Head Injury Claims — Compensation
Last reviewed: June 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors
Head injuries range from mild concussion to severe traumatic brain injury with life-altering consequences. If your head injury was caused by someone else's negligence, EA Personal Injury Solicitors can help you claim the compensation you need on a no win, no fee basis.
TL;DR — Quick Summary
Key Points
- Head injuries can cause physical, cognitive, psychiatric and behavioural effects — all claimable
- Serious head injury claims require multi-disciplinary expert evidence
- Future losses — care, lost earnings, accommodation — can be the largest element of serious claims
- Mental incapacity pauses the limitation period
- No win, no fee — if the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation
Understanding Head Injuries
Head injuries are classified on a spectrum from mild to severe based on measures such as duration of loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia and neuroimaging findings. Even mild traumatic brain injuries — previously sometimes dismissed as "just concussion" — are now recognised to cause persistent symptoms including headaches, fatigue, memory difficulties, concentration problems and emotional changes that can significantly affect quality of life and the ability to work.
At the serious end of the spectrum, severe traumatic brain injury can cause permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, epilepsy, motor deficits, and the need for long-term care. The consequences may extend not just to the injured person but to their family and close relationships.
Causes of Head Injuries in Compensation Claims
- Road traffic accidents — impact with steering wheel, windscreen or other structure; thrown from a vehicle or motorcycle
- Falls from height — workplace falls from scaffolding, ladders or elevated work platforms
- Slips and falls — striking the head on a floor, fixture or other surface
- Being struck by falling objects — on construction sites or in warehouses
- Sports accidents — where inadequate safety measures or rules were in place
- Assaults — criminal injury compensation may be available via the CICA
- Medical negligence — delayed diagnosis or treatment of a brain haemorrhage or other intracranial condition
Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of Head Injury
Head injury effects can include:
- Headaches and migraines
- Memory impairment and difficulty learning new information
- Poor concentration and attention
- Fatigue — often profound and poorly understood by employers and others
- Changes in personality and behaviour — irritability, impulsivity, social disinhibition
- Depression, anxiety and PTSD
- Epilepsy — post-traumatic seizures affect a significant minority of brain injury survivors
- Motor deficits — weakness, balance and coordination problems
- Sensory changes — visual or hearing disturbances
Building a Head Injury Claim
Head injury claims require careful expert evidence. For moderate to severe injuries we typically instruct a neurologist or neurosurgeon to address the physical injury, a neuropsychologist to quantify cognitive deficits, a care expert to assess current and future care needs, and an employment consultant where career capacity is affected. We work with some of the country's leading medico-legal experts in this field.
Interim Payments in Head Injury Cases
In serious cases where liability is admitted or likely to be established, it is often possible to obtain an interim payment from the defendant's insurers to fund rehabilitation, care or accommodation needs before the claim is finally resolved. We will advise whether an application for an interim payment is appropriate in your case.
No Win, No Fee Head Injury Claims
We act under a Conditional Fee Agreement. If the claim fails, you pay nothing. If the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation.