How Much Could Be Awarded For Accident In A Car Park Compensation Claims?

By Stephen Burke. Last Updated 8th October 2024. In this guide, we answer questions such as ‘if there’s an accident in a car park, who’s at fault in the UK?’, and, ‘how long do I have to claim if my car was damaged in a car park?’. We also provide general information on how to make a car park accident claim. Plus we provide details of what happens if there’s a hit and run on a parked car in the UK, and whether a failure to report an accident in a car park is punishable.

Car parks can be busy places, and car park accidents can often be due to irresponsible driving and parking. Accidents may also be caused by problems with the car park itself, and regular maintenance is needed to keep everything in a good useable condition.

Whether you are a pedestrian in the car park, a driver or have a car parked in the car park, if you have an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you may be entitled to make pedestrian accident claims or car park accident compensation claims.

Free legal advice about car park accident claims is available from our advisors 24/7. To get in touch:

Woman in pain holds neck following a car park accident

Select a Section

  1. Accident In A Car Park Compensation Claims Calculator
  2. If I Was In A Car Park Accident, Can I Claim Compensation?
  3. How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Was Injured In A Car Park?
  4. Do I Need To Collect Any Evidence To Support My Claim?
  5. No Win No Fee Solicitors For An Accident In A Car Park Compensation Claims
  6. Useful Links Relating To Accident In A Car Park Who’s At Fault In The UK

Accident In A Car Park Compensation Claims Calculator

Naturally, people who want to make a compensation claim always ask us how much they’ll be awarded. Unfortunately, though, we can’t give an answer as every case is unique. However, we can show you the average payout amounts for different injuries as an estimated guide that you can look at to maybe get some idea of what your payout could be in the region of by using figures from the 16th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), published in April 2022. Please note that the first entry is not taken from the JCG.

Reason for CompensationAverage Amount AwardedComments
Multiple Severe InjuriesUp to £500,000+Multiple severe injuries that cause pain and suffering plus financial loss, including home adjustments and lost earnings.
Back Injuries - Severe (i)£111,150 to £196,450Cases of severe damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Neck Injuries - Severe (i)In the region of £181,020Cases of incomplete paraplegia, or where the injured person has no movement in the neck and severe headaches.
Arm Injuries - Severe£117,360 to £159,770Serious injuries falling just short of amputation.
Knee Injury - Severe (i)£85,100 to £117,410Serious knee injury involving joint disruption, development of osteoarthritis and considerable pain.
Serious Hand Injuries£35,390 to £75,550Cases where hand capacity is reduced to about 50%.
Wrist injuries - Severe (a)£58,710 to £73,050Complete loss of function in the wrist.
Ankle Injuries - Severe£38,210 to £61,090Injuries necessitating plaster, pins, or extensive treatment.
Shoulder Injury - Severe£23,430 to £58,610Often involving serious disability due to damage to the brachial plexus.
Whiplash Tariff - Whiplash injuries and psychological injuries£4,345Symptoms lasting longer than 18 months but less than 2 years.
Whiplash Tariff - Whiplash injuries£4,215Symptoms lasting between 18 months to 2 years.

On May 31st 2021, the way some whiplash injury claims are made changed due to the introduction of the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. If you are a driver or passenger aged 18 or over, with injuries valued at £5,000 or less, your claim will be made via a new avenue.

Call our advisors if you want to discuss your car park injury compensation amounts.

If I Was In A Car Park Accident, Can I Claim Compensation?

Now that we’ve explored potential compensation for accidents in car parks, we’ll discuss when you could potentially make a claim.

All road users owe each other a duty of care, which means they have to navigate the roads in a way that prevents harm to themselves and others. To uphold this duty, they must comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code. 

To be eligible to make a personal injury claim for a car park accident, you would have to prove that:

  • You were owed a duty of care
  • This duty of care was breached
  • You suffered injuries as a result

For information about an accident in a car park, who’s at fault in the UK, call our advisors now for free advice.

How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Was Injured In A Car Park?

Personal injury claims for car park accidents must be filed within the time limit. Generally, this is three years from the date of the accident as set out in the Limitation Act 1980.

However, there are some exceptions to the time limits for starting personal injury claims. These include:

  • Claims for those without the mental capacity to manage initiating proceedings themselves. These injured parties will have the time limit suspended for as long as they are without this capacity. At any point during this suspension, a court-appointed litigation friend can start the claims process on their behalf. However, if the protected party regains the mental capacity required to claim compensation themselves, then they will have three years from the date they recovered their capacity to start the process if it hasn’t already been started for them.
  • Claims for those under the age of 18. Children below the age of 18 cannot manage their own compensation claim. A pause is applied to the limitation period in these cases. It lasts until the injured person’s 18th birthday, giving them three years from that date to initiate the claims process. However, a litigation friend could be appointed at any time during the pause to manage the claim on their behalf.

If you would like to discuss time limits for accident in a car park compensation claims get in touch with a member of our advisory team.

Cars in a supermarket car park.

Do I Need To Collect Any Evidence To Support My Claim?

If you’re eligible to make a personal injury claim for a car park accident, you will need evidence to support your case. All accidents in car parks are different, so the evidence you can present will depend on the facts and circumstances of your case.

Generally, following an accident in a car park, compensation claims can be supported by the following examples of evidence:

  • The contact details of any witnesses who saw the accident you were injured in. They could be approached for a statement later.
  • Photographs or footage of the scene, such as CCTV footage or dashcam footage.
  • A record of the treatment you’ve received following the car park accident in your medical notes.

To find out if you could be eligible to make a claim after being injured in an accident in a car park, call our advisors today for free advice.

No Win No Fee Solicitors For An Accident In A Car Park Compensation Claims

If you would like to hire a solicitor for your car park accident claim, you could hire them under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement.

If you hire a car park accident claim solicitor on this basis, you will generally not be charged an upfront solicitors fee. Successful car park accident claims will have a legally capped success fee taken from the award. If your car park accident claim fails, you will not be required to pay your solicitor.

For more information on questions such as, ‘if there’s an accident in a car park, who’s at fault in the UK?’, get in touch with our advisors. If they think your car park accident claim seems like it has a good chance of success, you could be passed on to our solicitors.

To get in contact:

Toy cars collide on a personal injury solicitor's desk.

Useful Links For An Accident In A Car Park, Who’s At Fault In The UK

We hope we have answered the questions surrounding an accident in a car park who’s at fault in the UK. Hopefully, now you know your rights, you can see if you could claim.