Your Questions Answered

Your questions answered

Find out if you have a claim - it's fast and easy!


    It’s natural to have questions - here are some answers

    If you have been involved in an accident, you could be entitled to compensation. You can claim for pain and suffering, loss of income, damaged possessions and any other expenses you have incurred as a result of the accident – such as physiotherapy costs.

    We have the legal expertise to advise on a vast range of accident types – including slips, trips and falls, accidents at work, road traffic accidents, cosmetic accidents and many more. And we will always connect you with a claim specialist who is experienced with accidents like yours.

    We totally understand that making a claim for compensation is likely to be a step into the unknown. That’s why we have made the process of claiming compensation as simple and straightforward as we can for you.

    Firstly our advice team will take a few details about what happened to you and talk through your available options. We will put you in touch with one of our panel solicitors who are experienced in accident claims like yours.

    Our solicitors offer a free consultation – with no obligation – and will let you know how they can help you. If your case is accepted and you want to go ahead, your solicitor will take care of the legal process of claiming compensation from start to finish – keeping you informed throughout every stage.

    Since 1999 we’ve successfully helped many thousands of people claim compensation for many different types of accident and injury claims. And we will do our best to make sure your claim is successful too.

    Compensation for an accident can range from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands of pounds. Sometimes even more. It all depends on what happened and how you were affected. Lots of factors come into play – including the severity of your injuries, the amount of income you have lost and the knock-on effects to your future lifestyle.

    The best way to find out how much your claim could be worth is to tell us what happened. Or to see some compensation amounts, try online compensation calculator. Whatever happens, we will seek to get the full compensation you deserve as quickly as we can – securing interim payments up front if possible. We are here for you.

    A no win, no fee agreement – also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) – is an agreement that you make with your chosen solicitor. This agreement will protect you financially and means that if your claim is unsuccessful, there will be no cost to you.

    You will only pay a fee if your claim is successful and this would be deducted from your compensation. Typically, customers pay a success fee of 25% of the amount awarded in compensation to cover their legal costs. This will be subject to your individual circumstances and may vary but will always be agreed with your solicitors upfront.

    Therefore there are no upfront costs and you will only pay a fee if you win your claim.

    You may be wondering where the money for a successful compensation claim comes from – especially if the person at fault for your accident is a friend, family member or your employer. In the vast majority of cases, compensation is covered by insurance policies – such as public liability or motor insurance. It’s extremely unlikely that any claim you make will put an individual or business into financial jeopardy – and we can clarify this with you up front if you are worried.

    Sometimes the cause of an accident can be complicated. In fact it’s relatively common for more than one party to be at fault. But even if you were partially to blame, you may still be able to claim compensation. It’s also not uncommon for the injured party to put an accident down to clumsiness or thoughtlessness, when in fact it may have been caused by insufficient safety measures. If you are unsure, the best thing to do is to tell us what happened. Our legal experts can give you clarity about where you stand and explain what your rights are.

    We understand that seeking compensation is something you have perhaps been putting off – especially if you have been focused on recovery. But it’s always best to start your claim as soon as you feel ready, while you can still recall the details of what happened. That way it will be easier for your solicitor to gather the evidence needed to put together a strong case. There are also certain legal timeframes within which you must start your claim. It doesn’t cost a penny to get in touch and tell us what happened. There’s a good chance we will be able to let you know whether you have a claim shortly after you reach out to us.

    To find out more about claiming compensation, call us now on freephone 0800 0511 511. We offer free help and guidance with your compensation claim – with no obligation.

    Why choose Accident Compensation Helpline?

    Maximum payouts

    Your claim will be handled by dedicated claim experts who will seek to recover the maximum compensation available to you.

    No win, no fee

    Our panel solicitors offer a no win, no fee service, meaning that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be charged.

    Interim payments

    In some cases, our solicitors may be able to secure interim payments for you while your claim is being processed.

    The Process

    Fast & Easy Application Process

    Simply call us or complete one of our contact forms. Our experienced and friendly advisors will take some details from you about the accident and will explain to you what happens next.

