Changes to the outcome for victims of road traffic accidents mean that the supreme court can now provide major boosts. In 2018, The Civil Liability Act introduced a tariff of funds which is available for those who had suffered whiplash injuries in a road traffic accident. However, this tariff was not inclusive of other injuries sustained.
This meant that it would then be a decision for the court whether compensation could be claimed for any other injury separately. The good news is that the recent ruling of the Supreme Court now allows claimants to be compensated for bodily injuries and soft-tissue injuries through the Official Injury Claim portal.
Sue Brown, chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society was quoted as saying “While the level of tariff damages remains far from fair, claimants can now be confident in recovering fair compensation for the non-whiplash injuries they sustain in low-value motor accident claims.”
What does this mean for those involved in road traffic accidents?
This is some positive news for victims of road traffic accidents as it means claimants could now be entitled to further compensation due to their injuries. However, the deductions of damages will still be at the court’s discretion. This is just to avoid double payments occurring for the same injuries.
The outcome of this is that the Supreme Court agreed with the previous court’s compensation that non-tariff disputes should always be assessed on the common law principles when it comes to the pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Furthermore, they also supported the county court’s decision that the correct approach to assessing compensation is to determine the value of each injury and add these values together.
This is a major boost for claimants as the data from the Official Injury showed that claims for whiplash and other injuries accounted for two-thirds of cases in the last quarter of 2023.
How a road traffic accident can affect you
Being involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault is stressful, especially if it leaves you unable to work. The impact on both your physical and mental health can really take a toll on you. This is why it’s important to start a personal injury claim regarding the incident.
When you start a personal injury claim, this decision to compensate for bodily injuries and soft-tissue injuries means that your case should give you the compensation you deserve to help get you back on your feet.
Why choose Specters for your personal injury claims?
Here at Specters, we have over 25 years’ experience and our team are experts in personal injury claims when it comes to road traffic accidents. When you start a claim, we are here to help you all the way from your initial consultation, right through to representation.
If you would like to find out more, make sure to check out our Road Traffic Accident Claims page. You can also enquire today to request a callback from a member of our friendly team.
