Things to consider when claiming for nerve damage
- Compensation awards vary, from around £2,450 for minor nerve damage to up to £448,180 for severe spinal cord injuries and complete paralysis.
- You can claim if you were injured in the workplace, in a road accident, in a public location, or due to negligent medical care.
- You have 3 years from the date of your injury to begin your claim.
- The amount of compensation you can claim depends on the severity of your injury and any financial losses or expenses. Use our compensation calculator to find out how much you could receive.
- You're eligible to claim under a no win, no fee agreement.
If a nerve injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Nerve injuries usually involve damage to the nerves by compression, stretching, or cutting, causing pain or numbness. Treatments range from rest and pain management to physical therapy and, in some cases, surgical repair.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a nerve injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
With almost 73,000 nerve disorder admissions each year, you are not alone
The NHS reported 73,282 admissions for nerve disorders and injuries in 2022-23 (digital.nhs.uk).
The pain and other sensations can be constant, or they can fluctuate. But whatever the extent or outcome, they often impact significantly on a person's life - not only physically, but also psychologically and financially.
For information on nerve damage symptoms and treatment, visit: Nerve damage (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for nerve damage?
Your compensation for nerve damage is based on:
- the severity of your illness,
- how your illness impacts your life and ability to work,
- any financial burdens or costs arising from your illness.
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of income, including future loss of income, or any other out of pocket expenses.
Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your nerve injury, including surgery, pain medication, physical therapy and medication for symptoms.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average nerve injury compensation payouts
The following nerve injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Cold injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Less serious | Some pain & discomfort in cold weather | Around £16,650 |
| More serious | Continuous pain & discomfort in cold weather, and/or a psychological impact | Around £36,050 |
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Moderate CRPS with significant, long-term symptoms where recovery is expected in the future | £31,090 to £58,250 |
| Severe | Severe CRPS with a psychological impact and poor prospects for recovery | £58,250 to £93,200 |
Head & brain injuries
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minimal brain damage with headaches and/or ongoing symptoms | £2,450 to £14,160 |
| Moderate - level 1 | Good recovery, but with ongoing symptoms (e.g. poor concentration and memory) | £17,000 to £47,770 |
| Moderate - level 2 | Your ability to work is reduced, and ongoing symptoms include poor concentration and memory, and a risk of epilepsy | £47,770 to £100,650 |
| Moderate - level 3 | Your ability to work is greatly reduced, and you have ongoing care needs | £100,650 to £166,540 |
| Moderate - level 4 | Ongoing symptoms include a moderate to severe intellectual deficit, personality change, damage to sight, speech and/or senses, and a risk of epilepsy | £166,540 to £243,040 |
| Severe | Symptoms include serious physical and/or cognitive disability that requires constant care, a risk of future medical issues and reduced life expectancy | £243,040 to £312,860 |
| Very severe | Full time nursing care is required | £312,860 to £448,180 |
Non-CRPS pain disorders
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Significant ongoing symptoms, including fibromyalgia, affecting your life and ability to work | £23,370 to £42,700 |
| Severe | More serious symptoms affecting your daily life and ability to work, with a poor prognosis | £46,740 to £69,880 |
Paralysis
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paraplegia | £243,040 to £315,350 | |
| Tetraplegia & quadriplegia | £360,130 to £448,180 |
Vibration White Finger (VWF)
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Occasional symptoms in some fingers, with a moderate impact on your life and work | £3,320 to £9,590 |
| Moderate | VWF attacks in cold weather, and symptoms that have required changes to your job | £9,590 to £18,600 |
| Serious | VWF attacks throughout the year, with a significant impact on your life and ability to work | £18,600 to £35,100 |
| Severe | Ongoing symptoms affecting both hands, and which significantly affect your daily life and ability to work | £35,100 to £42,640 |
Work-related Upper Limb Disorder (WRULD)
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Complete recovery within a few months | £2,450 to £3,920 |
| Moderate | Symptoms resolving in the course of up to three years | £9,590 to £11,930 |
| Serious | Continuing, but fluctuating symptoms affecting one arm | £16,530 to £18,130 |
| Severe | Continuing disability affecting both arms, affecting your ability to work and requiring surgery | £24,310 to £25,650 |
Do I qualify for nerve injury compensation?
Yes, you are entitled to make an injury claim for nerve damage, if:
- you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
- another person was at fault, and;
- that person owed you a legal duty of care.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
Can I make a claim even if I'm partly liable?
Pinpointing liability for an accident will depend on the context, with different legal principles applying to different circumstances.
In our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents felt they were at least partly responsible for their accident or injuries.
Even if you partly caused the accident or your injuries (refered to as 'contributory negligence'), you may still be entitled to make a claim. These claims can often be settled on the basis of a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to make a nerve injury claim?
For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.
If you were injured due to someone else's negligence but didn't realise it at the time, you may have longer to make a claim. Typically, you have three years from the date you either received a diagnosis or became aware of the negligence (known as the 'date of knowledge') to start your claim.
The 3 year limitation period does not apply to minors (under 18s). A parent, guardian or litigation friend can start a claim on a child's behalf up to their 18th birthday and the child has until their 21st birthday to claim for themselves.
What is considered 'nerve damage' for the purposes of an injury claim?
If any of the body's central nerves are damaged, the impact can be severe, including paralysis. However, damage to the peripheral nerves can also lead to significant physical suffering and impairment.
The nervous system is made up of:
- The Central Nervous System (CNS) - which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord and handles most and mid functions.
- The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - which is -wide and is responsible for pain and touch, muscle control, and automatic functions such as blood pressure.
According to the NHS, common symptoms of people affected by peripheral nerve damage include:
- Numbness and tingling in the feet or hands
- Burning, stabbing, or shooting pain in affected areas
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Muscle weakness, especially in the feet
Nerve damage tends to affect the extremities of the first, for example, the hands, feet, arms and legs.
Nerve damage compensation claims and medical negligence
Claiming a medical professional or an institution such as a hospital may seem daunting. With the right legal advice and support, however, you can confidently assess your options, and choose the path that is best for you.
An experienced, specialist solicitor will clearly explain how the claims process works. Your solicitor will answer any questions you may have and will guide you through every step of your nerve damage compensation claim.
Read more:
Making a compensation claim for medical negligence.
How the cause of your nerve injury impacts the claims process
The process for making a claim varies with how your nerve injury happened. Click the icons to learn more.
Can I make a no win, no fee nerve injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim nerve injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackSources
Peripheral neuropathy - NHS (reviewed: 31/07/2024)
Author:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Howard Willis qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.