    We will put you in touch with specialist solicitors who are experienced in accident claims like yours. They will be happy to offer a free claim assessment and let you know how they can help.

    If your claim has a reasonable chance of success then it will be accepted and your solicitors will be there to take care of your claim every step of the way. It really can be as easy as that!

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        The UK's Accident Helpline Your personal Injury claim specialists

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          Find out if you have a claim, it's fast and easy!

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          What our customers say

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              How much could your claim be worth?

              Have you been injured in an accident in the last 3 years?
              Did the accident happen in the UK?
              Have you suffered financial losses such as loss of earnings?
              Where were you injured?

              Amounts are based on government 'Guidelines for assessment of general damages in personal injury cases'

              • Neck & Back Injuries
                • Minor neck injuries

                  Up to £10,420

                  Where a full recovery takes place within a period of about one to two years.

                • Moderate neck injuries

                  Up to £50,850

                  Injuries such as fractures or dislocations which cause severe immediate symptoms and which may necessitate spinal fusion.

                • Severe neck injuries

                  Up to £195,970

                  Neck injury associated with incomplete paraplegia or resulting in permanent spastic quadriparesis.

                • Minor back injury

                  Up to £16,520

                  Where a full recovery or a recovery to nuisance level takes place without surgery within about two to five years.

                • Moderate back injury

                  Up to £36,680

                  Many frequently encountered injuries to the back such as disturbance of ligaments and muscles giving rise to backache, soft tissue injuries resulting in a prolonged acceleration and / or exacerbation of a pre-existing back condition.

                • Severe back injury

                  Up to £212,670

                  Cases of the most severe injury involving damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to a combination of very serious consequences not normally found in cases of back injury.

              • Head Injuries
                • Minor brain or head injury

                  Up to £16,870

                  In these cases brain damage, if any, will have been minimal. The bottom of the bracket will reflect full recovery within a few weeks.

                • Less severe brain damage

                  Up to £56,890

                  Good recovery, able to return to work and social life, but persisting problems such as poor concentration or memory.

                • Moderate brain damage

                  Up to £289,420

                  This category is distinguished from the moderately severe category by the fact that the degree of dependence is markedly lower.

                • Moderately severe brain damage

                  Up to £372,570

                  The insured person will be very seriously disabled. There will be substantial dependence on others and a need for constant professional and other care.

                • Very severe brain damage

                  Up to £533,720

                  In cases at the top of this bracket there may be some ability to follow basic commands, recovery of eye opening and return of sleep and waking patterns and postural reflex movement.

              • Shoulder Injuries
                • Minor shoulder injury

                  Up to £10,420

                  Soft tissue injury to your shoulder with considerable pain but almost complete recovery within one to two years.

                • Moderate shoulder injury

                  Up to £25,370

                  Frozen shoulder with limitation of movement and discomfort with symptoms persisting for about two years. Also soft tissue injuries with more than minimal symptoms persisting after two years but not permanent.

                • Serious shoulder injury

                  Up to £25,370

                  Dislocation of the shoulder and damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus causing pain in shoulder and neck, aching in elbow, sensory symptoms in the forearm and hand, and weakness of grip or a fractured humerus leading to restricted shoulder movement.

                • Severe shoulder injury

                  Up to £63,450

                  Often associated with neck injuries and involving damage to the brachial plexus resulting in significant disability.

                • Fracture of clavicle

                  Up to £16,170

                  The level of the award will depend on extent of fracture, level of disability, residual symptoms, and whether temporary or permanent, and whether union is anatomically displaced.

              • Eye Injuries
                • Transient eye injury

                  Up to £5,220

                  In these cases the injured person will have recovered completely within a few weeks.

                • Minor eye injury

                  Up to £11,540

                  In this bracket fall cases of minor injuries, such as being struck in the eye, exposure to fumes including smoke, or being splashed by liquids, causing initial pain and some temporary interference with vision.

