How we check this content

These FAQ guides are written from established primary sources — UK and Scottish legislation, government guidance, and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service — and checked for accuracy against those sources before publishing.

Our approach

Each question is answered in plain English, based on the current statutory framework and well-established legal principles for England & Wales. Where a figure, threshold, or procedural rule could change over time (such as a statutory cap or a court's name), we check it directly against the relevant official source — legislation.gov.uk, gov.scot, or the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service — rather than relying on general knowledge alone.

Compensation figures

The compensation calculator's general-damages figures are based on the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), 18th edition, published 9 April 2026. We cross-check the figures used against published comparison tables from law firms who track each edition's changes in detail — including DAC Beachcroft's 18th-vs-17th-edition comparison table, used to verify the back injury and brain/head injury brackets. As the JCG's own introduction puts it, "no two injuries are the same in their effect" — these figures are a starting range, not a fixed formula, and a qualified solicitor is needed to value any individual case.

Keeping it current

Legal frameworks are periodically reviewed and updated. See our recent changes page for a log of updates made to this content.

Limitations

This content is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn't consider your individual circumstances. It's not a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor, who can properly assess your specific situation.