How your compensation is made up
Use this whiplash claim calculator to see how your compensation is built — step by step. Tariff, psychological injury, financial losses, liability, and what you actually receive with or without a solicitor.
Most compensation figures shown online are the tariff value — the government-set amount for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. That figure is real, but it is not what you receive. This breakdown shows how each element stacks, what changes each one, and how the final amount in your account is arrived at.
When did the accident happen?
The tariff schedule that applies to your claim is set by the accident date, not the claim date. A 15% uplift came into effect for accidents on or after 31 May 2025 — which schedule applies matters to the figure you see at the end.
What is the prognosis period?
The prognosis period is the medical examiner's assessment of how long your symptoms were expected to last. It sits in your medical report and maps directly to a tariff band. If you haven't had your examination yet, choose the band that best reflects your experience so far.
No medical report yet? Select the period that reflects how long your symptoms have lasted or are expected to last. The actual band will be confirmed when the examiner produces their report — what you choose here gives you a useful working figure.
Has a psychological injury been recorded — or might it be?
A minor psychological injury arising from the accident — such as travel anxiety — can be recorded alongside the physical whiplash injury. When it is, the tariff band shifts slightly upward. It is assessed by the medical examiner, not something you select on the claim form.
A psychological component only appears in the claim if the medical examiner records it. The way to give it the best chance of being assessed is to describe any anxiety, avoidance of driving, or emotional effects at the examination. The examiner determines whether it meets the threshold — that decision is theirs, not yours.
What out-of-pocket costs has the accident caused you?
These are called special damages — financial losses caused directly by the accident, separate from the injury compensation. They are added on top of the tariff and are not subject to a cap. The amounts you can include are the ones you can support with receipts, records, or written confirmation.
All fields are optional — leave any blank that don't apply or that you don't have figures for yet. The breakdown distinguishes between documented losses — supported by receipts or records — and estimated ones, because only documented amounts are routinely included in insurer offers.
Was responsibility for the accident shared?
Where a claimant is found to have contributed to their own accident — for example by not wearing a seatbelt, or by an action that increased the risk — compensation may be reduced by a percentage. This is called contributory negligence. The reduction applies to the full claim value before any other deductions are made.
Liability is decided by the insurer during the claims process, not here. If liability has been admitted in full, choose the first option. If you're not sure yet, choose the last — the breakdown will show you what each percentage would mean in pounds, so you can see what's at stake.
How is the claim being handled?
The route you take doesn't change what your claim is worth — it affects what you receive. The tariff value and your financial losses are identical either way. What differs is whether a success fee is deducted from the injury compensation before the settlement reaches you.
Your claim breakdown
The tariff sets the value. Fees affect what you receive. The same claim produces a different outcome depending on how it is handled.
- The medical report prognosis band — this is what actually sets the tariff value
- Whether symptoms have resolved before the medical examination
- Whether liability is admitted in full or a reduction is applied
- The exact success fee percentage agreed in the conditional fee agreement
- Any financial losses not yet supported by receipts or records
Why the figure you're usually shown isn't the full picture
The number quoted on most comparison sites — and often mentioned early in solicitor conversations — is the tariff value: the government-set compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. It is a real figure. It is also only one part of how a claim is actually valued.
What you receive depends on several additional layers: any financial losses documented on top of the tariff; whether liability was admitted in full or a reduction applies; and — if a solicitor is involved — what success fee is deducted from the injury compensation. For a claim settling at £965 with a 25% success fee, the claimant receives £724. The claim was worth £965. The difference is £241, and it matters.
This breakdown shows each layer in sequence. Not to push you in any direction — but because understanding how the figure is built is the only way to make a clear-eyed decision about how to handle your claim.
Last reviewed: 5 April 2026
ClaimTalk provides general guidance only. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with the Official Injury Claim portal or any government body.
This breakdown uses fixed government tariff figures verified as of April 2026. All outputs are illustrative and depend entirely on the inputs provided. They do not constitute a settlement prediction or legal advice. The medical report — not this tool — determines the tariff band that applies to your claim. If you need advice specific to your situation, a regulated solicitor is the appropriate route.