How Much Compensation For A Facial Scar? Case Study And Guide On Facial Scar Claims

Compensation for a facial scar can range from four figures to almost six since they can be innocuous or easily concealed, but sometimes life-changing. Your facial scar injury may have impacted your mental wellbeing and, for that, you could add to your compensation by claiming for emotional distress.

Compensation For A Facial Scar

After a facial scar injury caused by third-party negligence, you may be wondering:

Can you sue for a facial scar?
What is permanent disfigurement?
How do I calculate my personal injury claim?

This guide seeks to help you answer these questions and understand your claim. However, circumstances surrounding claims are unique to the individual, and online personal injury claims calculators are not necessarily exact. For that, you would need legal professional advice on compensation for a facial scar.

Our panel of personal injury lawyers would be able to help you. If you’d like to speak to a professional for free advice with no requirement to use our legal services, you can contact our team of advisors on 0800 408 7826. They’re here 24/7 and contactable through our form too.

Select a Section

How Much Compensation For A Facial Scar?
What Constitutes A Facial Scar?
Examples Of Financial Issues From Facial Scars
Top 3 Most Common Facial Scar Accidents
Case Study: £125,000 Compensation For A Facial Scar
A Victim’s Duty Of Care
Liability For A Duty Of Care Breach
Estimates Of Compensation For A Facial Scar
No Win No Fee Facial Scar Policy
Finding Suitable Personal Injury Solicitors
Your Compensation For A Facial Scar Claim
Additional Learning Materials

How Much Compensation For A Facial Scar?

A question victims of facial injuries may ask is ‘How much is a facial scar worth?’ The answer is complicated because facial scars can be created in many different ways and cause varying degrees of mental and physical suffering. This guide aims to help you estimate what your claim may be worth but, because we understand that the personal injury claims process can be complicated and you may be under considerable stress already, it also aims to:

Help you understand what duty of care you deserved in the eyes of the law and how it was broken (focusing on workplace accidents, road traffic accidents and accidents in public places).
Allow you to recognise what can be used as evidence when seeking compensation for a facial scar caused by someone else’s actions.
Honestly explain No Win No Fee agreements.
Give you a head start in finding a suitable personal injury solicitor through tips on what a good one looks like, as well as details on our service offering.

Read on for deeper understanding and, if you need to query anything else, make use of our live chatbox.

What Constitutes A Facial Scar?

According to the NHS, a facial scar is the result of an injury that breaks skin tissues. This causes collagen (a protein) to accumulate at the site of the wound. It builds until the skin is healed, strong and the blood supply is increased, then breaks down again, decreasing blood supply. The visible effect is scarring.

Calculating compensation can involve understanding how severe the scarring is.

Minor scars may fade over a couple of years, but will not disappear. Often, minimal facial scarring can result in little to no mental health impact. However, severe scarring such as keloid or hypertrophic (which can occur after burns, lacerations or cuts) could be difficult to conceal. Plus, though they might fade with time, they would be seen as a permanent disfigurement.

So long as your scars are attributed to the incompetence of a third party, you may be able to claim. But, through laws, the party must have breached their duties as we’ll discuss below.

Workplace accident

If you had an accident at work, your employer should have done what is reasonable to ensure you were protected. According to the Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974, this could be achieved through training you correctly, providing you with the appropriate PPE or maintaining equipment.

A failure to do so could create a risk of accidents happening, which may result in someone suffering a facial scar.

Road Traffic Accident

If you are seeking compensation for a facial scar following an RTA, the other road user should have used The Highway Code correctly. This means they should have taken reasonable care to avoid causing damage to those on the highway and displayed standard skill when controlling their vehicle or bike.

Injured in a Public Place

The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 is relevant for those who control private or public property or premises. ‘Occupiers’ must ensure that the health and safety of visitors are secured. This means choosing capable independent contractors if necessary and providing ample warning of dangers.

You, however, are also responsible for your own wellbeing, as we will discuss below.

If, after reading the above, you believe you could seek compensation, our team is available on the number at the top of the page. They can talk with you about your case, without obligating you to use the services of our panel of personal injury lawyers.

Examples Of Financial Issues From Facial Scars

The psychological impact of facial scarring could be so overwhelming that you haven’t considered the added financial issues it has caused. If you choose to make a facial scar injury claim, you could be asked by your personal injury lawyer to look into your finances. Did you:

Pay for your own counselling?
See travel expenses build up after appointments with the doctor?
Lose part of your salary after taking time off from work to recover?
Buy skin creams, camouflage or make-up?

You may be surprised at the expense as you calculate compensation for a facial scar. If you were not culpable for the accident, the body at fault could be liable to compensate you for your financial loss.

Crucially, you must keep hold of all receipts, bills and invoices to evidence the expense, otherwise, you may be unable to recover the cost.

