Have you been involved in a road traffic accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, you might have suffered from a neck injury and could be eligible to make car accident neck injury claims. As such, you could be wanting to know the answer to the following questions:
Car accident neck injury claims guide
- How much can you get for a neck injury car accident settlement?
- How to claim a personal injury after a car accident?
- Will the whiplash reforms affect my claim?
This guide aims to explore the answers to these questions. In addition, it will provide examples of how a car accident could cause different types of neck injuries. We will also look at the steps you can take after being involved in a road traffic accident that caused you harm, such as gathering evidence to support your potential claim.
If you would like to speak to one of our advisors, you can do so. They offer free legal advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To get in touch:
- Call 0113 460 1215
- Write to us using our online claim form
- Access instant free legal advice through our live support option below.
Choose A Section
- An Introduction To Car Accident Neck Injury Claims
- What Is A Neck Injury In A Car Accident?
- Examples Of Serious Neck Injury Accidents
- How Much Could I Get For Car Accident Neck Injury Claims?
- Where Are The Best No Win No Fee Solicitors?
- More Information On Car Accident Neck Injury Claims
An Introduction To Car Accident Neck Injury Claims
A car accident neck injury is any injury that is a result of or has been worsened by being involved in a car accident. You may be able to claim if you were fully or partially responsible for the accident or the injuries you sustained. If you are claiming when partially responsible for the accident, you would make a split liability claim. In these claims, your compensation would be adjusted accordingly to reflect your overall liability for the accident.
Each road user has a duty of care to follow the rules of the road and protect one another from harm whilst using the roads. The Road Traffic Act 1988 outlines the different driving offences whilst the Highway Code outlines guidelines and rules for each road user to follow, including drivers.
If another road user fails to uphold their duty of care, this is known as negligence. It is important to establish a third party’s negligence caused you harm when making car accident neck injury claims.
Our advisors can offer you a free consultation of your case. You won’t be obliged to make a claim with us afterwards, but if you do, you may benefit from using a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.
What Is A Neck Injury In A Car Accident?
Car accident neck injuries can come in many forms. The severity, as well as the impact of them, can vary depending on the accident. Some injuries can be minor whilst others can be life-changing or even fatal.
How much neck injury car accident compensation you could get will be largely dependent on the severity of your injuries, among other factors that will be expanded on later in this guide.
The types of neck injuries you may be able to claim for include but are not limited to:
- Whiplash
- Break or fracture
- Ligament tear
- Herniated disks
- Nerve damage
Additionally, you could experience psychological harm as a result of your injuries. Your compensation will take into consideration the impact your injuries have had on your mental wellbeing.
Do not hesitate to get in touch if you have suffered from any of these or a similar injury due to someone else’s negligence. One of our advisors might connect you with a solicitor from our panel.
Examples Of Serious Neck Injury Accidents
Here we have provided some examples of car accidents that could result in someone sustaining a neck injury.
- Driving above the speed limit – Another road user could be driving over the speed limit. They might not be able to stop in time as they come to a junction, causing them to rear-end you, which could see you suffer from whiplash.
- Distracted/ recklessness – A driver could be on their phone, taking their full attention away from the road. They may not notice you as you change lanes and crash into the side of your car.
- Driving under the influence – Another driver may be intoxicated on drugs or alcohol, causing them to swerve onto your side of the road leading to a head-on collision.
Gathering evidence is crucial in supporting your personal injury claim. First and foremost, you should seek the necessary medical attention. This ensures you benefit from the care you need but also generates medical records that can later be used as evidence.
You could also gather:
- Witness contact details
- Pictures of the incident/ scene
- CCTV footage
- Police reports, if applicable
Lastly, you should seek legal advice regarding the next steps of making car accident neck injury claims. You can do this by speaking to a member of our team. They offer free legal advice.
How Much Could I Get For Car Accident Neck Injury Claims?
The settlement you may receive if the car accident neck injury claims succeeds could include general damages and special damages.
Firstly, general damages cover any pain and suffering caused by the injuries you sustained. It also takes into account the impact the injuries have on your overall quality of life.
We have included a table of different injuries corresponding to compensation brackets. These figures have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a document that legal professionals use to aid them in valuing the general damages portion of claims.
