A Simple Guide to Psychological Injury Compensation

It can be very easy to overlook a psychological injury when compared to a physical one, the reason being that physical injuries are much more apparent. In contrast to a psychological injury, it is easier to determine symptoms and cause of a physical injury as not only the victim, but those around them can see it with their own eyes. This is not the case for psychological injuries, however you are still able to claim for one should you have sustained it due to someone else’s negligence.

Both psychological and physical injuries are held to the same importance within the legal system, similarly to a broken leg, a psychological injury can be traumatic and may take a great deal of time to recover from. A psychological injury is also typically suffered as a result of a traumatic event, this could be anything from a sudden accident where the victim has also been physically injured, to the experience of long-endured physical, emotional or sexual abuse.  

There are various symptoms one can have following a psychological injury, some may be mild and last only a few days, whilst others might persist for several months or years. Common symptoms of a psychological injury include (but are not limited to), flashbacks, low mood, anxiety, disturbed sleeping patterns, nightmares, irritability, and avoidance (of where the accident/incident occurred).

Psychological trauma can be diagnosed as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder and PTSD amongst many other things. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most severe psychological injuries that can be sustained. It usually develops after an extremely traumatic event and can have a hugely negative impact on somebody’s life. The symptoms of PTSD can be triggered at any time and can be so severe that they prevent the sufferer from performing simple tasks like leaving the house.

We are unfortunately very aware of the impact a psychological 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 psychological 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. 

• £18,000 – £110,000 – Severe and Moderately Severe Psychological Damage
• £1,500 – £18,000 – Less Severe Psychological Damage
• £4,000 – £95,000 – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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.