Car accident compensation calculator
Estimate what your car crash injury claim could be worth — compensation (UK £) or settlement (US $) — built on published Judicial College bracket figures and the official whiplash tariff, not guesswork.
Car Accident Compensation Calculator
Estimate your total payout range in under a minute
Last updated · By Mustafa Bilgic · Figures reviewed against the Judicial College Guidelines
What a car accident claim is actually made of
Most people search for an "average car accident payout", but settlements are never paid as a single round number. They are built from two clearly defined components, and once you understand them you can sense-check any figure an insurer, solicitor or calculator gives you.
1. General damages — the injury itself
This compensates you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the crash injury — the human cost, not the money cost. In England and Wales these are valued from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), the standard reference courts and solicitors use for every body part and severity. Whiplash that lasts up to two years is the big exception: it is paid under a fixed statutory tariff rather than the JCG (see below). In the US there is no national table, so typical published settlement ranges are used for each injury class.
2. Special damages — your financial losses
On top of the injury value you can usually recover money you actually lost because of the crash: lost wages while you could not work, medical treatment and physiotherapy, care and assistance, and travel to appointments. Car accidents also bring vehicle-related costs — repair or write-off, hire-car charges and your insurance excess — which belong in the special-damages total. Serious injuries add future losses such as ongoing care or reduced earning capacity.
Car accident compensation amounts by injury
The table below shows indicative general-damages ranges for the injuries most often seen after a car crash. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, vehicle costs) are added on top. UK figures are bracket-style estimates based on the Judicial College Guidelines and the statutory whiplash tariff; US figures are typical personal-injury settlement ranges.
| Injury type | UK — Minor (£) | UK — Moderate (£) | UK — Severe (£) | US — typical ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiplash / neck | 275 – 4,830* | 4,800 – 13,700 | 25,000 – 55,000 | 10k – 50k |
| Back injury | 2,500 – 12,500 | 12,500 – 38,800 | 38,800 – 160,000 | 15k – 175k |
| Head / brain | 2,690 – 14,400 | 45,000 – 219,000 | 219,000 – 493,000 | 25k – 500k+ |
| Broken bone / fracture | 2,800 – 12,000 | 12,000 – 45,000 | 45,000 – 135,000 | 12k – 150k |
| Knee / leg | 2,800 – 14,500 | 14,500 – 47,800 | 47,800 – 159,000 | 15k – 180k |
| Psychological (PTSD) | 1,700 – 7,700 | 7,700 – 28,300 | 28,300 – 120,000 | 10k – 130k |
* UK whiplash minor/moderate up to 2 years is the fixed statutory tariff (£275–£4,830). All other figures are bracket-style estimates and rounded. Last updated .
Who pays a car accident claim?
In almost all cases the compensation is paid by the at-fault driver's motor insurer, not the driver personally — which is exactly why motor insurance is compulsory. If you were partly to blame, your award can be reduced for contributory negligence (for example, a percentage reduction for not wearing a seatbelt). If the other driver was uninsured or untraced, UK claims can be made through the Motor Insurers' Bureau; many US states have uninsured/underinsured motorist cover that does the same job.
How to use this car accident calculator
- Pick the main injury from the crash — if you have several, choose the most serious.
- Choose the severity that matches your medical prognosis and recovery time.
- Add any financial losses: lost earnings, treatment, and vehicle costs (repair, hire, excess).
- Switch the region toggle to UK £ or US $ and read the estimated total range.
The estimate is a realistic starting point, not a quote. For a precise valuation you need a medical report and a review of your losses — see our guide on how compensation is calculated and the whiplash tariff explained.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation will I get for a car accident?
It depends on your injuries and losses. In England & Wales, minor whiplash up to two years is a fixed tariff of £275–£4,830; more serious injuries are valued from the Judicial College Guidelines (a moderate back injury is roughly £12,500–£38,800) plus your financial losses. In the US, a soft-tissue car-accident claim commonly settles around $10,000–$30,000, with serious-injury cases worth far more depending on the state and policy limits.
What is the average car accident settlement?
There is no single average, because settlements track the injury. Minor crashes with soft-tissue injuries that recover within a year settle at the lower end of each bracket; crashes causing fractures, head injuries or permanent disability reach five or six figures. Use the calculator with your specific injury and losses rather than relying on a headline "average".
What can I claim for after a car accident?
General damages for the injury (pain, suffering and loss of amenity) plus special damages for your financial losses: lost earnings, medical and rehabilitation costs, care, travel, and vehicle-related costs such as repairs, hire and excess. Serious injuries can also include future losses like ongoing care or reduced earning capacity.
How long do I have to claim for a car accident?
In England & Wales the general limit is three years from the accident (or from when you knew the injury was accident-related), with different rules for children and people who lack capacity. In the US each state sets its own statute of limitations, commonly two to three years. Deadlines are strict, so check your jurisdiction early. See claim time limits.
Is a car accident the same as a road traffic accident claim?
A car accident is one type of road traffic accident (RTA); RTA claims also cover motorcyclists, cyclists, passengers and pedestrians. The valuation method is the same, but small UK whiplash claims under £5,000 in general damages usually go through the Official Injury Claim portal. See the road traffic accident calculator.
Related calculators & guides
Road traffic accident
All RTA claims — drivers, passengers, pedestrians — and how they are valued.
RTA calculator →Motorcycle accident
Why motorcyclist injuries are often more severe and how payouts reflect that.
Motorcycle calculator →How payouts are calculated
General vs special damages, severity, and the maths behind every estimate.
Read the guide →