Please only use the table below as guidance. This is because each claim is completely unique, and the neck injury car accident payout that you might receive could be different.
| Body Part | Severity | Compensation Bracket | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck | (a) Severe (i) | In the region of £148,330 | Cases can include injuries linked with incomplete paraplegia or resulting in permanent spastic quadriparesis. |
| Neck | (a) Severe (ii) | £65,740 to £130,930 | Injuries which lead to disabilities of considerable severity, typically involving serious fractures or damage to discs in the cervical spine. |
| Neck | (a) Severe (iii) | £45,470 to £55,990 | Injuries such as fractures and dislocations that lead to chronic conditions and a permanent significant disability. |
| Neck | (b) Moderate (i) | £24,990 to £38,490 | An injury that results in severe immediate symptoms and which may necessitate spinal fusion such as fractures or dislocations. |
| Neck | (b) Moderate (ii) | £13,740 to £24,990 | Soft tissue or wrenching-type injuries as well as disc lesion of the more severe type that causes several issues such as cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement and permanent or recurring pain. |
| Neck | (b) Moderate (iii) | £7,890 to £13,740 | An injury that may have worsened an already existing condition over a shorter period of time (typically less than five years). |
| Neck | (c) Minor (i) | £4,350 to £7,890 | A full recovery is made within 1-2 years. |
| Neck | (c) Minor (ii) | £2,450 to £4,350 | A full recovery is made between 3 months and 1 year. |
| Neck | (c) Minor (iii) | Up to £2,450 | A full recovery is made within 3 months. |
| Back | (a) Severe (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Damage to spinal cord and nerve roots. |
Additionally, special damages offer compensation for any financial losses that have been incurred as a result of your injuries. This includes but is not limited to:
- Care costs
- Medical expenses
- Travel costs
- Loss of pay
- Home adaptations
Evidence you might consider gathering to prove any special damages include invoices, receipts and payslips.
Whiplash Reform Programme
The Whiplash Reform Programme applies to all road traffic accident injuries sustained in road accidents after 31st May 2021.
If you are a driver or a passenger above the age of 18 and the injuries you suffer in a vehicle are worth £5,000 or less, you will need to claim through a new online government portal.
This is also the case if you are a passenger on public transport, for example, on a bus.
The value of your injuries will be determined by the tariff amounts outlined in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.
If you are wondering what your neck injury claim value is, get in touch with us today.
Where Are The Best No Win No Fee Solicitors?
You could be concerned about the potential cost of hiring a solicitor to represent your car accident neck injury claim. However, a No Win No Fee solicitor could offer you their services without requiring an upfront fee.
They may offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Working with a solicitor on this basis generally means you will not have to pay for your solicitor’s services if the claim fails.
If your case is successful, you would pay them a legally capped success fee from your compensation.
Find out whether you can be represented by a solicitor from our panel when making car accident neck injury claims by contacting our team of advisors.
Ask Us About Car Accident Neck Injury Claims
To see if you are eligible to make a claim, get in touch with our advisors. They can provide additional information if you’re unsure of anything mentioned in our guide. To contact us, you can:
- Call 0113 460 1215
- Write to us using our online claim form
- Access instant free legal advice through our live support option below.
More Information On Car Accident Neck Injury Claims
Here we have provided you with some further information that you might find useful:
- More information about acute lower back pain.
- More information on road safety from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
- Help with road traffic accidents involving uninsured or unidentified drivers from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
We have also included some of our own guides:
- Road traffic accident claims explained
- Time limits in personal injury claims
- No Win No Fee personal injury claims
- How can cycling accident solicitors help me?
- How to claim for an accident on public transport
- Fatal accident claims
- All You Need To Know About Road Traffic Accident Claims
- Fatal Car Accident Claims – How To Get Compensation
- How Can Cycling Accident Solicitors Help Me?
- I Had An Accident On Public Transport, Can I Make A Claim?
- What Goes Into Making a Taxi Accident Claim?
- How To Make A Passenger Injury Claim After An RTA
- Making A Car Accident Claim Guide
- Bike And Cycle Accident Personal Injury Claims
- How Long Do Car Accident Claims Take To Complete?
- How To Find Solicitors For Car Accident Claims
- A Guide To Car Accident Back Injury Claims
- Motorbike Accident Injury Claims
- Can I Use A Car Accident Claims Calculator For 2022?
- How To Claim For A Pedestrian Crossing Accident
- I Was Hurt In A Hit And Run Car Accident – Can I Claim?
- Fatal Motorcycle Accident Claims
Thank you for reading our guide on car accident neck injury claims, we hope it was useful. If you need any other information, call us on the number above.
Writer Beck Patch
Editor Meg McConnell