Compensation claims and Scotland's concept of Solatium

One of the ways in which a compensation claim in Scotland will differ from one undertaken in England or Wales is the concept of solatium, which will only feature in a Scottish accident claim.

Solatium is the name given to the part of a compensation payout that is due to pain and suffering, rather than that due to lost earnings and costs. Some sources refer to this as reparation for damage to the feelings of a claimant, or pursuer.

Elements that are likely to be examined in the determination of solatium include the severity of the personal injury suffered, the amount of pain that the pursuer experiences - past, present and future - and the way the accident injury will affect the pursuer's future quality of life, such as sports and pastimes that become impossible due to the accident at the centre of the compensation claim.

Scotland's press has reported on solatium payments in 2008 that have varied between £3,500 for a case of sciatic pain resulting from an industrial accident to £100,000 for a motorcycle accident that left a young man with brain damage.

The term itself comes from the same Latin root as does the word 'solace', meaning that there is a sense in which this element of the damages payment is intended to alleviate suffering. This is, of course, one of the central urges in any compensation claim.

Making a compensation claim in Scotland with no win, no fee experts
If you are considering a claim for compensation to alleviate your suffering, YouClaim should be your first port of call. We are UK experts in no win, no fee claims with a strong understanding of Scottish personal injury law, which offers you the best of both worlds.

Our expert panel of personal injury solicitors can handle most claims on a completely free basis, whatever the result of your case. That is, our no win, no fee arrangement means that you have nothing to pay in a lost case, whereas, in a won case, we will charge our fee to your opponent and pass 100 percent compensation to you. We take no cut.

We also protect you, in most claims, from all costs and disbursements that the compensation claim may cause. The few exceptions come with a promise that we will ensure you are never surprised by these charges, that they will be kept to a minimum, and that we will strive to have them reimbursed.

Our entire panel is governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, part of the Law Society, for your confidence.

You could begin your claim right now by contacting us. Our website will let you chat to an advisor online through our echat window, or you can leave details through our claim form and we'll call you back at a time of your choice. Or simply call us, on 0800 10 757 95, and discuss the details of your compensation claim with a Scotland specialist.