The latest edition of the Judicial College Guidelines has been published. What does this mean for injury valuations?
Every person and every injury is different, as are the effects upon the individual involved. It will always be for the Courts and the Judges who sit in them to decide what is a fair valuation, based upon the evidence.
The Guidelines reflect a summary of what the Courts in England & Wales are currently awarding in compensation to injured people. This data is then reflected in brackets of award into which the vast majority of injuries will fall, allowing for the type and seriousness of those injuries and how long they last.
Now in its 34th year, this (18th) edition has seen injury valuations increase by just under 8.3% to reflect inflation over the last 2 years since the previous edition was published, based on the Retail Prices Index.
Therefore, a minor soft tissue injury such as a strain or bruising lasting for up to 1 month, previously valued at up to £1,680.00, will now be valued at up to £1,810.00.
This is important for vulnerable people and vulnerable road users, such as children, pedestrians and cyclists, as it means injuries which last for about 2 weeks or more will make it cost effective for an injured person to use a lawyer to make their claim.
The only valuations not affected are those for people sustaining a soft tissue whiplash type injury as an occupant of a motor vehicle* in an accident occurring on or after 31st May 2021, as these are governed by a fixed Tariff. Those valuations are significantly lower, when compared with substantially the same injury sustained by someone who was not in a motor vehicle at the time they were injured. The fixed Tariff was updated for people injured on or after 31st May 2025, with valuations typically being 11.5% higher.
If you are, or think you might be affected and want to discuss your options, then please call us or send us an e-mail. We will do our best to help.
[* excepting children and persons under a disability, who still benefit from the new increased Guideline valuations]
May 2026