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Last Updated 4th November 2025. The average payout for nerve damage in a car accident can be reached by adding up the total payouts for a particular year and dividing by the overall number of claims made. Generally, payouts can be influenced by the severity of your injuries, the extent to which they impact day-to-day activities, and whether there are associated financial losses. As you’ll see in our case study, payouts can reach over £100,000 in cases where there is serious nerve damage and out-of-pocket costs.
This article lays out all the fundamental parts of a personal injury compensation claim to help you make a more informed choice about claiming. We discuss time limits for starting a claim and explain the two main areas of compensation that can apply. Also, we explain how to bring a case on behalf of others. As well as what evidence can help.
The final sections describe the many advantages of appointing a solicitor from our panel to handle everything, making claiming compensation for nerve damage much easier. Road traffic accidents can devastate the lives of those affected, and compensation for nerve damage could help you face the future.
Select A Section
- Am I Eligible To Claim For Nerve Damage After A Car Accident?
- Case Study: £115,000 Compensation For Nerve Damage
- Average Payouts For Nerve Damage After A Car Accident
- Can I Make A Nerve Damage Claim If I Was Partly Responsible For My Accident?
- Can I Claim On The Behalf Of Somebody Else?
- How To Start Your Nerve Damage Claim
- How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Information
Am I Eligible To Claim For Nerve Damage After A Car Accident?
In the UK, everyone who uses the roads and highways owes a duty of care to the safety of other users. They should avoid causing injury and damage by navigating the roads with care and diligence. To meet this care duty fully, they must adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Highway Code rules and obligations.
After the turmoil of a car accident, you may doubt whether a compensation claim can be made. To help clarify this for you, three criteria need to be met to move forward:
- Did the road user involved owe you a duty of care at the moment of your injury?
- Did they breach it?
- Were your injuries a direct result of this?
If you can answer ‘yes’ to all three points, you could be eligible to start a successful personal injury claim for nerve injury compensation. To be doubly sure, why not call our advisors for a free, no-obligation case check?
Can I Claim For Sciatica Caused By An Accident?
The NHS defines sciatica as radiating pain or pressure often caused by pinching or trapping the sciatic nerve, the longest continuous nerve in the body. A back or neck injury can, therefore, result in transferred pain anywhere along the limbs. Serious sciatica can be a prolonged and acutely painful condition that greatly impacts a person’s mobility and normal functioning.
If you have medical evidence that draws a connection between the accident you suffered and the sciatica you are now experiencing, you could have grounds to seek injury compensation. Call our team for personalised guidance.
Case Study: £115,000 Compensation For Nerve Damage
Mr F was stopped at a set of traffic lights when a speeding vehicle crashed into the back of his car in a rear-end collision. The crash caused significant nerve damage to his right side brachial plexus, leading to a loss of sensation and functional impairment in both his hand and elbow.
His arm injury left him unable to work for several months, and he was only able to return to his job at a reduced capacity. Mr F also required extensive physiotherapy for 2 years and had to install handrails in his home, the costs for which amounted to a considerable sum.
Subsequently, Mr F contacted a solicitor who conducted a careful calculation of both his physical injuries and the losses he sustained. His solicitor helped him gather sufficient evidence to support his claim, which was settled with a payout of £100,000. This was broken down into the following components:
- Nerve damage in the shoulder and associated loss of sensation in the arm: £65,000.
- Loss of earnings: £40,000.
- Home modifications: £3,000.
- Private physiotherapy: £7,000.
This case study is illustrative, but you can talk to our advisors today for further information on how compensation is calculated, as well as to get a free eligibility check.
Average Payouts For Nerve Damage After A Car Accident
The average amount of compensation awarded in personal injury claims is not of much value to you, as compensation amounts always differ from person to person. For a more reliable idea of what damages could be owed, it’s best to consult with a specialist solicitor. They could identify important parts of your claim that increase any ultimate compensation owed to you. Call and discuss your nerve damage claim to learn more.
How Claims Are Calculated
Typically, the claims calculation process looks at two categories called general and special damages. General damages apply a fiscal value to the physical suffering and pain caused. It also evaluates psychological damage and the overall impact on the quality of the person’s life after injury. As well as whether they were left with any permanent disabilities.
The team involved in calculating general damages frequently look at medical evidence that has been presented. Also, they might refer to documents like the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). In here can be found guideline brackets of compensation for various injuries based on their severity.