                • Moderate eye injury

                  Up to £27,720

                  Minor but permanent impairment of vision in one or both eyes, including cases where there is some double vision which may not be constant, and cases of permanent sensitivity to bright light.

                • Serious eye injury

                  Up to £51,990

                  Cases of serious but incomplete loss of vision in one eye without significant risk of loss or reduction of vision in the remaining eye, or where there is constant double vision.

                • Severe complete loss of sight in one eye

                  Up to £72,440

                  This award takes account of some risk of sympathetic ophthalmia.

                • Very severe total loss of one eye

                  Up to £86,820

                  The level of the award within the bracket will depend on age, psychiatric consequences, and cosmetic effect.

                • Very severe loss of sight in one eye with reduced vision in remaining eye

                  Up to £237,510

                  Where there is serious risk of further deterioration in the remaining eye, going beyond some risk of sympathetic ophthalmia.

                • Total blindness total blindness

                  In the region of £355,020

                  Total blindness in both eyes.

                • Total blindness & deafness total blindness and deafness

                  In the region of £533,720

                  Such cases must be considered as ranking with the most devastating injuries.

              • Hearing Loss
                • Slight hearing loss

                  Up to £9,260

                  Slight NIHL without tinnitus or slight tinnitus without NIHL.

                • Mild hearing loss

                  Up to £19,680

                  Mild tinnitus with some NIHL.

                • Moderate hearing loss

                  Up to £39,250

                  Moderate tinnitus and NIHL or moderate to severe tinnitus or NIHL alone.

                • Severe hearing loss

                  Up to £60,160

                  Severe tinnitus and NIHL.

                • Severe total loss of hearing in one ear

                  Up to £60,160

                  Cases will tend towards the higher end of the bracket where there are associated problems, such as tinnitus, dizziness or headaches.

                • Very severe total deafness

                  Up to £144,860

                  The lower end of the bracket is appropriate for cases where there is no speech deficit or tinnitus. The higher end is appropriate for cases involving both of these.

                • Very severe total deafness and loss of speech

                  Up to £185,840

                  Such cases arise, for example, where deafness has occurred at an early age so as to prevent or seriously affect the development of normal speech.

              • Facial Injuries
                • Minor fractures of nose or nasal complex

                  Up to £3,330

                  Simple undisplaced fracture with full recovery.

                • Minor fractures of nose or nasal complex

                  Up to £6,740

                  Displaced fracture where recovery is complete but only after surgery.

                • Moderate fractures of cheekbones

                  Up to £20,850

                  Serious fractures requiring surgery but with lasting consequences such as paraesthesia in the cheeks or the lips or some element of disfigurement.

                • Moderate fractures of jaws

                  Up to £40,280

                  Serious fracture with permanent consequences such as difficulty in opening the mouth or with eating or where there is paraesthesia in the area of the jaw.

                • Severe fractures of jaws

                  Up to £60,160

                  Very serious multiple fractures followed by prolonged treatment and permanent consequences, including severe pain, restriction in eating, paraesthesia, and/or the risk of arthritis in the joints.

                • Moderate damage to teeth

                  Up to £15,080

                  Loss of or serious damage to several front teeth.

                • Minor facial disfigurement

                  Up to £4,670

                  Trivial scarring where the effect is minor only.

                • Moderate facial disfigurement

                  Up to £18,150

                  Less significant scarring where there may be but one scar or several very small scars which mar but do not markedly affect appearance.

                • Serious facial disfigurement

                  Up to £39,750

                  Significant scarring where the worst effects have been or will be reduced by plastic surgery leaving some cosmetic disability.

                • Severe facial disfigurement

                  Up to £63,970

                  Less severe scarring where the disfigurement is still substantial and where there is a significant psychological reaction.

                • Very severe facial disfigurement

                  Up to £128,590

                  Very severe scarring in relatively young claimants where the cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the psychological reaction severe.

              • Arm Injuries
                • Severe loss of both arms

                  Up to £396,340

                  The effect of such an injury is to reduce a person with full awareness to a state of considerable helplessness.

