Neck injuries can have a lasting impact. Even a minor injury can cause ongoing pain, limited movement, and disrupt your everyday life. In more serious cases, a neck injury may affect your independence and significantly reduce your quality of life.
If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation. A successful personal injury claim can help cover your financial losses, support your recovery, and provide the help you need to move forward.
Can I make a neck injury compensation claim?
You may be eligible to make a neck injury claim if:
- Your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, or at least partly caused by their negligence.
- You’re claiming within three years of the date of the accident or three years from when you first became aware of your injury.
If you’re claiming on behalf of a child, they have until their 21st birthday to start a claim. And if the injured person lacks mental capacity, there’s no time limit at all.
For more information, take a look at our guide to how long you have to make a personal injury claim. However, in general, it’s better not to wait. Starting your claim as soon as possible gives you the best chance of gathering strong evidence and building a successful case.
Not sure if you’re eligible? Contact us today for free, no-obligation legal advice.
Common causes of neck injuries
Neck injuries often result from sudden trauma and can happen in a wide range of situations, especially when someone else has failed in their duty of care. Some of the most common causes include:
Road traffic accidents
One of the leading causes of neck injuries is road traffic accidents. These injuries often result from:
- Whiplash injuries caused by rear-end collisions
- Accidents involving cyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians, where a driver’s negligence leads to an impact
- Passenger injuries in car crashes, even at low speeds
Following the Whiplash Reform Programme introduced in 2021, claims for whiplash injuries caused by road traffic accidents are now subject to specific compensation guidelines. However, you may still be entitled to additional compensation for financial losses and other impacts on your life alongside whiplash claims. If your neck injury is more serious, you could make a separate personal injury claim.
Workplace accidents
Your employer has a legal duty to protect your health and safety at work. Unfortunately, workplace accidents do occur, often due to employer negligence. Neck injuries at work can be caused by:
- Falling objects striking the neck or head
- Manual handling accidents where proper training or equipment wasn’t provided
- Slips, trips, and falls caused by hazards such as wet floors, poor housekeeping, or unsafe working environments
Employers must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which sets out their responsibilities. If your injury happened because your employer failed to provide a safe workplace, you may have grounds to make a claim for a neck injury sustained at work.
Slips, trips, and falls in public places
Neck injuries in public spaces are commonly caused by hazards such as:
- Uneven pavements, potholes, or poorly maintained walkways
- Wet floors without warning signs
- Obstacles left in walkways
- Poor lighting
In these cases, the council, business or property owner may be responsible. If they failed to keep the area safe, you could be entitled to make a claim.
How much compensation could I claim for a neck injury?
The amount of compensation you can receive for a neck injury will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injury, the impact on your life, and any financial losses you have suffered because of it. Compensation is typically split into two categories:
- General damages: Compensation for the overall pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (loss of quality of life) caused by your injury.
- Special damages: Compensation that covers your financial losses or expenses incurred because of your neck injury, such as a loss of earnings, medical costs, travel expenses, and the cost of care or home adaptations.
You can use our compensation calculator to get an estimate of how much your neck injury claim could be worth in general damages, but to give you a general idea, here’s how neck and spine injury compensation amounts are typically assessed:
| Injury severity | Compensation Range |
| Minor soft tissue damage (full recovery within months) | £2,990 – £5,310 |
| Moderate neck injury (fractures, dislocations) | £9,630 – £30,500 |
| Severe neck injury (spinal cord damage, chronic pain) | £55,500 – £159,770 |
These figures are a guide. The best way to understand how much you could claim is to speak to our legal team. We’ll assess your specific case and give you clear, practical advice on what you could be entitled to.
No-win, no-fee neck injury claims – how does it work?
We know legal costs can feel like a barrier, especially when you’re already dealing with the effects of an injury. That’s why we offer a no-win, no-fee service.
If you make a claim with us, you won’t pay anything up front. You’ll only pay a success fee if your claim is successful — and if it isn’t, you won’t owe us anything. If you win, a success fee will be deducted from your compensation amount to cover the cost of pursuing your claim.
What costs are covered?
Our no-win, no-fee service covers:
- Our legal fees
- Legal expenses
- Court fees
- Medical reports and expert evidence
These costs are protected by After the Event (ATE) insurance, so there is no financial risk to you when you make a personal injury claim with us.
What evidence do I need to support my neck injury claim?
The strength of your claim will depend on the evidence you can provide to show how your injury happened, what negligence was involved, and how it has affected your life since. Key pieces of evidence include:
- Medical records and a formal diagnosis from your doctor
- Photographs of the accident scene or hazardous conditions, and images of any visible injuries you have
- Witness statements from people who saw the incident or can speak to how your injury has affected you
- CCTV or dashcam footage that captures the accident or its aftermath
- An official accident report if the incident happened at work or in a public place
Our legal team will help you gather the evidence needed to build a strong case.
How long do neck injury claims take?
Every case is unique, and the time it takes to settle a neck injury claim will depend on the complexity of your circumstances and whether the other party admits liability. Typical timescales are:
- Simple cases (minor soft tissue damage): 3–6 months
- Moderate cases (fractures, ongoing pain): 6–12 months
- Complex cases (severe spinal injuries, disputed liability): 12 months or longer
For a clearer idea based on your individual case, speak to one of our legal experts today.
Frequently asked questions about neck injury claims
How do I know if I’m eligible to claim?
If your neck injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, even partly, and it’s led to pain, financial loss or disruption to your life, you may be entitled to compensation.
Will my case go to court?
Most neck injury claims are settled out of court. But if the other party denies liability or a fair settlement can’t be agreed, court action may be needed. If that happens, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Can I claim for psychological trauma as well?
Yes. Psychological conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression arising from your accident can be included as part of your neck injury claim.
What if my employer refuses to accept responsibility?
If your employer or another party denies responsibility, our team will help gather evidence and deal with their insurer to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Can I claim if my injury happened a while ago?
You usually have three years from the date of the accident, or from when you became aware of your injury, to make a claim. Exceptions may apply, such as if you were a child at the time of the accident or if you lacked mental capacity.
How do I start my neck injury compensation claim?
Starting your claim is simple. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll assess your claim and explain your legal options. If you decide to proceed with us, we’ll handle all negotiations on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Start your neck injury claim today
If you’ve suffered a neck injury through no fault of your own, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Compensation can help you access treatment, support your recovery, and ease financial worries.
Our expert neck injury solicitors can help lead you through every step of the personal injury compensation process, taking all the stress and hassle out of making a claim.
Contact our expert legal team today for a free case assessment. Call us on 0333 400 4445, any day, any time, or fill in a contact form and we’ll get back to you right away.