Neck injuries are a particular worry for anyone who suffers one – as well as being a source of great pain too. That’s because neck injuries are frequently accompanied by potential complications involving the back, shoulders or head which, together, can present serious physical or mental problems. And sadly, in the world of personal injury claims, claims for neck injuries are becoming very common.
That’s partly because technically speaking, a neck injury is classed as a whiplash injury. And claims for Whiplash injuries are growing every year. But as well as that, other perhaps more severe neck injuries can result in a claim for compensation such as fracture, dislocation and – in the worst cases – paralysis. Which leads to the question:
How much can you claim for neck injuries?
Well, as with all personal injury claims there is no ‘catch-all’ answer. As we’ve already described, there is a broad spectrum of neck injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. The neck injury compensation you receive will depend solely on the injury you sustained and other factors including loss of earnings, inability to enjoy life and out of pocket expenses. However, it’s the nature of the injury that plays a major part in determining how much compensation you are entitled to.
But to help give you a better idea, we’ve put together a quick guide to the neck injury compensation claim amounts you could expect to receive, based on several potential factors. Please note, these figures are approximate.
Minor neck injury – up to £5,000
As we’ve said, whiplash is one of the most common causes of neck injury in personal injury claims. No wonder, as it’s almost an inevitable result of any car accident where the driver and passengers are subjected to a sudden change of speed (slowing down or stopping) which leads to head jerking forward and back in an instant. Another cause is being shunted from the rear by another vehicle. In any such case, the muscles of the neck are put under enormous strain leading to soft tissue injury, commonly known as whiplash. If whiplash injury can be recovered from within a year, it is usually classed as a minor neck injury.
Moderate neck injury – up to £16,000
Moving up a notch in terms of seriousness, a moderate neck injury can usually be classed as an injury to the neck area that takes up to two years to fully recover from. The pain and discomfort suffered along with any loss of earnings and other out of pocket expenses will be considered in such an assessment. Again, whiplash is the most common cause of such neck injuries. But of course, it’s not the only cause – outside of car accidents, workplace injuries such as slips, trips or falls can also result in a neck injury. Each case is different, that’s why it’s important to speak to a solicitor who will be able to assess how much compensation you could get.
Severe neck injury – up to £95,000 or more
It’s not a pleasant thought but with the sensitive nature of the neck and its location on the body, some neck injuries can lead to permanent disability, restricted movement, and even paralysis. Many workplace injuries involve the neck and these range in severity from relatively mild through to life-long physical disabilities. The most serious of these result in quadriplegia (paralysis below the neck).
With a severe neck injury such as paralysis, it means adapting to a way of life which will be very different from the one you had before. For example, requiring care on a 24-hour basis, specialist equipment or modifications to your home.
Your injury may force you to stop working, which in turn reduces your family’s income and subsequent standard of living. If you were the main breadwinner, then the loss of your income may force your family into financial hardship.
Additional expenses such as nursing care and support can be expensive. In such severe cases where the impact on the life of the victim is extreme, successful claims for compensation can result in awards of tens of thousands of pounds or more.
Remember, these figures are to serve as a rough guide. If you do suffer a neck injury that you think wasn’t your fault and wish to pursue a claim, speak to our dedicated personal injury team using the form below, or contact us on 0131 555 7055.
Watermans have acted for many clients who suffered a range of neck injuries and our team of personal injury specialist solicitors will be able to guide you through the claims process.
Alternatively, check out our claims calculator which will help you estimate the amount you may be able to claim for. However, the figures should be taken as a guide.