Special and general damages
One of the most common questions we are asked is “how much is my claim worth?”
The value of a claim isn’t determined by what the claimant feels it is worth – it is what a Judge would be likely to award at trial. This compensation is split into two categories:
General damages are those which can’t easily be calculated, they consist of:
- Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. This is intended to compensate for the physical and/or mental pain as caused by the injury. This can also include loss of enjoyment for life, or inability to perform certain everyday tasks.
- Damages when a claimant can show that as a result of the injury, they may find it more difficult than an uninjured person to find another job, which may result in them being out of work in the future.
Special damages cover specific financial losses caused by the accident, for example:
- Loss of earnings which can be calculated, including potential lost bonuses or promotions.
- Past and future medical care or treatment, including the cost of any special equipment needed to modify the home or medical treatment such a physiotherapy.
- Rehabilitation costs whilst recovering from the accident.
- The value of damaged items (for example a bike in a cycle accident)
- Travel expenses and other out of pocket expenses
It is important to consult a specialist personal injury solicitor, who will be able to advise you on the potential compensation for an injury or accident. We talk more about this in our article on instructing a personal injury solicitor.
For more information on our personal injury services, please contact our specialist team now by email at [email protected] or call us on 033 3344 9602.
