocation of the pelvis involving both
ischial and pubic rami resulting in impotence or a traumatic
myositis ossificans with formation of ectopic bone around
the hip will attract an award of £36,125 to £46,300.
Extensive fractures of the pelvis involving for example
dislocation of a low back joint and a ruptured bladder,
or a hip injury resulting in spondylolisthes is of a
low back joint with intolerable pain and necessitating
spinal fusion will attract an award of £46,300
to £76,350.
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.
Scarring
With facial scarring in particular there
will be a distinction made between male and female scarring
and the awards will be higher if there have been many
operations to rectify the problem.
Trivial facial scarring for both male and females will
attract an award of £1,000 to £2,000.
For minor scarring which is not visible except on close
inspection and can be camouflaged the range for males
is £2,300 to £5,350 and for females is £2,300
to £8,150.
Significant scarring to the face where the worst effects
have been improved by surgery but scars remain visible
at a reasonable distance the value for males is £5,350
to £10,500 and for females £10,500 to £17,550.
Very severe scarring on the face for a relatively young
woman where the scarring is very disfiguring and there
is a significant psychological effect the award will
be £28,000 to £56,500. For a man the ward
will be £17,550 to £38,175.
Scarring to other parts of the body might include for
example a single scar to the leg, hand or arm which
will attract an award of £1,300 to £2,300.
A single disfiguring scar to the same parts of the body
would be worth £4,500 to £8,200.
A laparotomy scar following an operation would attract
an award of £5,000.
Elbow
Simple fractures, tennis elbow syndrome and
lacerations which cause no permanent impairment of function
will attract an award of up to £7,375.
Injuries causing impairment of function but not involving
major surgery or significant disability will attract
an award of £9,150 to £18,325.
A severe disabling injury to the elbow will attract
an award of £22,650 to £32,000.
Forearm
Uncomplicated fractures of the radius and/or
ulna with a complete recovery within a short time will
justify an award of £3,700. Injuries resulting
in residual disability or deformity will fall between
£3,800 to £11,200.
Serious fractures where a degree of recovery has taken
place will be worth £11,200 to £22,650.
Serious fractures of one or both forearms where there
is significant permanent residual disability whether
functional or cosmetic will attract an award of £22,650
to £34,850.
Injuries to the forearm which fall short of amputation
but which are extremely serious and leave the person
little better off than if the arm had been lost will
attract an award of £56,000 to £76,350.
Wrist
Very minor undisplaced or minimally displaced
fractures where a bandage or plaster is applied for
a matter of weeks and a full or virtually full recovery
is made within a matter of months the award will be
£2,000 to £2,800.
An uncomplicated colles' fracture will be worth in the
region of £4,300.
Where there is some permanent disability such as pain
and stiffness the award will be £7,375 to £14,250.
Complete loss of function of the wrist for example where
an arthrodesis (surgical stiffening) of the wrist has
been carried out the award is likely to be £27,750
to £34,850.
Hand
A minor hand injury lasting for a few months
will be worth £500 to £2,550.
Crush injuries, penetrating wounds, soft tissue type
and deep lacerations to the hand will attract an award
of £3,800 to £7,625.
Where there is significant impaired function without
further surgery or despite operative treatment the value
will be £8,400 to £16,800.
Serious hand injuries reducing the function to about
50 per cent capacity including for example diminution
in grip, gross cosmetic disfigurement or amputation
of some fingers would attract an award of £16,800
to £36,125.
Total or effective loss of one hand will be worth £56,000
to £63,625.
Total or effective loss of both hands will attract an
award of £81,500 to £117,000.
Knee
For a simple minor twisting type injury the
value will be a few hundred pounds.
Where recovery is more prolonged the award is likely
to be up to £3,500 but where there is continuous
aching or discomfort or occasional pain the award will
be up to £8,150.
Injuries involving dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus
or which accelerate symptoms from a pre-existing condition
but which result in minor instability, wasting, weakness
or other future disability will attract an award of
£8,400 to £15,500.
More sever types of knee injury involving limitation
of movement, deformity, instability; muscle wasting
and the risk of future degeneration will attract an
award of £15,500 to £25,000.
Leg fracture extending into the knee joint causing pain
which is constant, permanent and limits movement will
be worth £30,500 to £40,750.
Serious knee injury where there has been disruption
of the joint, gross ligamentous damage, lengthy treatment,
considerable pain and loss of function the award will
be £40,750 to £56,000.
Ankle
Where recovery is within a year the award
is unlikely to exceed £3,300.
Minor or undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligamentous
injuries where complete recovery is made or where incomplete
if the ankle gives way will attract an award up to £8,150.
Fractures, ligamentous tears which cause difficulties
walking on uneven ground, awkwardness on stairs, irritation
from metal plates and residual scarring will attract
an award of £7,625 to £15,500.
Severe injury necessitating an extensive period of treatment
and where pins and plates are inserted and there is
significant residual disability the award will be £18,325
to £29,000.
Very severe injury including transmalleolar fracture
of the ankle with extensive soft tissue damage resulting
in deformity and the risk of amputation will usually
attract an award of £29,000 to £40,750.
Foot
Where the injury results in continuing symptoms
such as pain or aching or a limp the award will be between
£4,000 and £8,150. Straightforward foot
injuries such as fractures, lacerations, contusions
etc where there is complete or near complete recovery
the ward will be up to £4,000.
Displaced metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent
deformity and continuing symptoms will attract an award
of £8,150 to £14,500.
Serious burns to the feet or an injury leading to a
fusion with continuing pain and prolonged treatment
will attract an award of £14,500 to £22,650.
Fractures of both heels or feet with substantial restriction
on mobility or considerable or permanent pain will be
worth £26,500 to £39,200.
Permanent and severe pain for example where there has
been traumatic amputation of the forefoot and there
is a risk of full amputation or cases where there is
a loss of a substantial portion of the heel will attract
an award of £48,850 to £63,625.
Amputation of one foot will attract an award of £48,850
to £63,625.
Amputation of both feet will attract an award of £98,500
to £117,000.
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