""It was just a bump" — insurers love that line. In Scotland, low-speed crashes still pay out thousands. Don't be talked out of it."
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Insurance companies routinely defend low-speed (under 15 mph) collision claims with the argument that "the impact was insufficient to cause injury". This argument has been comprehensively rejected by Scottish courts — biomechanical evidence shows whiplash and soft-tissue injury occur readily at impact speeds as low as 5–10 mph.
Scotland operates under Scots law (separate from English law) and does NOT apply the 2021 whiplash tariff. Every claim is individually assessed by a Scottish solicitor and processed through the Sheriff Court system, meaning compensation is typically 2–5x higher than for an identical injury in England.
Liability is the central question in any Scottish claim. Here are the most common scenarios for low-speed collision cases:
Liability identical to high-speed crashes — speed of impact does not change the duty of care.
Scottish claims are individually assessed — there is NO whiplash tariff cap. These ranges reflect actual settlements and Sheriff Court awards.
| Injury type | Compensation range |
|---|---|
| Minor whiplash (under 3 months) | £1,000 – £3,000 |
| Moderate whiplash (6–12 months) | £5,000 – £10,000 |
| Significant neck/back injury (12–18 months) | £8,000 – £18,000 |
| Severe back / disc damage | £15,000 – £45,000 |
| Concussion / mild brain injury | £3,000 – £15,000 |
| Moderate brain injury | £45,000 – £150,000 |
| Broken bones (wrist/arm/leg) | £8,000 – £35,000 |
| Facial scarring | £3,500 – £40,000 |
| PTSD / anxiety after accident | £4,000 – £55,000 |
The strongest claims start with the cleanest evidence. Gather these as soon as possible:
No. This is a standard defence tactic. Scottish courts and biomechanical evidence accept that whiplash routinely occurs at sub-15mph impacts. Don't accept the insurer's medical opinion — get an independent assessment via a solicitor.
✓ Scotland · Scots Law · ✓ No Whiplash Cap · ✓ No Win No Fee
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