Compensation after a traffic accident

If you have been injured in a traffic accident or collision, whether as a pedestrian, driver, passenger, cyclist or motorcyclist, you may be entitled to compensation. There are several categories of compensation that may be relevant after a traffic accident, depending on your situation and your injuries. Below is an overview of the most common compensation items related to loss of income and expenses following a traffic injury. Legal costs are also usually covered through insurance. Please feel free to contact us for an assessment of which compensation claims may be relevant for you.

This is what you may claim after a traffic accident:

Compensation – loss of income

You are entitled to have your loss of income covered by the insurance company if you are injured in a traffic accident. The loss usually arises after the expiry of the sick pay period. It may also arise earlier if you had income from overtime or additional work, or earned more than 6G (the National Insurance basic amount is NOK 136,549 as of 01.05.2026). Most people need assistance to calculate loss of income correctly and to submit the claim to the insurance company following a traffic injury.

Did you know that the insurance company usually covers legal costs if you are injured in a traffic accident?

Compensation – future loss of income

If you are unable to return to the same percentage of employment as before the accident, or cannot work the same amount of overtime, you will have a future loss of income. Future loss of income is calculated from the time the case is settled until retirement age. In some cases, the loss period is shorter, for example if retraining allows you to return to full employment.

Future loss of income is often complex to calculate and involves many variables. We have extensive experience in submitting claims for loss of income and know what factors are important to consider.

Compensation for expenses after a traffic injury

You are entitled to have all necessary and reasonable expenses covered as a result of the traffic accident. This may include treatment, doctor’s visits, medication, travel, equipment, and more. First, it must be clarified what HELFO covers; thereafter, uncovered expenses are claimed from the insurance company. Keep receipts to document your expenses. Even if amounts seem small initially, the total can become significant if symptoms persist.

Non‑economic damages – traffic accident

Non‑economic damages are paid when you have suffered a traffic injury that has resulted in permanent impairment in the form of medical disability. The compensation is intended to compensate for loss of enjoyment of life that cannot be measured financially. The degree of medical disability determines the compensation amount and is calculated as a percentage based on the National Insurance basic amount (G). This differs from economic loss, which is assessed based on actual income and expenses. You may be entitled to non‑economic damages even if you are able to work as normal and have no loss of income. We can help assess whether non‑economic damages may be relevant for you after a traffic accident.

Compensation – future expenses

You are entitled to compensation for future expenses such as medication, medical treatment, healthcare services, and assistive devices that you will need in the years ahead.

Compensation – legal costs

You are entitled to have necessary and reasonable legal costs covered. This means that, as a general rule, all of your solicitor’s fees will be covered if you are injured in a traffic accident.

Compensation – tax disadvantage

Future compensation may generate returns in the form of interest if deposited in a bank, and the compensation amount may also be subject to wealth tax. To prevent taxation from eroding future compensation, an uplift of 20% is applied to all future compensation.

Compensation after a traffic injury – lost pension accrual

If your income is reduced following a traffic accident, you will normally not accrue pension rights to the same extent as if the accident had not occurred. This is a compensation item that is complex to calculate. We can help you calculate your pension loss.

Compensation – loss of household work capacity

If you are unable to perform your share of traditional household work, maintenance, renovation, gardening, snow clearing, and similar tasks after the traffic accident, compensation may be claimed. This applies both immediately after the accident and in the future.

Compensation for pain and suffering after a traffic injury

If the responsible driver acted with gross negligence and thereby caused the accident, you may claim compensation for pain and suffering directly from the driver or the insurance company. This compensation is intended as a punitive response to physical or psychological harm. In some cases, you may also be entitled to a publicly funded legal aid solicitor. We have extensive experience acting as legal counsel for injured parties, enabling us to assist you with both the compensation claim and any related criminal proceedings.

Traffic accident – compensation for death – loss of dependency

If a traffic accident results in death, the surviving dependants are entitled to compensation.