By Stephen Burke. Last Updated 27th September 2024. To be eligible to start a claim seeking compensation for PTSD in the UK, you will need to show that your psychological injury was caused by a relevant third party breaching the duty of care they owed you. This guide looks at PTSD compensation payouts. To help illustrate this, we provide a case study.
We’ll discuss the various instances where you are owed a duty of care, and when you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim. We will also share a case study of a driver who was awarded £325k in compensation following a road traffic accident. This guide will also share information on the time limits you must adhere to when making a personal injury claim and how compensation may be offered. Additionally, we will discuss how one of our No Win No Fee lawyers could assist you with your case.
To receive free advice regarding your potential PTSD claim, you can contact our team of advisors. They are available to provide help to you 24/7 and can be reached by:
- Calling 0800 073 8801
- Using our live chat.
- Contacting us online.
Jump To A Section
- PTSD Compensation Success Stories – Example Case Study
- Can I Claim PTSD Compensation?
- Time Limits When Claiming A PTSD Settlement
- What Evidence Do I Need To Claim For PTSD?
- Compensation For PTSD In The UK
- Claim Compensation For PTSD With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Useful Links Relating To Personal Injury Claims Payouts For PTSD
PTSD Compensation Success Stories – Example Case Study
There are many PTSD compensation success stories, which may give hope to those eligible to launch a claim for this type of injury.
For example, in 2013, a driver received an out-of-court settlement for £325k after being involved in a road traffic accident with a lorry. The driver suffered a broken leg, a dislocated shoulder and PTSD due to the incident.
He could not return to his job as a mechanic for weeks while he recovered from his physical injuries, but suffered flashbacks of the accident and anxiety around driving.
Due to the significant effect on his daily life, the man received £325k for his post-traumatic stress disorder claim.
If you would like to discuss how such PTSD compensation amounts could be calculated, or you’d like to check your eligibility to claim, please contact an advisor.
What Payout For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Was Awarded To The Claimant?
The amount awarded to conclude the case out of court was £325,000 in compensation for PTSD. The compensation included a payout for the post-traumatic stress disorder, injuries, medical and care costs, loss of earnings and future loss of earnings.
The case included lengthy negotiations before the defendant admitted liability and the settlement amount was agreed.
Can I Claim PTSD Compensation?
If you’ve suffered PTSD due to someone’s breach of their duty of care they have towards you, you could be eligible to claim compensation. There are various parties that owe you a duty of care. If breached, this could lead to you suffering a psychological injury.
Some examples of breaches that could lead to PTSD claims include:
- An employer – Your employer would owe you a duty of care established under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They are obliged to take reasonable steps in order to protect you from suffering harm at work.
- An occupier of public premises – Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of public places have a duty of care towards members of the public using those places for their intended purpose.
- A road user – All road users have a duty of care to each other under the Road Traffic Act 1988. They must refer to rules and guidance contained in the Highway Code, and avoid causing harm to others and themselves by driving in a manner that minimises the risk of an accident.
Contact our advisors today for a free eligibility check on your case.
Time Limits When Claiming A PTSD Settlement
You will usually have three years to start a claim seeking a PTSD settlement offer, as stated in the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit runs from the date of the incident which caused your psychological or physical injury.
There are, however, certain exceptions that apply. For example, if a minor has suffered a psychological injury, the time limit is frozen until they turn 18. A litigation friend could start a personal injury claim on their behalf before the 18th birthday arrives.
For those who lack the mental capacity to start a claim on their own, the time limit is indefinitely frozen. A litigation friend could act on their behalf during this time. If they were to later regain this mental capacity and a PTSD injury claim has not already been made for them, they will instead have three years to do so, beginning from the date of recovery.
To learn more about the eligibility criteria for personal injury claims or what PTSD compensation payouts may be offered, you can contact our advisors today.
What Evidence Do I Need To Claim For PTSD?
If you believe that you could have a valid PTSD claim in the UK, you will need evidence that supports your case. When claiming, you will need to provide evidence that you suffered a psychological injury and who was liable for it.
Useful evidence that could support a PTSD compensation claim could include:
- Photographs or CCTV footage of the incident that caused your PTSD.
- The contact details of any witnesses who saw the incident taking place.
- Any police reports or the accident book report log of the incident, if applicable.
- Proof of your injuries, such as a copy of your medical records stating your diagnosis.
- Proof of any costs and losses you’ve sustained due to your psychological injury, such as a copy of your payslips to prove any loss of earnings.
