Accident Claim Lawyers
MedicalUpdated September 2026

Prognosis in injury claims

In plain English: a prognosis is a doctor's professional prediction of how your injury will develop: how long recovery should take, whether you'll recover fully, and what problems might remain or appear later.

The number that sets the value

For many injuries, the prognosis drives the claim more than the diagnosis. A neck injury with a prognosis of six months is valued very differently from the same injury expected to last three years. In England and Wales, the whiplash tariff is literally built around predicted duration. In the US and Canada, adjusters' software and courts rely heavily on how long the doctors say symptoms will last.

How doctors reach a prognosis

They look at the type and severity of your injury, how you've responded to treatment so far, your age and general health, your job, and what's typical for similar injuries. A good prognosis explains its reasoning and gives a range rather than a single date. It should also say whether there's a risk of future problems, such as arthritis, epilepsy or further surgery.

When the prognosis is uncertain

Early on, doctors often can't say. That's normal, and it's usually a sign to wait rather than settle. Your lawyer may ask for an updated report after more treatment. Once you reach maximum medical improvement, the picture is normally clear enough to value the claim properly.

  • Ask your doctor what recovery is expected and how confident they are.
  • Keep treating and keep a symptom diary so any update is based on real progress.
  • Don't accept an offer based on a prognosis you already know is wrong.
Example

An expert predicts a full recovery from a back injury in 12 months. At 10 months, you're no better. Rather than settle on the original report, your solicitor goes back to the expert with your updated records, and the revised prognosis extends to three years with some permanent symptoms.

If things get worse after you settle

A settlement is usually final. If your recovery turns out slower than predicted, you generally can't reopen it. That's why a cautious prognosis should be tested before you accept any offer. In the UK, provisional damages can sometimes cover a specific, identified risk of serious deterioration. In the US and Canada, a structured or reserved arrangement is occasionally possible, but most settlements close the claim for good.

Two prognoses, one claim

The insurer's examiner may predict a faster recovery than your doctor. Where the difference is large, a further opinion or a joint expert often settles the argument.

Next: independent medical opinion · permanent impairment · settlement vs trial.

Related terms

Activities of Daily LivingActivities of daily living, or ADLs, are the basic tasks of looking after yourself: washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, and moving from bed to chair.Chronic PainChronic pain is pain that lasts beyond the normal healing time, usually defined by doctors as more than three months.ConcussionA concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt that makes the brain move inside the skull.CT ScanA CT (computed tomography) scan uses a series of X-rays and a computer to build cross-section images of your body.

General information, not legal or medical advice. Rules differ between US states, the UK and Canadian provinces, so check the law where your accident happened. How we write and check · Legal disclaimer