The figures we have supplied are based on the latest version of the Judicial College general damages compensation guidelines.

Types of head injury

A personal injury compensation claim involving a head injury may involve one of the following types of head injury:

• Facial Scarring
• Brain injury
• Eye injury
• Cranium injury
• Fractured skull
• Concussion
• Broken Nose
• Ear injury
• Chin injury
• Cheekbone injuries

Acquired head injury

When a head injury is known as an ‘acquired’ head injury or brain injury, it means that it is an injury or damage to your head or brain that has been caused by trauma, as opposed to a head or brain injury you have had since birth. Whether you sustained your acquired head injury at work, in a road traffic accident, or in another kind of non-fault accident, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.

Open head injury

Open head injuries are caused when pressure is applied to the head, causing a fracture or displacement of the skull. They are a serious form of brain injury and can result in permanent brain damage.

Closed head injury

A closed head injury doesn’t affect the skull in any way. They are normally caused by blows to the head and can occur following road traffic collisions, falls, and assaults.

Concussion, brain contusion (bruises to the brain), and diffuse axonal injury (where nerves in the brain are permanently damaged) are common types of closed head injury.

Effects of a head injury

In some cases, it is not immediately apparent that the individual has suffered an injury, as symptoms can be delayed. If you have had an accident involving a blow to the head, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Feelings of confusion or trouble communicating
• A headache that doesn’t go away after taking Paracetamol
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Fits, seizures or collapse
• Vision problems
• Loss of use of a part
• Blood or clear fluid leaking from the nose or ear

In the longer term, people with an acquired brain injury might also suffer from:

• Poor memory and concentration
• Problems with planning and organising
• Difficulty in solving problems
• Fatigue or anger issues
• Behavioural changes or difficulties in performing day-to-day tasks
• Distress or a lack of motivation

Can you claim head injury compensation?

To make a compensation claim for a head injury, the accident that caused your injury must have happened within the last three years (provided you are over the age of 18). Your accident must also have been caused by the negligence of another party.

How much compensation for head injury?

The amount of compensation you may be entitled to will be dependent on a number of factors including the severity of your head injury. The severity of your injury will be determined by the medical reports prepared by a medical expert. Because every case is different, it is difficult to give an accurate estimation of how much compensation you could claim. However, our compensation calculator gives you a guide to the amount of compensation you could receive for your injury alone.