Top 3 Most Common Facial Scar Accidents

Accidents that lead to facial scars may involve:

Burns from fire or chemicals;
Scalding from steam or liquid;
Cuts and lacerations.

Any number of common and workplace items can be sources of the above. For example:

Paint thinner or wet concrete can cause chemical burns.
Steam scalding can be caused by a boiling kettle.
Woodworking tools or even scissors can cut skin tissue.

These incidents can also lead a sufferer to seek psychiatric injury claims for stress and depression. You can read more on understanding the environment your accident may have occurred in below:

1. Accidents At Work

You may be seeking compensation for a facial scar injury after an accident at work, in which case you would not be alone.

The Health and Safety Executive regularly receives reports on workplace accidents and tries to prevent injuries from happening by providing employers with helpful information and advice.

For example, 10% of accidents in the UK workplace are caused by strikes from a moving object. The amount that resulted in facial scarring is not released by HSE, but it is easy to see that any number of accidents can cause a facial injury.

2. Road Traffic Accidents

Road traffic accidents such as head-on collisions, rear-end collisions or pile-ups can lead to multiple injuries. Fire could lead to burn scars and the face hitting a window, steering wheel or any object could result in scars and (if not the victim’s fault) lead to compensation for a facial scar.

In 2018, 17,550 cyclists were injured on British roads. Though mostly safe, when an RTA does occur, cyclists are the more vulnerable road user, often without a covering to shield their face.

3. Incidents In A Public Place

When you hear ‘accidents in a public place’, it could mean that any of a number of third parties are liable. For example, if you fell on park gates and injured your face, a local council, authority or private business could own that property. Your claim would be against the body in control.

For a better understanding of who you need to claim against and what your injury means for your claim, call our team on the number at the top of the page. They provide free advice, 24/7.

Case Study: £125,000 Compensation For A Facial Scar

Mr Andrews was an optimistic, confident 20-year-old with a healthy social life. He had recently started an apprenticeship with a painting and decorating firm when he, his boss and a colleague were called out to clean and paint the metal fences of a junior school.

His boss asked him to use an angle grinder on a particularly rusty corner of the steel palisades. Though he had never used the wire cup attachment and had used an angle grinder only twice, Mr Andrews felt assured that he could continue.

The ridges were difficult to clean and, as he moved the grinder above eye-level, the edge of a ridge caused the grinder to kick back. Mr Andrews, still holding the grinder, fell on his back where the grinder cut him on his chin, jaw and lips.

The Personal Injury Claim

It took months for him to find the courage to make a claim for compensation for a facial scar. He blamed himself for being cocky and fell into a deep depression. Two of his lower front incisors were damaged and had to be pulled out: his savings paid for the implants.

Mr Andrews spent two months recovering from his injuries at home and barely left the house. He couldn’t get himself out of bed to return to work and was eventually let go as absent without leave. After his dad found him a good counsellor, he started to regain his self-esteem and restored his relationship with his girlfriend and friends, who advised him to get a personal injury solicitor.

The solicitor supported his case and, using hospital records, dental and medical evidence, helped to claim compensation for a facial scar against the company.

The defendant argued that Mr Andrews had known the risks but had been overly confident. However, they were unable to prove that they had sufficiently trained Mr Andrews.

He won his case for multiple injuries (teeth and scarring). Given his young age and the severe psychological impact it had on him, Mr Andrews was awarded £102,764 in general damages, with £22,236 awarded in special damages, giving him £125,000 in total. The special damages head of claim was broken down as follows:

Type of Special Damages:	Includes:	How much?:
Travel Expenses	To and from appointments/treatment	£200
Medications/Prescriptions	Prescriptions, treatment, physiotherapy, walking aids, etc.	£300
Additional Care	Professional care at home, from family, childcare, etc.	Counselling: £3,000
Future Loss	Loss of Earnings, future loss of earnings, potential future care.	Loss of employment for 12 months: £16,016 2 teeth implants: £2,720

Though fictional, the case of Mr Andrews seeks to convey the process of claiming compensation for a facial scar. It is founded on our experiences of the valuation and handling of claims.

Facial Scarring Compensation Amounts – How They’re Calculated

As well as wondering how much a scar can be worth in compensation, you may also want to know how the amount is arrived at. Legal professionals can assess the value of your claim by using several resources, including medical evidence. Additionally, they will often consult a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG).

The JCG was updated most recently in April 2022. It contains guideline compensation brackets that are based on previously settled court cases. Each injury is split into differing severities and a corresponding figure is applied. The figures are used to help calculate the general damages head of claim. This head compensates for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

However, the JCG figures should only be used as a guide. This is because other factors are considered when valuing your injuries, such as the severity, treatment required, recovery period and future prognosis.