                • Severe loss of one arm

                  Up to £181,200

                  Arm amputated at the shoulder.

                • Severe above-elbow amputation

                  Up to £172,970

                  A shorter stump may create difficulties in the use of a prosthesis. Amputation through the elbow will normally produce an award at the bottom end of the bracket.

                • Severe below-elbow amputation

                  Up to £144,860

                  Amputation through the forearm with residual severe organic and phantom pains would attract an award at the top end of the bracket.

                • Less severe injury arm injury

                  Up to £47,810

                  While there will have been significant disabilities, a substantial degree of recovery will have taken place or will be expected.

                • Moderate simple fractures

                  Up to £23,430

                  Simple Fractures of the Forearm.

              • Elbow Injuries
                • Severe elbow injury

                  Up to £72,440

                  A Severely Disabling Injury.

                • Less severe injuries elbow injury

                  Up to £42,290

                  Injuries causing impairment of function but not involving major surgery or significant disability.

                • Moderate or minor injury elbow injury

                  Up to £16,640

                  Most elbow injuries fall into this category. They comprise simple fractures, tennis elbow syndrome and lacerations; i.e., those injuries which cause no permanent damage and do not result in any permanent impairment of function.

              • Wrist Injuries
                • Very minor wrist injuries

                  Up to £6,270

                  Undisplaced or minimal displaced fractures and soft tissue injuries necessitating application of plaster or bandage for a matter of weeks and a full or virtual recovery within up to 12 months or so.

                • Less severe injuries wrist injuries

                  Up to £32,370

                  Where these still result in some permanent disability as, for example, a degree of persisting pain and stiffness.

                • Severe wrist injuries

                  Up to £79,080

                  Injuries resulting in complete loss of function in the wrist, for example, where an arthrodesis has been performed.

              • Hand / Finger Injuries
                • Severe total or effective loss of both hands

                  Up to £266,200

                  Serious injury resulting in extensive damage to both hands such as to render them little more than useless.

                • Severe total or effective loss of one hand

                  Up to £144,860

                  This bracket will apply to a hand which was crushed and thereafter surgically amputated or where all fingers and most of the palm have been traumatically amputated.

                • Serious damage to both hands

                  Up to £111,730

                  Such injuries will have given rise to permanent cosmetic disability and significant loss of function.

                • Severe loss of thumb

                  Up to £72,440

                  Loss of Thumb.

                • Serious serious injury to thumb

                  Up to £22,150

                  Such injuries may involve amputation of the tip, nerve damage or fracture necessitating the insertion of wires as a result of which the thumb is cold and ultra-sensitive and there is impaired grip and loss of manual dexterity.

                • Moderate moderate injuries to thumb

                  Up to £16,640

                  These are injuries such as those necessitating arthrodesis of the interphalangeal joint or causing damage to tendons or nerves.

                • Severe hand injuries

                  Up to £25,890

                  Total Loss of Index Finger.

                • Moderate hand injury

                  Up to £22,150

                  Crush injuries, penetrating wounds, soft tissue type and deep lacerations. The top of the bracket would be appropriate where surgery has failed and permanent disability remains. The bottom of the bracket would be appropriate for permanent but non-intrusive symptoms.

                • Minor minor hand, finger and thumb injuries

                  Up to £6,280

                  This will include fractures which generally have recovered in six months. Also injuries such as scarring, tenderness, and reaction to the cold where there is full recovery.

              • Hip / Pelvis Injury
                • Severe hip / pelvis injury

                  Up to £172,970

                  Extensive fractures of the pelvis involving, for example, dislocation of a low back joint and a reputed bladder, or a hip injury resulting in spondylolisthesis of a low back joint with intolerable pain and necessitating spinal fusion.

                • Moderate hip / pelvis injury

                  Up to £51,750

                  Significant injury to the pelvis or hip but any permanent disability is not major and any future risk not great.

