What are injury scale values (ISV’s)?
Find out if you have a claim in just 3 minutes
Use our free online claim check to find out where you stand and if you have a claim.
Start OnlineStart your free claim check
Find out in minutes if and how much you can claim
Injury scale values are commonly used in some jurisdictions throughout Australia to assist in calculating the level of compensation for a personal injury.
How do injury scale values work?
Injury scale values or ISV’s as they are commonly known are numerical values on a scale from 0-100 which categorise injuries and the burden associated with such injuries to the sufferer and their loved ones. For example, a severe brain injury may carry a rating of between 71 and 100 while a minor hand injury carries a rating on between 1 and 10. To put ISV’s in the most simple terms, 0 meaning not injured and 100 being serious or catastrophically injured.
Examples of ISV’s and how they are applied
Below are two ratings are taken from The Civil Liability Regulations 2013 (SA) Schedule 1—Ranges of injury scale values.
Quadriplegia ISV rating 80 to 100
Examples of factors affecting ISV scale for quadriplegic injuries:
• Presence and extent of pain
• Extent of any residual movement
• Consequential mental harm
• Level of function and pre-injury function
• Degree of independence
• Ability to participate in daily activities, including employment
• Presence and extent of secondary medical complications • Loss of reproductive or sexual function
• Bowel or bladder incontinence
The appropriate level of ISV An ISV at or near the top of the range will be appropriate only if the injured person requires assisted ventilation, extreme physical limitation and gross impairment of the ability to communicate.
Minor facial injury ISV rating 0 to 5
Examples of the injury affecting ISV scale for facial inuries:
• A simple cheekbone fracture, for which surgery is not required and from which the injured person will recover fully
• A simple jaw fracture, requiring immobilisation and from which the injured person will recover
• A stable fracture of the joint process of the jaw
• A displaced fracture of the nasal complex requiring only manipulation
• A simple undisplaced fracture of the nasal complex, from which the injured person will fully recover
• A severed sensory nerve
The ISV may be higher than the ISV for the same injury caused by something else.
Who decides what level of ISV is associated with an injury?
Only a qualified medical professional, usually an occupational physician can diagnose your injuries during a medical examination. In most instances, you will need to undergo two medical examination’s, one independent exam as organised by your lawyer and one carried out by the MVA or workers compensation doctors.