Compensation Guidelines
| INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries and Financial Losses | The Most Serious | Up to £300,000 or more | Multiple injuries of a serious nature and financial losses such as lost earnings. |
| Back | (a) Severe (i) | £111,150 up to £196,450 | Unusual and very serious damage to spinal cord and nerve roots, creating severe pain and disabilities. |
| (a) Severe (ii) | £90,510 up to £107,910 | Nerve root injury that prompts a loss of sensation and impaired mobility or bladder function. | |
| (b) Moderate (i) | £33,880 up to £47,320 | This bracket covers a wide range of injuries including cases of crush or compression that could trap nerves. | |
| Shoulder | (a) Severe | £23,430 up to £58,610 | Injuries that often involve the large nerve network in the brachial plexus. |
| Leg | (c) Less Serious (i) | £21,920 up to £33,880 | Soft tissue injuries are often valued in this bracket which can include nerve damage. |
| Thumb | Serious (t) | £15,370 to £20,460 | Bracket includes fractures that require wires to be inserted and other nerve damage issues. |
| Cheekbone | Serious (i) | £12,450 to £19,260 | Cases where surgery is called for and there can be permanent damage to facial nerves. |
| Whiplash | With 1 or More Minor Psychological Injuries | £4,345 | Symptoms persisting between 18 - 24 months |
| Whiplash | 1 or More Whiplash Injuries | £4,215 | Symptoms persisting between 18 - 24 months |
Importantly, the entries are intended as a guide only. As stated, any compensation amounts made for nerve injuries will differ. Also, the initial entry is not from the JCG. Furthermore, the last two entries are from the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 tariff, which applies to certain whiplash and soft tissue injuries valued at under £5,000 and is dealt with in accordance with the Whiplash Reform Programme.
If you have suffered whiplash and nerve damage in a road traffic accident, you can reach out to an advisor to see how your case would be handled by one of the solicitors from our panel.
Special Damages And How They Affect Your Claim
In addition to general damages, the financial harm caused can be included under special damages. To present a claim for financial loss, you will need to present evidence. This could be the following:
- Payslips that prove how your income suffered after the injury.
- Receipts for sums paid to others for care at home.
- Tickets and receipts for the expense of travel to appointments.
- Medical bills for private care.
- Prescription charges.
- The receipts or invoices that prove costs related to modifications needed at home (like grab rails or a hoist).
A skilled solicitor from our panel can assist you in gathering evidence of financial loss. In their capable hands, a much more complete amount of compensation can be calculated. Call to see how they can assist you.
Can I Make A Nerve Damage Claim If I Was Partly Responsible For My Accident?
Yes. In cases of split liability (split fault), you might still be entitled to a reduced percentage of the total compensation amount. For example, if the courts deemed that you were 35% responsible for the accident, you might receive 65% of the applicable amount normally made for injuries like those.
You could also be found to have contributed to your injuries, which is called contributory negligence. Similarly, in these cases, damages can be reduced by a percentage.
Our team are happy to discuss this further to help if you think you may have partially caused your accident.
Can I Claim On The Behalf Of Somebody Else?
You can start a compensation claim on behalf of two groups if the courts agree and allocate you as their litigation friend:
- Minors under 18.
- People with insufficient mental capacity.
A litigation friend can initiate a claim immediately. This is particularly useful if the person requires emergency medical equipment or is facing an influx of associated expenses. Call to discuss claiming on behalf of others for nerve damage.
How To Start Your Nerve Damage Claim
In the next subheadings, we look at the basic actions you can take to start your nerve damage claim for compensation:
Finding The Evidence To Support Your Claim
Evidence is essential for personal injury compensation claims. It needs to show that the other person breached the duty of care owed to you and that this caused your nerve damage. With this in mind, the following is useful:
- Roadside CCTV, dashcam or helmet cam film of the accident.
- The contact details of any others who saw the accident. A solicitor is often able to approach these eyewitnesses after the claim has been started to obtain a supporting statement.
- Duplicates of your medical records.
- Photos of any visible injuries.
- The registration number of the vehicle involved.
- Proof of prescription painkillers.
Time Limits – How Long You Have To Claim
Under the terms of the Limitation Act 1980, the standard time limit is paused for minors until they turn 18 and frozen completely for people lacking mental capacity. As we discussed above, a litigation friend can step in and handle the claim.