Special damages, another head of claim that could be awarded as part of your overall settlement, compensate for the financial impact your injuries have had on you. Make sure you keep hold of receipts and other documentation to show how much you have spent or lost.

Reach out today to learn more about facial scarring compensation amounts.

A Victim’s Duty Of Care

As discussed earlier, a duty of care is held by employers, land and property owners (whether private or local government) and road users. They have a responsibility to those whose health and safety is within their power to protect. Moreover, as an employee, visitor or road user, you also have a duty of care to look after your own wellbeing and not risk yours or other people’s welfare, which we touch on in the section below.

As to your rights as an employee (whether you suffered a workplace accident or not), Citizens Advice gives comprehensive information on steps to take when you are not receiving sufficient sick pay. Plus, if you choose to claim compensation for a facial scar, your employer should not treat you unfairly (for example, by dismissing you).

Our panel has worked on cases where claimants feel discriminated against for making a claim. Hopefully, you haven’t experienced this but, if you have, our advisors are here to listen. Type your query in the live chat for free, round-the-clock advice.

Liability For A Duty Of Care Breach

Do you believe that you’re able to claim for your facial injury? If so, have you asked yourself what:

The third party did to protect your health and safety?
You did to protect your health and safety?

Say, for instance, you’re seeking compensation for a facial scar because your employer didn’t train you in a way that you could understand, or didn’t provide you with proper equipment (such as face guards) to prevent your injury.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, because they may have been able to prevent your workplace accident, they may be liable for your injuries. However, that same Act ensures that, as an employee, you are required to adhere to safety standards too.

If you’re unsure as to whether your actions at the time could impact your case, or what exactly your employer should’ve done to protect you, our panel can help. Call or send a message in the live chat box to speak to an advisor. They’re professional, don’t charge and won’t require you to use our services.

Estimates Of Compensation For A Facial Scar

Scarring can be caused by many different accidents, but natural occurrences, such as acne, can also cause it. As a result, it can be relatively minor or be so significant that it causes depression.

This disparity is one of the reasons why solicitors require medical evidence to estimate facial scar settlement amounts. The evidence helps to prove that your scars were a direct consequence of the accident, not inflicted on a separate occasion. It also reveals the prognosis, which your solicitor could use to value your claim.

Compensation can fall under two categories:

General Damages

If the court finds that your claims of physical and psychological suffering truly are the result of the accident caused by a third party, you receive general damages. Medical evidence, provided by an independent medical professional, can be used to support this.

Special Damages

Compensation for a facial scar can include special damages when you have financial expenses or take on additional help as a consequence of injuries. Again, you need evidence for a successful claim:

If you believe your injuries caused you to wear camouflage or make-up. Be sure to keep the receipts.
Any medical or counselling bills can help prove your financial loss claim.

There are many other situations where you could recover costs. For example, a family member or friend may have cared for you while you recuperated. You could claim their time back monetarily.

For further advice, call an advisor on the number at the top of the page.

No Win No Fee Facial Scar Claims

You may have concerns about claiming compensation for a facial scar and how to afford a solicitor. And, though a No Win No Fee claim may be of use to you, some can be put off by the reputation surrounding these services.

You may not realise that these services are protected under The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013. Otherwise known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), No Win No Fee services work on the basis that:

If you lose your case, you don’t have to pay your solicitor fees.
If you win your case, you pay your solicitor fees. But, the solicitor fees are capped at a low level so that you win the bulk of any compensation. Moreover, you don’t pay anything until your facial injury case has finished.

Our panel offers No Win No Fee services and may be able to offer them to you. However, if you’d like to be sure or ask anything about compensation for a facial scar, call our team today on the number at the bottom on the page.

Finding Suitable Personal Injury Solicitors

Personal injury lawyers are not difficult to track down, with numerous firms available in a simple online search. Added to that, where your solicitor is in the UK is of no consequence to your case, meaning that the catchment area for personal injury services is extremely wide.

To decide on the best possible solicitor for you, we advise starting with online reviews. Do they earn five stars? Do they have real, strong testimonies on their websites?

Next, do they see your claim as important enough to prioritise? Are they answering your calls or messages handily?

Finally, do they want to settle for less than will cover your pain and financial loss?

We take care to provide you with quality personal injury lawyers, and our advisors can connect you to them. Just get in touch through any of the ways below.

Your Compensation For A Facial Scar Claim

Getting in touch with our team is free, easy and you don’t have to commit to our services. We’re here 24/7 through:

0800 408 7826.
Our contact form.
Our live chat feature.

Additional Learning Materials

Information and services: The Health and Safety Executive’s site, where you can look into workplace accident reports.

NHS Services: NHS site for answers to your questions on your specific injury.

Employment Status: Government site on your rights as an employee.

Check out more of our personal injury claims guides below:

Guide by TH

Edited by IE

How Much Compensation Could I Claim For A Facial Scar?

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