A whiplash compensation claim is valued using expert medical evidence from a medico-legal report. It then takes a lawyer to read the report and value the claim using a combination of experience, guidelines, and previous similar cases. So how much is your whiplash claim worth?
Well without seeing a medico-legal report, I can’t tell you! But I will try and help you out with an insight in to the average paid out for a minor whiplash claim.
Most people fall in to the category of a minor whiplash injury. If your doctor or a medical professional who is not doing your medico-legal report tells you it is moderate or severe, then we are likely talking about totally different definitions. A minor whiplash from a personal injury definition could last months or years. So if your doctor has told you that you have a severe whiplash injury, that doesn’t mean you fall within the severe whiplash personal injury category which normally means your claim is worth more than £15,000!
According to general statistics, the average minor whiplash injury settles for around £2,500. So that can be used as somewhat of a guideline for you. Whether your claim is worth more or less depends on the individual circumstances. Generally speaking, the more you suffer, the more we get for you. On top of that we need to factor in your losses such as lost earnings, or medical expenses, travel expenses, hire and repair needs, etc.
If you’re suffering for a maximum of around four to six weeks, meaning you have absolutely no pain or residual symptoms thereafter, the claim is probably worth around £1,000 – £1,500. Again, this can be increased by losses incurred. The average minor whiplash official bracket is between £1,000 – £5,000.
But, as I say, yours could be worth more if you are suffering for longer. I’m going to be settling my own claim soon and I’m sure I will be writing a blog about it once I have received my settlement cheque. So whilst this hopefully gives you a little insight in to whiplash claim valuations, you must remember the golden rule: always instruct a lawyer and get a proper medico-legal report so your claim can be fully valued! It is very, very, very dangerous to settle with insurers directly, so if you are reading this to try and get an average amount to haggle with the insurers, you’re playing with fire in my opinion.
Once your claim is settled in full and final settlement, that’s it – you normally can’t go back for more. You should settle once you are fully healed or healed as much as you are going to so you know the claim is maximised settling before this is like buying a house without ever seeing what it looks like – insane!
Call our free claims helpline on 0800 634 75 75 today for expert advice about what you should do to maximise your claim for compensation.