                • Lesser injuries hip / pelvis injury

                  Up to £16,640

                  Cases where despite significant injury there is little or no residual disability. Where there has been a complete recovery within two years, the award may but is unlikely to exceed the mid-point in the range.

              • Leg Injuries
                • Severe loss of both legs

                  Up to £372,570

                  This is the appropriate award where both legs are lost above the knee or one leg has been lost above the knee at a high level and the other leg has been lost below the knee.

                • Severe below-knee amputation of both legs

                  Up to £356,840

                  The level of the amputations will be important, with an award at the top of the bracket appropriate where both legs are amputated just below the knee.

                • Above-knee amputation of one leg

                  Up to £181,610

                  The award will depend upon such factors as the level of the amputation; the severity of any phantom pains; associated psychological problems; the success of any prosthetics; any side effects such as backache and the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the remaining joints of both lower limbs or in the hips and spine.

                • Severe below-knee amputation of one leg

                  Up to £175,690

                  The straightforward case of a below-knee amputation with no complications would justify an award towards the bottom of this bracket. At or towards the top of the range would come the traumatic amputation which occurs in a devastating accident.

                • Severe most serious leg injuries short of amputation

                  Up to £179,560

                  Some injuries, although not involving amputation, are so severe that the courts have awarded damages at a similar level. Such injuries would include extensive degloving of the leg, where there is gross shortening of the leg, or where fractures have not united and extensive bone grafting has been undertaken.

                • Severe very serious leg injuries

                  Up to £117,210

                  Injuries leading to permanent problems with mobility, the need for crutches or mobility aids for the remainder of the injured person's life; injuries where multiple fractures have taken years to heal, required extensive treatment, and have led to serious deformity and limitation of movement, or where arthritis has developed in a joint so that further surgical treatment is likely.

                • Severe leg injury

                  Up to £72,440

                  Serious compound or comminuted fractures or injuries to joints or ligaments resulting in instability, prolonged treatment, a lengthy period of non-weight-bearing, the near certainty that arthritis will ensue; extensive scarring. To justify an award within this bracket a combination of such features will generally be necessary.

                • Moderate leg injury

                  Up to £51,790

                  This bracket includes complicated or multiple fractures or severe crushing injuries, generally to a single limb.

                • Moderate leg injury

                  Up to £36,680

                  Fractures from which an incomplete recovery is made or serious soft tissue injuries.

                • Less severe leg injuries

                  Up to £18,600

                  Simple fracture of a femur with no damage to articular surfaces.

              • Knee Injuries
                • Severe knee injury

                  Up to £127,110

                  Serious knee injury where there has been disruption of the joint, the development of osteoarthritis, gross ligamentous damage, lengthy treatment, considerable pain and loss of function, an arthroplasty or arthrodesis has taken place or is inevitable.

                • Severe knee injury

                  Up to £92,130

                  Leg fracture extending into the knee joint causing pain which is constant, permanent, limiting movement or impairing agility, and rendering the injured person prone to osteoarthritis and at risk of arthroplasty.

                • Severe knee injury

                  Up to £57,410

                  Less severe injuries than those above and/or injuries which result in less severe disability. There may be continuing symptoms by way of pain and discomfort and limitation of movement or instability or deformity.

                • Moderate knee injury

                  Up to £34,600

                  Injuries involving dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus which results in minor instability, wasting, weakness, or other mild future disability. This bracket also includes injuries which accelerate symptoms from a pre-existing condition over a prolonged period of years.

                • Moderate knee injury

                  Up to £19,610

                  Injuries similar to those above but less serious and involving shorter periods of acceleration or exacerbation, and also lacerations, twisting, or bruising injuries. Where there is continuous aching or discomfort, or occasional pain, the award will be towards the upper end of the bracket. A soft tissue strain-type injury that does not significantly impact on daily activities and gradually resolves within six to seven months might be expected to attract an award in the region of £2,980.

