Claiming for aids and appliances
Your injury means you now need equipment or changes at home, and you want that included.
Aids and appliances cover the equipment and home changes your injury makes necessary, from a wheelchair to a bathroom grab rail. Like other future care costs, this is assessed on what a specialist recommends, not a general assumption about your injury.[1] It can be a one-off purchase or something that needs replacing over time.
Common examples this covers
- Mobility aids, such as a wheelchair, walking frame or crutches.
- Prosthetic or orthotic devices following an amputation or serious fracture.
- Home modifications, such as ramps, grab rails or a raised toilet seat.
- Hearing aids or visual aids, where the injury has affected hearing or sight.
- Adapted vehicle controls, where a driver’s own mobility is affected.
Why a specialist recommendation matters so much here
A generic list of equipment carries little weight. An occupational therapist’s or specialist’s assessment, explaining why a specific item is needed for your injury, is what supports this part of the claim.
One-off items versus items that wear out
Some aids are a single purchase. Others, such as a wheelchair or certain orthotic devices, wear out and need replacing. A specialist’s evidence on how often they need replacing supports claiming the ongoing cost instead of a single payment.
Getting a supplier’s quotation
A written quotation from a supplier for the recommended item adds concrete detail to the specialist’s assessment. The court still decides what is reasonable.
What to do next
Ask your occupational therapist or specialist for a written list of recommended equipment and home changes as part of your medical report for your claim. Claiming for future medical and care shows how this fits with treatment and daily help. Home and nursing care covers ongoing daily help separately. Permanent disability often overlaps with a long-term need for equipment.
An independent lawyer can present these costs as part of your claim. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Does this only apply to permanent injuries?
No, though permanent injuries are the most common situation. Temporary equipment needed during recovery, such as crutches or a wheelchair after surgery, can also be included for the period it is genuinely needed.
Who decides which equipment is actually necessary?
An occupational therapist or treating specialist generally makes this recommendation as part of your medical evidence, rather than the claim being built around a general list of what might help.
Can I claim for home renovations, or only small items?
Reasonable home modifications connected to your injury, such as a ramp or a widened doorway for a wheelchair, can generally be included, provided a specialist confirms the need and the cost is reasonable.
What if the equipment needs replacing every few years?
Where a specialist confirms an item has a limited working life, the realistic cost of replacing it over time can generally be reflected, rather than treating it as a single one-off purchase.
Sources
- Civil Law Act 1956, s.28A (Attorney General's Chambers) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.