Whiplash Claim Payouts For Road Accidents Between 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025 And From 31 May 2025 Onwards
On the 31 May 2021 some sweeping reforms came into effect for road traffic accident claims – introducing a fixed compensation tariff for whiplash claim payouts. The tariff sets out the exact figures for how much compensation you can recover for whiplash injuries in a road accident.
Tariff Revision For Road Accident Whiplash In Accidents From 31 May 2025
The whiplash payout tariff applies to all accidents from 31 May 2025. However, the tariff was increased for road accidents occurring on or after 31 May 2025.
In this article – you will learn:
- What the whiplash tariff is.
- The compensation payout amounts you can claim for various types of whiplash injury.
- The extension of the definition of a whiplash injury to include neck, back, shoulder. and minor psychological injury
- The introduction of minor psychological injury to the whiplash tariff.
- The types of road accident that are covered by the whiplash payout scheme..
- The medical evidence necessary to prove the extent of your whiplash injury i
Table Of Contents – Jump To The Section Of Interest
- Whiplash Claim Payouts For Road Accidents Between 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025 And From 31 May 2025 Onwards
- Table Of Contents – Jump To The Section Of Interest
- Payout Tables Updated 2025 For Average Whiplash Compensation
- Whiplash Payouts Table 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
- Whiplash Payouts Table – 31 May 2025 Onwards
- FAQ – Interpretation Of Whiplash Tariff Payouts
- What is the road traffic accident tariff for whiplash claim payout amounts?
- What is classed as a whiplash injury for the RTA whiplash tariff to apply?
- What types of road accident claim are included in the whiplash tariff?
- What if your whiplash injury is not caused in a road accident?
- What if your road accident occurred in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
- Calculating compensation payout sums for whiplash in England and Wales from 31 May 2021
- Whiplash In A RTA Lasting For Up To 3 Months
- Road Accident Whiplash With Symptoms Lasting Between 3 & 6 Months
- Symptoms Of Neck, Back Or Shoulder Lasting Between 6 Months – 9 Months
- Whiplash Injuries With Symptoms Lasting Between 9 Months and 12 Months
- Road Accident Whiplash To Neck, Back Or Shoulder Lasting Between 12 Months – 15 Months
- RTC Whiplash With Symptoms Lasting Between 15 & 18 months
- Compensation For Whiplash With Symptoms From 18 Months to 24 Months
- How much will your whiplash claim be worth for symptoms over 24 months?
- How do prove the amount of time you have suffered your symptoms of whiplash?
- Whiplash Claim Payout Summary And Next Steps
Payout Tables Updated 2025 For Average Whiplash Compensation
The following whiplash payout tables do not apply to road accidents occurring before 31 May 2021.
In addition, whiplash injuries experienced in other types of accidents no matter the date are calculated on a different basis. For example – work accidents, shop slips and trips, etc.
See our neck injury claims article whiplash payouts and neck injury in these other types of accident.
Whiplash Payouts Table 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
| WHIPLASH SEVERITY (Symptom Duration) | PAYOUT AMOUNT (Accidents Between 31.05.2021 – 30 May 2025) | PAYOUT AMOUNT + Minor Psychological |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 months | £240 | £260 |
| More than 3 months – 6 months | £495 | £520 |
| More than 6 months – 9 months | £840 | £895 |
| More than 9 months – 12 months | £1,320 | £1,390 |
| More than 12 months – 15 months | £2,040 | £2,125 |
| More than 15 months – 18 months | £3,005 | £3,100 |
| More than 18 months – 24 months | £4,125 | £4,345 |
Whiplash Payouts Table – 31 May 2025 Onwards
| WHIPLASH SEVERITY (Symptom Duration) | PAYOUT AMOUNT (Accidents From 31 May 2025) | PAYOUT AMOUNT + Minor Psychological |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 months | £275 | £300 |
| More than 3 months – 6 months | £565 | £595 |
| More than 6 months – 9 months | £965 | £1,025 |
| More than 9 months – 12 months | £1,510 | £1,595 |
| More than 12 months – 15 months | £2,335 | £2,435 |
| More than 15 months – 18 months | £3,445 | £3,550 |
| More than 18 months – 24 months | £4,830 | £4,975 |
FAQ – Interpretation Of Whiplash Tariff Payouts
Q: What tariff payout will I receive if my whiplash duration is on the border of two different tariff levels?
A: This a common question and we believe it is best to use an example to illustrate. Imagine you are given a time estimate of 6 months of whiplash symptoms from the medical expert as part of your road accident claim. Will this fall within the 3 - 6 months tariff payout or the 6 - 9 months tariff payout? Unfortunately - this will fall within the 3 - 6months tariff payout. The reason being that the tariff expressly states that 3- 6 months is more than three months (so 3 months and 1 day onwards) and up to and including 6 months. The next tariff level is 6 months and 1 day onwards, etc.
What is the road traffic accident tariff for whiplash claim payout amounts?
The road traffic accident whiplash claim payout tariff is a set of fixed compensation amounts decided by the government for whiplash injuries.
