How To Claim Compensation For A Soft Tissue Injury

By Cat Grayson. Last Updated 22nd November 2023. Below, you will find a guide to making a compensation claim for an accident causing a soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injuries are the most common of all injuries. They range from simple bruises to sprains and strains. This guide aims to teach you all that you need to know about making a claim for such an injury.

If you finish reading this guide and still have questions that need to be answered, please speak to one of our claims team on 0161 696 9685. They will be able to answer any questions for you, and also tell you how we can help you to make your claim using our simple and effective claims service.

Soft tissue injury claims guide

Soft tissue injury claims guide

Select A Section:

  1. Who Can Make A Claim For Soft Tissue Damage In The UK?
  2. Average Compensation For A Soft Tissue Injury In The UK
  3. Soft Tissue Injury Claim – Time Limits
  4. Soft Tissue Injury Claim – Do I Need Evidence?
  5. No Win No Fee Soft Tissue Injury Claims
  6. Further Help And Advice

Who Can Make A Claim For Soft Tissue Damage In The UK?

In order to have valid grounds to make a soft tissue injury claim, you must meet the personal injury claims criteria. This means that you must prove that:

  • You were owed a duty of care. 
  • This duty was breached. 
  • You suffered an injury because of this breach. 

There are various daily situations where you could suffer a soft tissue injury. These include:

Read on to learn about the average payout for a soft tissue injury. Or, contact our team of helpful advisors to start a free consultation.

Average Compensation For A Soft Tissue Injury In The UK

As previously explained, we cannot give you an average payout for a soft tissue injury in the UK. However, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can give you a better idea of your potential general damages compensation. The figures below are taken from the latest guidelines, published in April 2022.

Please bear in mind that these figures only relate to past successful claims that took place in England and Wales. As such, if you’re looking to claim in Scotland and Northern Ireland, please remember that the figures below may be less useful when determining your potential compensation amount.

With that in mind, it’s important to know that these figures are not guaranteed as every claim is different. There are many factors that can determine the amount of compensation you receive from a successful claim.

Soft Tissue Injury Compensation Calculator

Type of InjurySeverityInformation About the InjuryCompensation Amount
Multiple Injuries Plus Special DamagesSevereSeveral injuries combined with substantial monetary losses, such as lost earnings.Up to £50,000+
ArmLess SevereSignificant disabilities but mostly a full recovery.£19,200 to £39,170
FootModestInjuries such as lacerations, abrasions, sprains, strains, scrapes and burns of the soft tissue of the foot.Up to £13,740
AnkleModestInjuries such as lacerations, sprains, strains, abrasions, scrapes and burns of the soft tissue of the ankle.Up to £13,740
HandModerateThis covers crush injuries, penetrating wounds and soft tissue injuries.£5,720 to £13,280
BackMinor (i)Surgery not required in order to make a full recovery normally within two to five years. Potentially covers exacerbation or acceleration injuries too. £7,890 to £12,510
LegLess Serious (iii)Injuries such as lacerations, abrasions, sprains, strains, scrapes and burns of the soft tissue of the leg.Up to £11,840
ToeModerateInjuries to the toe such as cuts, sprains, strains, scrapes, burns and torn nails.Up to £9,600
NeckMinor (i)Injuries such as lacerations, abrasions, sprains, strains, scrapes and burns of the soft tissue of the neck. Full recovery in around one to two years. £4,350 to £7,890
Whiplash Injuries With Psychological Injuries One or moreLasting for 18-24 months£4,345
Whiplash InjuriesOne or moreLasting for 18-24 months£4,215

Special Damages

Whether you have suffered a soft tissue injury in your foot or in your arm, your injury claim may also include special damages. This head of claim compensates you for any financial harm you have incurred as a result of your accident.

Types of financial losses or expenses you could endure, include:

  • A loss of earnings if you need time off work as you recover from your injuries.
  • Prescription fees if you require medication to alleviate any symptoms of your injuries.
  • Adaptations made to your home to accommodate your injuries, such as a stairlift if you have broken your legs.

Please contact us for a free consultation if you would like an estimate of your soft tissue injury claim value in the UK. We can answer any queries you have and give you a compensation estimate that relates to your specific injury. Additionally, we can also connect you with a solicitor from our panel who could work your case using a No Win No Fee basis.

Soft Tissue Injury Claim – Time Limits

It’s important to make sure that your soft tissue injury claim falls within the relevant time limit. For personal injury claims, you will typically have three years to start a claim, starting on the date that you suffer your injuries. This is outlined in the Limitation Act 1980, which also outlines the exceptions to this rule.

For example, the time limit freezes for those injured while under the age of eighteen. A litigation friend can start the claim on their behalf while it is frozen. If no claim is started, then the time limit is reinstated on their eighteenth birthday and runs until they turn twenty-one.

Similarly, the time limit does not apply to those who lack the mental capacity to make their own claim. A litigation friend can start the claim on their behalf, but if no claim is made, the time limit will only be reinstated if they regain the needed capacity.

To learn more about your potential soft tissue injury claim value, or to find out if you are within the correct time limit to claim, contact our helpful advisors today.

Soft Tissue Injury Claim – Do I Need Evidence?

Evidence can benefit your personal injury claim in several ways. Firstly, it can be used to demonstrate that you experienced harm as a result of your employer breaching the duty of care they owed you. As such, you could gather:

  • Contact details of those who witnessed the accident in which you were injured
  • CCTV footage of the accident
  • Photographs of the accident scene and any hazards which may have caused your accident and subsequent injuries

Secondly, evidence can be used to estimate your soft tissue injury claim value and how much you could be awarded in compensation.

For example, if you have suffered a soft tissue injury to your knee, compensation can be calculated by looking at several factors, such as the severity of your injury and the treatment you required. As such, medical evidence, such as a report from a medical assessment can help to assess how much you should be awarded.

Speak to our advisors if you would like to be put in touch with an expert personal injury solicitor from our panel. They can give you tips on what evidence to gather and can discuss the average compensation for a soft tissue injury in the UK.

Soft Tissue Injury Claims – No Win No Fee Solicitors

If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim for compensation, a solicitor from our panel could help you. They could assist you with gathering evidence and ensuring your claim is filed within the correct limitation period. Furthermore, they may offer to represent you in your soft tissue injury claim under a type of No Win No Fee agreement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement.

Some of the benefits of making a personal injury claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor under this arrangement include:

  • Zero upfront service fees to pay to your solicitor.
  • No ongoing services fees to pay during your claims process.
  • Not having to pay your solicitor for their work if your claim does not succeed.

Should your claim succeed, your solicitor will take a small, legally capped percentage from your compensation settlement. This is known as a success fee.

To find out if you could be eligible to work with a solicitor on our panel for your soft tissue injury claim, you can contact our advisors. They can be reached via:

Further Help And Advice

You might find the following related links to give useful information:

We have lots of guides on claiming personal injury compensation, which you can find below.