Alternatively, the minor has 3 years to commence an action themselves from the date they become 18. Likewise, the three-year time limit starts from the date that the mentally incapacitated person regains their ability to claim themselves. Call if you’d like a deeper explanation of the time limits to claim nerve damage compensation.
Considering A No Win No Fee Agreement
Many people consider seeking legal help at this point, although you can bring a nerve damage case yourself. The solicitors on our panel offer a way for eligible claimants to begin their case under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a particular type of No Win No Fee contract. Not every solicitor offers this type of arrangement, but the advantages to the claimant are numerous. Under a CFA, you can expect:
- No upfront solicitor fees to pay.
- No solicitor fees to pay while the claim progresses.
- No solicitor fees to pay for finished services if the claim fails.
- In fact, the only time you need to pay solicitor fees is if the claim wins. Then, a percentage is deducted from the compensation to act as a ‘success fee’ for the solicitors.
- Success fee percentages are capped by law, so the person claiming can be confident that they will receive most of their compensation in a successful outcome.
How Long It Can Take To Receive Compensation
Rather like the misleading idea of there being an average payout for nerve damage after a car accident in the UK, there is no set time frame to receive compensation. Although a claim must start within three years, once begun, there is no deadline. Certain variables can influence how long it takes, such as:
- The complexity of the nerve damage.
- The duration of recovery.
- Whether the defendant disputes liability.
A solicitor from our panel can guide eligible claimants through these obstacles. Why not connect to see if they could handle your nerve injury claim?
How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
It isn’t a legal necessity to claim using a solicitor. However, the benefits of consulting with an expert could mean that you have a greater chance of winning your case. The solicitors on our panel provide clients with a raft of excellent services:
- They will work tirelessly to obtain you the highest compensation award.
- Explain legal terminology and give you regular updates on where your claim is at.
- Attend to all correspondence with the other side.
- Meet deadlines for documents and evidence.
- Present your claim with the utmost professionalism at all times.
If you’d like to benefit from advantages like these, why not get in touch? A solicitor from our panel could handle your nerve injury claim today. Simply:
- Start a nerve damage injury claim for compensation on our contact page
- Ring our team on: 0333 000 0729
- Message us via our discussion window below to see how much compensation you could be owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to provide quick answers regarding compensation for nerve damage resulting from a car accident.
How Much Compensation For Nerve Damage In The UK?
In the UK, how much compensation for nerve damage someone might receive is determined by 2 types of damages: general damages (covering the physical and psychological harm itself, as well as the effect on quality of life) and special damages (the financial impact of an injury, such as a loss of earnings, medical bills, and other costs). According to suggested compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines, the most severe damage to nerve roots and the spinal cord may lead to a payout of between £111,150 and £196,450.
How Much Is Nerve Damage Worth In A Car Accident?
Generally, how much nerve damage caused by a car accident is worth will depend on the severity of the injury, its long-term consequences, and whether it leads to financial losses. For instance, a payout would factor in the difference between temporary sensation loss in your hands and permanent nerve root damage in the spinal column.
How Do You Prove Nerve Damage In A Car Accident?
You can prove that you suffered nerve damage in a car accident primarily using medical records, including diagnostic tests performed by a specialist neurologist, imaging scans, and notes on the treatment that you’ve received. Additionally, CCTV and dashcam footage can be used as visual evidence of the circumstances which led to the accident and your injuries.
How Much Do You Get Paid For Nerve Damage?
How much you’ll get paid for nerve damage will depend on the nature and overall impact of the injury sustained (general damages) and the financial harm this resulted in (special damages). Damage to nerves can significantly impact your mobility and ability to work, potentially leading to lost income and out-of-pocket expenses related to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and private medical treatments.
More Helpful Information
As well as this guide on the average payout for nerve damage after a car accident in the UK, some related topics are discussed here:
- This guide looks in more detail if you suffered nerve damage and want to claim.
- Here, we look at road traffic accident FAQs.
- Also, this guide explains if you have a valid claim for whiplash injuries.
External resources to help:
- Further information about a type of nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) from the NHS.
- In addition to this, information from the NHS on whiplash.
Hopefully, this guide on the average payout for UK car accident nerve damage has helped. Please connect with the team for any more guidance on how to claim nerve damage compensation.