For the whiplash tariff to apply:
- Your whiplash injuries must be suffered in a road accident.
- Your whiplash symptoms must last up to 2 years. Anything beyond two years and you will receive compensation in accordance with the general principle for neck injuries.
Whiplash Payouts In Other Types Of Accident Are Calculated Differently
If your injury is not experienced in a road accident – such as in an accident at work or a highway trip and slip, then the sums you will recover will be determined in a more generous way by caselaw and judicial guidance. See our neck injury claim article for further details.
What is classed as a whiplash injury for the RTA whiplash tariff to apply?
To allow your whiplash claim payout to be calculated using the road accident whiplash tariff – your whiplash injury must fall within a very specific definition
A whiplash is:
“A soft tissue injury in the neck, back or shoulder, including a sprain, strain, tear, rupture or lesser damage of a muscle, tendon or ligament (in the neck, back or shoulder).”
The full whiplash definition is set out in the Civil liability Act 2018.
Soft Tissue Injury Connected To Another Injury Not
Within this definition of a whiplash injury – it does not include a soft tissue injury connected with another injury.
For example: if you dislocated your shoulder or broke your arm in a road accident and had associated soft tissue injury to your neck and shoulder. This types of soft tissue injury would not be classed as a whiplash that is limited by the road accident whiplash tariff.
Please note – prior to 31 May 2021, whiplash was defined in its general sense as in our car accident compensation article.
What types of road accident claim are included in the whiplash tariff?
For your whiplash injury claim to be calculated using the whiplash tariff:
“You must suffer a whiplash injury whilst either using or being carried in or on a motor vehicle on a road or other public place in England or Wales and your injury must have been caused as a result of negligence by someone using a motor vehicle on a road or other public place.”
To better explain the meaning – we will look at the different elements in sequence:
You were injured whilst using or being carried in or on a motor vehicle
This is a catch-all to include drivers and passengers in a motor vehicle.
In addition – It specifically includes when you are getting into or out of the vehicle at the time the accident occurs.
Motor vehicle definition
A motor vehicle is classed a mechanically propelled vehicle designed for use on roads, such as a car, lorry, van, etc.
This includes vehicles adapted to be used on roads (for example a tractor). It does not however include motor bikes.
Therefore, if you suffer injury on a motorcycle (either as a driver or pillion passenger) your injuries will be calculated using the more generous compensation awards as determined by caselaw and judicial guidance.
Used on a road or other public place
A road or other public place includes:
- A highway (such as residential road, town or country road, motorway, bridges over roads, etc).
- Public places, such as a supermarket or shopping centre carparks. Even if they are in theory private land – as the public have access to them.
Must be in England and Wales
The law introducing the road accident whiplash tariff settlement awards only applies to accidents in England and Wales and not the other parts of the United Kingdom. Therefore, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not included.
Negligence of someone using a motor vehicle
This negligence might be a driver error (for example – jumping a red traffic light) or a passenger error (such as a passenger opening a door on a passing car).
It may include a negligent omission – such as failing to brake when the car in front has to stop suddenly.
Both Drivers At Fault
Tariff compensation payouts are used to calculate claims when both you and another driver are at fault (consider a 50/50 claim).
What if your whiplash injury is not caused in a road accident?
If the whiplash, neck or shoulder injury is not experienced in a road accident – such as in a trip or slip accident, accident at work, etc, then the whiplash claim payout tariff does not apply. Instead – your whiplash claim is calculated in a much more generous way governed by caselaw and judicial guidance.
You can see the sums you would expect for whiplash in these instances in our neck injury compensation, back injury claim and shoulder injury articles.
What if your road accident occurred in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
If you suffered whiplash in Scotland or Northern Ireland the whiplash tariff scheme will not apply. Hence – the compensation payout sums that you would recover are calculated based on caselaw of the respective countries.
The new whiplash tariff applies in England and Wales only and not throughout the whole of the UK.
Calculating compensation payout sums for whiplash in England and Wales from 31 May 2021
The tariff of compensation amounts gives two payout figures for each period of time you experience symptoms. The figures depend on whether you also suffered a minor psychological injury in addition to a whiplash injury.
If however your psychological injury is more severe, such as post traumatic stress – a different basis of calculation of your compensation payout may be necessary.
In addition – the payout figures were revised for accidents from 31 May 2025 onwards. Therefore -a whiplash injury in an accident between 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025 will receive a lower payout than the same whiplash injury in an accident on 31 May 2025 and dates thereafter.
We set out the awards for all dates for pain and suffering compensation (known as general damages):
Whiplash In A RTA Lasting For Up To 3 Months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
A whiplash neck, back or shoulder injury with symptoms of pain lasting no longer than 3 months – with a complete recovery from the injury, attracts a compensation amount of £240.
If the whiplash also includes a minor psychological injury, such as a travel anxiety, you would received a slight increase in your compensation payout to £260.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting up to 3 months would lead to compensation calculated at £275.
If minor psychological injury is included your payout would increase to £300.
