Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Whiplash definition

What does Whiplash mean? A soft-tissue injury to the neck, often extending to the back or shoulder, caused by rapid acceleration–deceleration (commonly a rear-end road traffic collision). In legal practice, whiplash is a descriptive medical term used in personal injury claims; it is not a standalone cause of action. In England and Wales, for road traffic accident claims, the Civil Liability Act 2018 and the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 give the term a statutory meaning for damages, introducing tariff awards for pain, suffering and loss of amenity where symptoms last up to two years (including minor psychological injury) and routing most low-value claims through the...

Whiplash and Soft Tissue RTA Claims: Medical Issues, Statutory Tariff and Mixed-Injury Valuation, Protocols (RTA/Small Claims), Track Allocation, MedCo and Fraud—England and Wales

Published by a LexisNexis PI & Clinical Negligence expert

Practice notes

NOTE : The Pre-action Protocol for Personal injury Claims Below the Small Claims Limit in Road Traffic Accidents (the RTA Small Claims Protocol)

This protocol applies to accidents occurring on or after 31 May 2021 where the injury element of the claim does not exceed £5,000 and the total value is capped at £10,000. The Small claims track limit for personal injury arising from road traffic accidents has been raised to £5,000 for damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA), subject to specified exceptions. For more about the RTA Small Claims Protocol, including when it is disapplied, see: The RTA small claims protocol—key features checklist.

Whiplash claims, often described as soft tissue injury claims, arise from an impact to a vehicle that causes sudden acceleration and a forceful overextension of the claimant’s neck. While the body remains restrained, the head is propelled backwards, extending the neck. This abrupt motion harms the neck’s ligaments and tendons. Tendons are strong, fibrous cords that attach muscles to bone. Ligaments are the fibrous connective tissues that link two...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...