If you would like to learn more about evidence that could support a PTSD injury claim, please contact an advisor. They can also answer questions about PTSD compensation payouts and can check your eligibility to claim.
Compensation For PTSD In The UK
PTSD compensation payouts for successful claims could include general damages plus special damages.
General damages would compensate you the claimant for the suffering, pain and loss of amenity caused by your injuries. This includes both psychological and physical injuries.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a document that those responsible for valuing general damages may use. This document provides a list of different injuries and assigns them guideline compensation brackets.
The table below includes figures from the 2022 edition of the JCG, aside from the first entry. However, this is only to be used as guidance, as the amount you would receive depends on the unique facts and circumstances of the case.
| Type of injury | Severity of injury | Notes | Compensation guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries With Financial Losses | Severe | Compensation for several serious injuries including both mental and physical injuries and their financial losses such as lost wages. | Up to £200,000+ |
| Psychiatric damage | Severe (a) | The person severely struggles to cope with working and social life, as well as maintain their personal relationships following a very poor prognosis. | £66,920 to £141,240 |
| Psychiatric damage | Moderately severe (b) | Despite a more positive prognosis, the person will suffer significantly with various issues. | £23,270 to £66,920 |
| Psychiatric damage | Moderate (c) | A good prognosis with significant improvements made after suffering with various issues. | £7,150 to £23,270 |
| Psychiatric damage | Less severe (d) | Factors such as the impact on sleep will be taken into account when awarding compensation. | £1,880 to £7,150 |
| PTSD | Severe (a) | All areas of the person's life will be negatively affected, with permanent issues that will stop them from working and functioning as they did before the trauma. | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| PTSD | Moderately severe (b) | The person will suffer with a significant disability for the foreseeable future. However, there is room for some recovery with professional help. | £28,250 to £73,050 |
| PTSD | Moderate (c) | A large recovery will have been made, with any persisting symptoms not being majorly disabling. | £9,980 to £28,250 |
| PTSD | Less severe (d) | Within 1-2 years, the person will have virtually made a full recovery. | £4,820 to £9,980 |
Your PTSD settlement offer may also include special damages. This head of claim compensates you for the financial costs and losses caused by your injury. These could include:
- Medical expenses – if you’ve incurred prescription costs, for example, or had to pay for therapy.
- Travel costs – you may have incurred travel expenses getting to medical appointments and meetings with your solicitor, for example.
- Lost income – you may have had to take some time off work due to your PTSD. If you have, and this has led to you losing out on income, you could be compensated for this.
You will need to provide evidence of the financial losses you have suffered. This could include receipts, bank statements and payslips.
To learn more about compensation payouts for PTSD claims or to get a personalised estimate of your potential compensation, please contact an advisor.
Claim Compensation For PTSD With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
One of our lawyers could assist you with making a personal injury claim for PTSD. Additionally, they may offer to help you with your claim on a No Win No Fee basis with a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
When supported by a solicitor under this type of arrangement, you will not have to pay them anything upfront before they begin working on your case. You also won’t be required to pay them anything while your claim is an ongoing one. Should your claim be unsuccessful, your lawyer won’t usually ask for a payment for the work they’ve delivered on your claim.
Following a successful claim, you will pay your solicitor a success fee, which is a small percentage that’s deducted from your compensation. There is a legal cap in place for how much this percentage can be.
To see if you are eligible to start working with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, you are more than welcome to contact our advisors. They are also able to help answer any questions you may have, such as, ‘What is the average PTSD car accident settlement amount in the UK?’
To connect with one of our advisors today, you can:
- Call 0800 073 8801
- Use our live chat.
- Contact us online.
Useful Links Relating To Personal Injury Claims Payouts For PTSD
If you need any more information before seeking a payout for post-traumatic stress disorder here are useful links:
- NHS PTSD Information: An NHS guide to PTSD.
- Mind.org – UK Charity specialising in mental health issues, guide to PTSD.
- PTSD Compensation Claims – Our guide to claiming compensation for PTSD.
We hope this case study covering personal injury claims payouts for PTSD has been useful. If you’ve been through a traumatic event that wasn’t your fault and suffered symptoms of PTSD or another psychological disorder, we could help.
We could assist those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, such as those in the armed forces, through the claims process. Accident Claims UK can assist whether they’ve had a full recovery or not. We could fight for the maximum PTSD compensation payouts for your claim.
