Multiple Injury Claim Calculator: Compensation Payouts For Several Injuries In The Same Accident

In this article we explain what a multiple injury claim is; why you can only make one personal injury claim for each accident event no matter the number of injuries; how your solicitor calculates your compensation payouts for multiple injuries in the same accident, when your solicitor may instruct a barrister to help determine your final compensation payout.

What is a multiple injury claim?

You may suffer more than one injury in the same accident event.

For example:

1. In a car accident collision with another vehicle, you may suffer a broken leg, an injured back, a fractured skull and psychological injury.
2. In a workplace accident, you may have a fall from a ladder, resulting in a broken leg and a broken arm.

In both examples – you have experienced multiple injuries in one accident event, not just a single injury.

If someone is considered legally at fault for the accident that led to your multiply injuries (in example 1 – another vehicle driver and in example 2 – your employer), you will have a multiple injury claim for compensation from that individual or business and their respective insurer.

Can you make more than one claim for each type of personal injury in the same accident?

“No” – you can only make one personal injury claim for all of your injuries (plus financial loss and expense) caused in one accident event.

Once your personal injury claim is settled – it is typically settled in “full and final settlement” for all injuries and all losses.

This means that you cannot return for more compensation at a later time should your injuries worsen. It is not possible to claim twice.

In our earlier work accident example – your single personal injury claim would include your broken leg, your broken arm, any other physical injury, any psychological injury, lost income, medical expenses and all other financial losses.

See our jargon-buster definition of full and final settlement for more details

Can you claim more than one time for multiple injuries in different accidents?

“Yes” – each accident event leading to injury can give rise to a separate personal injury claim.

Watch out – if you suffer personal injury to the same body part in different accidents, you can only claim for the extent of the injury caused by each accident. If you suffer injury to different body parts in each accident – you can claim for the full extent of the injury (as they are different) in each personal injury claim.

For example:

1. Imagine having two car accidents 6 months apart – each causing back injury. A medical expert, instructed by your solicitor, will have to decide which accident caused which amount of back injury and each claim would reflect this. The second accident could be considered a novus actus interveniens – meaning that only 6 months symptoms could be associated to the first accident and the second accident would be considered responsible for all remaining symptoms.
2. Imagine again – two car accidents, 6 months apart. In the first car accident you suffered back injury and in the second a broken arm. Here your first personal injury claim would be for the back injury alone and the second personal injury claim for the broken arm.

How is your overall compensation payout calculated if you suffer multiple injuries?

Unfortunately, in the UK the amount of each of your injuries in the same accident event are not simply added together to give your overall compensation.

Generally, you look to the value for the worst injury and use any other injuries to push that injury to the higher end of its “value bracket”.

For example – if you had a back injury with pain for 3 years and minor post-traumatic stress.

Back injury with pain up to 5 years is worth compensation of £6,900 to £11,000 – known as its “value bracket”. Minor post-traumatic stress is worth compensation of £3,000 – £7,200.

To calculate the amount of compensation for all of your injuries – look at the largest value bracket of £6,900 – £11,000 and claim that the post-traumatic stress should push your compensation to the higher end of this bracket: the £11,000 figure.

Are there occasions when compensation amounts are added together for each injury?

Similar body parts

Some types of multiple injury of the same or similar body parts are already set by judicial guidance. The final compensation figure is effectively adding together compensation amounts.

For example – the amount of compensation for the loss of one leg (up to £137,500 in 2023) is more or less double the loss of two legs (up to £282,000 in 2023).

Distinctly different body parts

Some types of injury are distinctly different, for example a loss of an eye and the loss of a leg.

It can be in these instances that compensation for each loss is more accurately added to the loss of the other to give general damages.

In such instances – in addition to judicial guidance, your solicitor will rely on caselaw for similar accidents decided by the courts in the past to determine the compensation payout amount.

Can compensation for multiple injury be larger than the sum of the parts?

“Yes” – when it comes to pain and suffering for multiple injury, you may find that you can receive more than the addition of compensation for the injury to each body part.

Consider the loss of sight in one eye that is worth in 2023 up to £55,000, whereas the loss of sight in both eyes (total blindness) can be worth up to £180,000 in 2023.

The reason the compensation is so much higher for the loss of sight for two eyes is perhaps obvious. Total blindness will call vastly more pain and suffering and disability than the loss of sight in one eye alone.

You can continue to function more or less normally with sight in one eye – but total blindness will completely change your life.

When is a barrister necessary to help calculate your multiple injury claim payout?

When your multiple injury claim is large or involves serious injury to distinctly different body parts – your solicitor may instruct a barrister to assist in calculating the amount of compensation you can claim.

There are a number of possible ways the barrister will give an opinion as to your likely compensation payout.

Barrister’s written advice

A written advice – referring to case law and judicial guidance and giving the barrister’s reasoning for a potential payout settlement.

We recommend – you ask to see a copy of the barrister’s advice. This way you can be happy with the compensation valuation.

Conference with the barrister

The barrister may have a number of questions to ask you or prefer to meet you in person, with your solicitor present, to give an opinion on quantum (how much your claim is worth).

Watch out – this will be your chance to air any concerns, so go prepared with a list of questions and concerns.

Barrister requires additional information

Your barrister should be provided with all relevant evidence by your solicitor. Sometimes the barrister may feel the evidence is incomplete to allow a proper determination of a settlement sum.

Additional medical evidence may be required – such as, an addendum medical report or a further report from another medical expert (such as a psychological report).

The barrister will determine what further evidence is necessary to support your losses. Your barrister may request your solicitor acquire these before advising on your claim payout amount.

Summary

On this page you have seen how compensation for multiple injuries can be more or less than the sum of compensation payouts for individual injuries.

We recommend you see our compensation payouts index article. You will see compensation payout amounts for injuries to all manner of body part and psychological injury.

Free Specialist Solicitor Help

We understand that accidents involving multiple injuries can be traumatic and lead to an erosion of confidence. We also understand the mistrust in the legal profession.

This is why we offer a free online and telephone solicitor help service. You can discuss your claim direct with a solicitor and ask any questions you may have before deciding whether to proceed with a claim.