A Simple Guide to Brain Injury and Head Injury Compensation

It is difficult to imagine a more serious injury than one that affects the head and brain, for obvious reasons. The brain controls all function of the body, including speech, movement, reflexes, thought and personality, when injured the consequences can be catastrophic on one’s quality of life. Depending on the severity, a head injury or brain injury can be traumatic to both the victim and their family. Often victims are left unable to care for themselves and are forced to rely on family members or hire full time carers to tend to them daily.  

Head injuries are classed as either traumatic or non-traumatic. Non-traumatic head injuries can be caused by strokes, meningitis, tumours, or lack of oxygen to the brain amongst other things. Due to the nature, non-traumatic injuries are also referred to as ‘acquired brain injuries’.

Traumatic head injuries are caused by external things, such as an extreme blow to the head or the piercing of the skull into the brain. Often this type of trauma can result in irreparable damage with permanent physical or mental disability. Some of the most common accidents leading to a traumatic head injury or brain injury include road traffic collisions, falls from height, being struck by falling/heavy objects, contacts sports, medical negligence as well as criminal attacks.

A head injury or brain injury can lead to a wide range of symptoms, varying in severity. These symptoms can affect someone mentally, physically, emotionally or a combination of them all. Some injuries following an accident involving the head can be mild and short lived, we see this frequently with fractured skulls or concussion, where the injured person may feel nauseous and experience dizziness and pain for a period but fully recovers.

However, those who suffer from a traumatic brain injury or head injury of the highest degree may be left with complete paralysis or epilepsy, others may sustain lifelong physical or mental disabilities where they experience mood-swings, personality changes or restricted movement in specific parts of the body.

We are unfortunately very aware of the impact a head injury or brain injury can have on someone’s personal and professional life. Thankfully, with the years of knowledge and expertise our team have in handling this type of claim, we have already been able to help many clients obtain the compensation they deserve.

How much is your brain injury or head injury claim worth? 

The figures shown below are provided as guidelines. In order to determine a more accurate valuation of your potential injury claim, it is recommended that you speak with one of our solicitors. 

• £270,000 – £380,000 – Very Severe Head injury
• £205,000 – £265,000 – Moderately Severe Head injury
• £41,000 – £206,000 – Head injury Head injury
• £15,000-£41,000 –  Less severe Head injury
• £2,000 – £12,000 – Minor Head injury
• £10,000 – £141,000 – Epilepsy

What are General and Special Damages? 

The compensation calculator can help you estimate the out of compensation you might receive for your injury claim. This part of your compensation is known as General Damages, as it relates to the pain, suffering and loss of amenity that you have suffered as a result of your accident.

• Pain: refers to the initial pain you suffered when your accident occurred.
• Suffering: refers to the ongoing pain that you have endured since the accident.
• Loss of amenity: refers to the fact that you could either for a period, or permanently no longer do something that you could do prior to the accident, for example play a sport.

The compensation calculator does not include other losses that you might have incurred as a result of your accident. Such as, loss of earnings, cost of care or damage to property. These items are known as Special Damages and can be claimed in addition to the General Damages mentioned above. The amount of compensation you receive will ultimately be made up of General and Special Damages, that is your injury claim and financial losses.

How Can Stonehewer Moss help you on a ‘No-Win, No-Fee’ basis?

‘No-Win, No-Fee’ is a way of funding your personal injury claim without having to pay solicitors fees up front. If your claim is successful, then your legal costs will usually be deducted from your compensation leaving you with a minimum of 75% of your compensation claim. To make sure ‘No-Win, No-Fee’ is the right way to fund your personal injury claim, you can contact us at Stonehewer Moss solicitors for a free no obligation assessment of your claim, guaranteed to provide you with the best advice on how to progress with your claim.