Road traffic accident compensation calculator
Estimate what your road traffic accident claim could be worth — for drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. Compensation (UK £) or settlement (US $), built on published Judicial College bracket figures and the official whiplash tariff.
Road Traffic 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 road traffic accident claim covers
A road traffic accident (RTA) claim is the umbrella that sits above every kind of road-collision compensation. Whether you were a driver, a passenger, a motorcyclist, a cyclist or a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, the way your injury is valued is the same. People often search for a single "average RTA payout", but settlements are never one round number — they are built from two clearly defined parts, and once you understand them you can sense-check any figure an insurer or calculator gives you.
General damages — the injury itself
General damages compensate you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the accident — 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 major exception: it is paid under a fixed statutory tariff set by the Ministry of Justice rather than the JCG. In the US there is no national table, so typical published settlement ranges are used for each injury class.
Special damages — your financial losses
On top of the injury value you can usually recover the money you actually lost because of the crash: lost earnings while you could not work, medical treatment and physiotherapy, care and assistance, and travel to appointments. Road accidents also bring vehicle-related costs — repair or write-off, hire-car charges, helmet or gear replacement, and your insurance excess — which all belong in the special-damages total. Serious injuries add future losses such as ongoing care or reduced earning capacity.
Road traffic accident compensation amounts by injury
The table below shows indicative general-damages ranges for the injuries most often seen after a road traffic accident. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, vehicle and travel 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 .
Contributory negligence and who pays
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: a passenger or driver not wearing a seatbelt, or a motorcyclist not wearing a helmet, typically faces a percentage reduction. If the driver who hurt you was uninsured or untraced, UK claims can be made through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB); many US states provide uninsured/underinsured motorist cover that performs the same job.
How to use this road traffic accident calculator
- Pick the main injury from the accident — 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 or travel costs.
- Switch the region toggle to UK £ or US $ and read your 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 guides on how compensation is calculated and the whiplash tariff explained, or read the difference between general and special damages.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a road traffic accident claim worth?
It depends on your injury 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 road-accident claim commonly settles around $10,000–$30,000, with serious-injury cases worth far more depending on the state and policy limits.
What counts as a road traffic accident?
A road traffic accident is any collision or incident involving a vehicle on a road or public place. It covers drivers and passengers, motorcyclists and pillion passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians struck by a vehicle. The injury is valued the same way for every road user, although who you claim against and which process you use can differ. See our car accident calculator for the most common case.
Do small whiplash claims go through the Official Injury Claim portal?
In England & Wales, most driver and passenger claims where the injury is whiplash and the general-damages value is under £5,000 must be started through the government's Official Injury Claim portal, which applies the fixed whiplash tariff. Claims worth more, or some involving vulnerable road users, may follow a different route, but the way the injury is valued does not change.
Who pays if the other driver was uninsured (MIB)?
If you are injured by an uninsured or hit-and-run (untraced) driver in the UK, you can usually claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which compensates victims where no valid insurer can be identified. In the US, uninsured or underinsured motorist cover on your own policy performs a similar role. The compensation is valued in the same way as any other road-accident claim.
How long do I have to make a road traffic accident claim?
In England & Wales the general limit is three years from the accident, or from when you first 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.
Related calculators & guides
Car accident
The most common RTA claim — drivers and passengers, and how it is valued.
Car accident calculator →Motorcycle accident
Why motorcyclist injuries are often more severe and how payouts reflect that.
Motorcycle calculator →Cycling accident
Cyclists hurt by drivers or road defects — and how to value the claim.
Cycling calculator →