Road Accident Whiplash With Symptoms Lasting Between 3 & 6 Months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
A soft tissue whiplash type injury to your neck, back or shoulder lasting longer than 3 months, but with a complete recovery within 6 months – will allow your compensation for pain and suffering to be calculated at £495.
The same whiplash injury coupled with a mild psychological injury would lead to a compensation payout of £520.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting from over 3 months to 6 months would lead to compensation calculated at £565.
If minor psychological injury is present – your payout would be calculated at £595.
Symptoms Of Neck, Back Or Shoulder Lasting Between 6 Months – 9 Months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
A whiplash injury causing pain and suffering symptoms lasting from between 6 to 9 months from the road traffic accident event – would attract a whiplash claim payout settlement of £840.
If the same neck, back or shoulder injury is associated with a mild psychological injury – you would have an increased compensation payout of £895.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting from over 6 months to 9 months would lead to a compensation payout of £965.
If in addition, you experience minor psychological injury – your resultant payout would be increased to £1,025.
Whiplash Injuries With Symptoms Lasting Between 9 Months and 12 Months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
Soft tissue injuries to your neck, shoulder or back in a motor vehicle accident lasting between 9 -12 months, would allow you to recover compensation monies of £1,320.
The same injury with a minor psychological damage would result in you claim for pain and suffering general damages to be calculated at £1,390.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting over 9 months to 12 months would result in compensation sums of £1,510.
Whereas, if you experience minor psychological injury – your payout would be £1,595.
Road Accident Whiplash To Neck, Back Or Shoulder Lasting Between 12 Months – 15 Months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
If your symptoms of whiplash in a road traffic accident last over 12 months, but you have a complete recovery in 15 months your tariff award for compensation is £2,040.
Whiplash between 12 – 15 months with mild psychological injury should result in a compensation calculation of £2,125.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting from over 12 months to 15 months would lead to a compensation tariff amount of £2,335.
Add on a sum for minor psychological injury – will give you a payout calculated at £2,435.
RTC Whiplash With Symptoms Lasting Between 15 & 18 months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
Whiplash experienced in a road traffic collision with pain and suffering of over 15 months, but with a complete recovery with 18 months, would lead to a claim payout amount of £3,005.
If your whiplash is also associated with mild psychological injury – your settlement for general damages would be calculated at £3,100.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting from more than 15 months and up to 18 months would lead to a compensation payout of £3,445.
If you have additional minor psychological injury – you can expect compensation of £3,550.
Compensation For Whiplash With Symptoms From 18 Months to 24 Months
Accident 31 May 2021 – 30 May 2025
When you suffer a neck, shoulder of back soft tissue injury in a motor vehicle accident and your symptoms last over 18 months, but no longer than 24 months you can expect a tariff compensation payout for pain and suffering of £4,215.
If you also suffer mild psychological injury with your road accident whiplash – your claim payout will be calculated at £4,345.
Accident On Or After 31 May 2025
Whiplash lasting over 18 months to 24 months will result in a tariff payout of £4,830.
Whereas, If minor psychological injury is present – your payout would be calculated at £4,975.
How much will your whiplash claim be worth for symptoms over 24 months?
The whiplash tariff only extends to symptoms of up to 24 months. Once symptoms are beyond this your neck, back and shoulder injury is considered more serious. Therefore, the government has not limited with a tariff the amount you can claim.
Instead – the amount you can claim is calculated in the usual way by your solicitor with reference to caselaw and judicial guidance.
You can see example figures in our compensation amounts article.
Multiple Injuries
More severe back, neck and shoulder injuries may not be considered one and the same, but rather multiple injuries.
Therefore, the combined effect of such injuries will increase your compensation.
This is best explained in our multiple injury claim calculation article.
How do prove the amount of time you have suffered your symptoms of whiplash?
To prove your whiplash injury and its duration – you will require a report from an independent medical expert.
The medical expert will give an opinion of either how long you have actually suffered whiplash symptoms as a result of your road accident or a prognosis of how long you are likely to continue to suffer symptoms (if the medical report is produced before you have recovered from your symptoms).
The medical experts would typically be accredited and independently selected via a body known as MedCo.
Whiplash Claim Payout Summary And Next Steps
In summary – in this article you have learnt how the government has limited the amount of compensation you can recover for neck, back and shoulder injury suffered in road accidents on or after 31 May 2021.
We have provided summary payout tables and more detailed descriptions of payout amounts. Notably distinguishing in tariff amounts for accidents 31 May 2021 – to 30 May 2025 and accidents from 31 May 2025 onwards.
Small Claims Limit Change
See how the small claims limit for road accidents was also changed on 31 May 2021 – limiting your ability to claim your solicitor costs in assisting you with a claim.
Free Online Legal Help
You may be uncertain as to whether your claim will be classed as a small claim or whether you can seek the help from a solicitor.
We recommend you take advantage of our free specialist solicitor online and telephone help – where you can ask a question or speak direct to a solicitor about your accident circumstances.
