JCG 18th Edition: What Your Injury Is Actually Worth in 2026
In April 2026 the Judicial College published the 18th Edition of its Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages — the book that anchors virtually every personal injury valuation in England & Wales. Every bracket rose by roughly 8.26%, tracking RPI inflation to August 2025.
What the Guidelines Are
A slim reference book, under ninety pages, organising injuries by body area and severity with a monetary bracket for each level. The brackets distil actual court awards. They are formally guidance — courts retain discretion — but in practice, solicitor demand letters, insurer counter-offers and judicial assessments all speak JCG.
Sample 18th Edition Brackets
| Injury | Bracket |
|---|---|
| Very severe brain damage | £372,570 – £533,720 |
| Severe back injury (nerve root damage) | £97,980 – £116,820 |
| Severe neck injury (fractures, considerable disability) | £86,860 – £172,970 |
| Severe knee injury (joint disruption, osteoarthritis) | £92,130 – £127,110 |
| Moderate back injury (compression fracture) | £36,680 – £51,230 |
| Serious shoulder injury | £16,870 – £25,370 |
| Minor foot injury | Up to £18,150 |
What Changed Beyond Inflation
- Updated epilepsy terminology in the brain injury chapter
- Revised sexual and physical abuse categories reflecting recent higher-court decisions
- A new bracket for miscarriage caused by negligence
- An updated note on the interaction between JCG brackets and the whiplash tariff
Which Edition Applies to Your Claim
The edition current at settlement or trial — not at the accident date. A claim from 2024 settling in late 2026 is valued under the 18th Edition. This matters: on a serious injury bracket, the 8.26% uplift is worth tens of thousands of pounds, and insurers occasionally table offers computed on the outgoing edition. Check.
How Solicitors Use the Book — and How You Can
Valuation is a three-step exercise: identify the chapter, match the medical evidence to a severity level, then argue position within the bracket using prognosis, treatment history and impact on life. Nothing in that process is secret. Our UK compensation calculator applies the same 18th Edition brackets and lets you add financial losses and contributory fault to reach a full claim estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
About This Guide
Our guides are researched from primary sources — state statutes and court guidelines, the Insurance Information Institute, IRS rules, and published jury-verdict data — cited inline where figures appear. Monetary amounts, caps, and percentages reflect the law in effect for 2026. See how our calculators work and our editorial approach.
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time, and every case is different. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.