Anxiety Compensation Calculator
Calculate potential compensation for anxiety and psychological injury claims in the UK
Calculate Your Potential Compensation
Your Estimated Compensation Range
Compensation Breakdown
What This Means
Next Steps: This is an estimated range based on Judicial College Guidelines. Your actual compensation may vary depending on medical evidence, the specific circumstances of your case, and how the injury has affected your life. Consult with a qualified personal injury solicitor for an accurate assessment of your claim.
What Is Anxiety Compensation?
Anxiety compensation refers to financial damages awarded to individuals who have suffered psychological injuries, including anxiety disorders, due to another party’s negligence. In the UK, you can claim compensation for psychological harm just as you would for physical injuries, provided you can demonstrate that someone who owed you a duty of care breached that duty and caused your condition.
Psychological injuries such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and other mental health conditions can have profound effects on your ability to work, maintain relationships, and enjoy life. The law recognises these impacts and provides a framework for compensation.
Types of Anxiety Claims
Workplace-Related Anxiety
Employers have a legal duty of care to protect employees’ mental wellbeing. Claims can arise from workplace harassment, bullying, excessive workload, failure to provide adequate support, or traumatic workplace incidents. Work-related stress causing anxiety disorders may qualify for compensation if your employer breached their duty of care.
Road Traffic Accident Anxiety
Anxiety following a car accident is common and can manifest as travel anxiety, panic attacks when driving or as a passenger, or PTSD. If another driver’s negligence caused the accident that led to your anxiety, you may be entitled to compensation for both physical injuries and psychological trauma.
Medical Negligence Anxiety
Experiencing medical negligence, such as anaesthetic awareness, surgical errors, or misdiagnosis, can cause severe psychological trauma. Patients who suffer anxiety due to substandard medical care may claim compensation against healthcare providers.
Public Place Accidents
Occupiers of public spaces owe visitors a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Accidents in shops, restaurants, or other public venues that cause psychological injury may form the basis of a compensation claim.
How Compensation Is Calculated
General Damages
General damages compensate for the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by your psychological injury. Solicitors and courts refer to the Judicial College Guidelines, which provide suggested compensation brackets for different severities of psychiatric damage and PTSD.
| Injury Type | Severity | Compensation Range |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric Damage | Severe | £66,920 – £141,240 |
| Psychiatric Damage | Moderately Severe | £23,270 – £66,920 |
| Psychiatric Damage | Moderate | £7,150 – £23,270 |
| Psychiatric Damage | Less Severe | £1,880 – £7,150 |
| PTSD | Severe | £73,050 – £122,850 |
| PTSD | Moderately Severe | £28,250 – £73,050 |
| PTSD | Moderate | £9,980 – £28,250 |
| PTSD | Less Severe | £4,820 – £9,980 |
Special Damages
Special damages cover quantifiable financial losses resulting from your anxiety. These include lost earnings from time off work, reduced earning capacity, medical treatment costs, therapy and counselling expenses, prescription medication costs, travel expenses for medical appointments, and care costs if you require assistance with daily activities.
To claim special damages, you must provide documentary evidence such as payslips, bank statements, receipts, invoices, and medical bills.
Eligibility Requirements
To make a successful anxiety compensation claim, you must establish three key elements:
Duty of Care: The defendant owed you a duty of care. This could be an employer, road user, medical professional, or property occupier.
Breach of Duty: The defendant breached their duty of care through negligent actions or omissions.
Causation: The breach directly caused your anxiety or psychological injury.
Evidence Required
Building a strong anxiety compensation claim requires comprehensive evidence. Medical evidence is paramount, including GP records documenting your diagnosis, psychiatric or psychological assessments, therapy notes, and prescriptions. An independent medical examination arranged by your solicitor will provide a detailed report on your condition, prognosis, and treatment needs.
Additional supporting evidence includes witness statements from colleagues, family members, or friends who can testify to how your condition has affected you, incident documentation such as accident reports or workplace records, financial documentation proving your losses, and photographic or video evidence where applicable.
Time Limits for Claims
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have three years from the date of the incident that caused your anxiety to start a personal injury claim. However, exceptions apply in certain circumstances.
Important: If you lack mental capacity due to your psychological injury, the three-year time limit is paused until you recover capacity. For injuries suffered as a child, the three-year period begins on your 18th birthday. In cases where the psychological injury develops gradually, the time limit may start from the “date of knowledge” when you became aware the injury was caused by negligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can claim compensation for psychological injuries alone without any physical harm, provided you can prove that your anxiety was caused by someone else’s negligence and you have medical evidence supporting your condition.
Whilst a formal diagnosis from a GP or psychiatrist significantly strengthens your claim, you can still pursue compensation with medical evidence documenting your symptoms and their impact on your life. An independent medical assessment will typically be arranged as part of the claims process.
The duration varies depending on the complexity of your case. Straightforward claims may settle within 6-12 months, whilst more complex cases involving disputed liability or severe injuries could take 18-24 months or longer. Your solicitor will provide a more accurate timeline based on your specific circumstances.
If your employer disputes liability, your solicitor will gather evidence to support your claim, including witness statements, occupational health records, and expert medical testimony. Many disputes are resolved through negotiation, but some may proceed to court if settlement cannot be reached.
Yes, claims for gradually developing psychological conditions, such as work-related stress that accumulates over months or years, are possible. The three-year time limit typically begins from your “date of knowledge” when you became aware that your condition was caused by negligence.
Most personal injury claims, including anxiety compensation claims, settle out of court through negotiation between solicitors. Only a small percentage proceed to trial, typically when liability is heavily disputed or parties cannot agree on compensation amounts.
A No Win No Fee agreement, formally called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), means you only pay legal fees if your claim is successful. If your claim fails, you pay nothing to your solicitor. If successful, your solicitor deducts a legally capped success fee from your compensation.
Claims for psychiatric injury suffered by witnessing an accident to another person are possible but subject to strict legal tests. You generally must have close ties of love and affection to the primary victim, witness the immediate aftermath of the incident, and suffer a recognised psychiatric illness as a result.
Next Steps
If you believe you have grounds for an anxiety compensation claim, taking prompt action is important. Consult a specialist personal injury solicitor who can assess your case and advise on your prospects of success. Gather all available evidence, including medical records and documentation of your losses. Seek medical attention if you have not already done so, as early diagnosis and treatment support both your health and your claim.
Remember that this calculator provides estimates based on general guidelines. Every claim is unique, and your actual compensation will depend on the specific facts of your case, the quality of medical evidence, and the skill of your legal representation.