              • Ankle Injuries
                • Very severe ankle injury

                  Up to £92,090

                  Examples of injuries falling within this bracket are limited and unusual. They include cases of a transmalleolar fracture of the ankle with extensive soft-tissue damage resulting in deformity and the risk that any future injury to the leg might necessitate a below-knee amputation, or cases of bilateral ankle fractures causing degeneration of the joints at a young age so that arthrodesis is necessary.

                • Severe ankle injury

                  Up to £66,140

                  Injuries necessitating an extensive period of treatment and/or a lengthy period in plaster or where pins and plates have been inserted and there is significant residual disability in the form of ankle instability and severely limited ability to walk.

                • Moderate ankle injury

                  Up to £35,130

                  Fractures, ligamentous tears and the like which give rise to less serious disabilities such as difficulty in walking on uneven ground, difficulty standing or walking for long periods of time, awkwardness on stairs, irritation from metal plates and residual scarring.

                • Modest injuries ankle injury

                  Up to £18,150

                  The less serious, minor or undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligamentous injuries. Where recovery is complete without any ongoing symptoms or scarring, the award is unlikely to exceed £10,170. Where recovery is complete within a year, the award is unlikely to exceed £7,270.

              • Toe Injuries
                • Severe amputation of all toes

                  Up to £74,090

                  The position within the bracket will be determined by, for example, whether or not the amputation was traumatic or surgical and the extent of the loss of the forefoot together with the residual effects on mobility.

                • Severe toe injury

                  Up to £41,370

                  Amputation of the Great Toe

                • Severe severe toe injuries

                  Up to £27,830

                  This is the appropriate bracket for severe crush injuries, leading to amputation of one or two toes (other than the great toe) or falling short of the need for amputation or necessitating only partial amputation. It also includes bursting wounds and injuries resulting in severe damage and in any event producing significant continuing symptoms.

                • Serious serious toe injuries

                  Up to £18,150

                  Such injuries will be serious injuries to the great toe or crush and multiple fractures of two or more toes. There will be some permanent disability by way of discomfort, pain, or sensitive scarring to justify an award within this bracket.

                • Moderate toe injuries

                  Up to £12,690

                  These injuries include relatively straightforward fractures or the exacerbation of a pre-existing degenerative condition or laceration injuries to one or more toes. Cases involving prolonged minor symptoms and/or the need for surgery resulting in prolonged discomfort and permanent scarring are likely to justify awards towards the upper end of this bracket. Only £7,380 or less would be awarded for straightforward fractures or crushing/soft tissue injuries of one or more toes with complete resolution or near complete resolution.

              • Hair Damage
                • Moderate hair / scalp injuries

                  Up to £14,560

                  Damage to hair in consequence of defective permanent waving, tinting, or the like, where the effects are dermatitis, eczema or tingling or 'burning' of the scalp causing dry, brittle hair, which breaks off and/or falls out, leading to distress, depression, embarrassment and loss of confidence, and inhibiting social life.

                • Minor hair / scalp injuries

                  Up to £9,700

                  Less serious versions of the above where symptoms are fewer or only of a minor character; also, cases where hair has been pulled out leaving bald patches.

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                Have you been injured in an accident?

                Was the accident in the last 3 years?

                Was the accident in the UK?

                By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by Accident Compensation Helpline. There is no obligation to use our service.

                  Find out if you have a claim, it's fast and easy!

                  By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by Accident Compensation Helpline.

                  There is no obligation to use our service.

                    Start Your Claim

                    Fill in your details below to start a claim – with no obligation!

                    Or simply call us now on freephone

                    0800 0511 511

                      Find out if you have a claim

                      Request a free claim assessment - with no obligation to use our service.

                      Or if you would like to speak with our friendly advisors right now – call us free on

                      0800 0511 511

                        Find out if you have a claim

                        Request a free claim assessment - with no obligation to use our service.

                        Or if you would like to speak with our friendly advisors right now – call us free on

                        0800 0511 511

                          Are you entitled to compensation?

                          Fill in your details below for free advice – with no obligation

                          Or to speak with our friendly advisors right now - simply call

                          0800 0511 511