What is the average payout for a car accident?

Car accidents are one of the most common ways you might suffer an injury. This is true whether you’re in a car, on a bike or walking alongside the road.

If you have been hurt in a car accident and have decided to pursue a claim against the person responsible, you’ll probably wonder what the average payout for your injury is.

The payout you’ll be awarded for a successful claim will depend on your accident and resulting injury and how big its effect is going to be on your daily life.

So if you want to know what sort of payout you could expect to receive, read on.

How common are car accidents?

Given the sheer number of cars on our roads, it’s probably unsurprising that car accidents are relatively common, particularly when compared with other kinds of accidents.

In 2019, there were 89,382 casualties involved in car accidents in the UK, according to the Department for Transport (DfT). But there were 153,315 people injured across all vehicle types. That’s equivalent to 420 each day.

The most common cause of car accidents in 2018 – according to the DfT’s most recent statistics – was the driver failing to look properly, causing 22% of them. If you were hurt in a car accident caused by another driver not looking properly, you could be able to receive a payout for your injury.

How much will I receive for a car accident payout?

A car accident can cause many different types of injuries, from the relatively mild to the life changing. This means that there is going to be a huge difference in the amount of compensation it’s possible to claim for an injury.

A mild case of whiplash, for example, will result in a smaller payout than an injury that causes paralysis or a major head injury.

Our compensation calculator may be able to give you an idea of what you might be awarded.

How will my car accident payout be calculated?

There are a number of factors that will be taken into consideration when your car accident compensation is decided. That includes:

• What your injury was
• How severe the injury was
• Whether you contributed to the accident
• What the impact of your injury will be on your life

A successful claim will be awarded a payout split into two parts: general damages and special damages.

• General damages

General damages are awarded to compensate you for the impact your injury has had on your life. It covers any pain and suffering you’ve experienced because of the accident. This includes both physical and mental suffering.

• Special damages

Special damages are paid to cover any financial impact your injury has had on you. If you’ve suffered any financial losses or had to pay for anything as a result of your car accident, special damages will reimburse you. This covers any medical treatment you need, travel to and from appointments, loss of earnings if you’re unable to work, and any personal property that was damaged in the accident.

It’s a good idea to keep hold of any receipts relating to these expenses so you can add them to your claim. Your solicitor will help you put together your evidence and make sure you don’t forget to include anything.

Can I make a car accident claim?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be able to make a claim for compensation. This is true even if you were a passenger in a car whose driver caused the accident.

To find out how you can make a claim and what the payout for a successful claim would be, just get in touch with the friendly and understanding team here at First4Lawyers. We’re happy to talk you through your options and help you figure out what the best course of action for you is.

Just give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online and we’ll take it from there.