An injury to the face can leave behind visible scars that are difficult to hide.
Even after healing and recovering from the accompanying physical pain, facial scars can still negatively impact the victim, by acting as a long-term emotional and psychological trigger of the trauma they experienced.
The good news is that you could be eligible for compensation if someone else’s negligence led to your facial scar injury.
If you’d like to find out what types of accidents may qualify for facial scarring compensation and find out more about the process of starting a claim – and whether you have a valid case – this guide can help.
You’ll will find answers to these questions and more, including where to get legal help on a no-win-no-fee basis.
I Had A Botched Cosmetic Surgery, Can I Make a Facial Scarring Compensation Claim?
One of the most common causes of facial scarring is when invasive cosmetic surgery goes wrong.
Granted, a cut to the skin will no doubt leave a mark. However, experienced plastic surgeons use techniques that lighten, diminish, or hide any scars that result from invasive procedures on the face.
For instance, this may involve concealing facelift incision scars along the hairline or natural contours of the face and ear. Ensuring scars are barely noticeable is a top priority when it comes to cosmetic surgery on the face, because it is the most prominent part of the body that everybody will see.
Significantly visible scars, that you can still see long after you have fully healed from cosmetic facial surgery, could be an indication of possible medical negligence.
For example, conspicuous scarring might have resulted from a surgeon using the wrong equipment for making incisions, the excess removal of skin, or utilizing incorrect stitches and sutures etc.
Regardless of the how the mistakes were made, you could be owed compensation for an incorrectly or poorly performed cosmetic procedure if it leaves you with significant facial scarring. Medical specialists owe their patients a duty of care and if they fail in this regard, there may be a case for claiming compensation against them.
Can I Claim Compensation For Facial Scarring Obtained At A Beauty Salon?
The last thing anyone wants or expects after visiting the beauty salon, is to come out with unsightly and permanent blemishes on their face. After all, a trip to the spa or salon should make you look and feel better. But, sometimes, incompetent or negligent professionals can do just the opposite.
The skin is a sensitive organ. As such, it is prone to allergic reactions when exposed to chemicals from beauty treatments.
Even though there is an element of risk involved when it comes to facials, beauticians still owe their clients a duty of care to do no harm. Therefore, it is expected that they should read the manufacturer instructions before using any beauty product on clients, and to follow all the prescribed safety precautions.
Additionally, trained cosmetologists usually carry out patch tests on a small concealed portion of the skin before applying chemical peels. They would then proceed to apply treatments on the client’s skin after establishing that there is no risk of an allergic reaction.
If you sustained chemical burns or scars because a beautician failed to carry out a thorough assessment of the potential dangers of applying a product to your face, then you may be eligible to sue them for negligence.
The spa/salon could also be held liable for hiring incompetent staff, insufficient staff training, using damaged or faulty equipment, or applying defective products, if applicable.
I Suffered Facial Scarring After An Attack. Do I Have A Claim?
Besides medical negligence and beauty treatment injuries, physical attacks can also lead to facial scarring compensation claims.
There are several ways you could fall victim to an assault and sustain a facial injury. The most common is when an attacker uses a weapon and purposely inflicts physical harm on a victim.
Another way someone may incur injuries to the face is through an acid attack.
These types of malicious assaults are not only common, but have sadly been rising in recent years across the UK. They can cause serious facial disfigurement and scarring, as well as long-lasting emotional and psychological trauma.
Lastly, people can sustain serious facial scars from an animal attack. For instance, a dog could have attacked you on command or because the owner knowingly left the vicious canine without restraints.
Depending on the specific circumstances of your incident, including the examples given above, you may be able to seek facial scarring compensation by filing a criminal or animal attack injury claim.
Could I Claim Compensation For Facial Scarring Suffered In An Accident?
The short answer to this question is yes, but it would also depend on the surrounding circumstances. Some of the common accidents that cause facial injuries are listed below.
1. Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs)
In the event of a road traffic accident, the risk of sustaining facial injuries is quite high. A shattered windscreen, or even the impact of the collision itself, can be enough to cause cuts and lacerations to the face.
Road traffic accidents can happen due to a number of different reasons. The most common contributing factors include driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, using a mobile device when behind the wheel, reckless driving, driver error, and poor road conditions.
You can file a claim as a pedestrian, driver, or passenger, depending on the circumstances. The guilty party, or whoever caused the road traffic accident, could owe you compensation as long as there was no or very little blame on your part.
2. Burn Incidents
Apart from scarring the face, fire-related injuries may also cause extensive skin and tissue damage. Therefore, accidents that cause this type of harm generally attract higher pay-outs, because the injuries involved tend to be more severe.
Fire accidents can take place in a variety of settings. It could be in a public establishment, a rented dwelling, your place of work, or even inside a car that bursts into flames after an accident.
You should be able to seek compensation for facial scar injuries caused by a fire providing you did not start it, and someone else was responsible for making sure you were not exposed to such danger in the first place.
At-fault parties can include but are not limited to, owners of buildings where fires occur, another driver, an employer, or even a beautician in cases where chemical burns are involved.
What Should You Do To Start A Facial Scar Compensation Claim?
Before starting a compensation claim for facial scar injuries, there are several steps that you will have to take. Taking the following actions would improve the chances of receiving the full pay-out that would be due to you in a successful claim.
Get Treatment
It is essential to get treatment after sustaining an injury to the face, even if it is something minor that seems easy to deal with on your own.
Seeing a medical professional will allow you to get a full assessment of the severity of the injury. The health report from your doctor will also form a key piece of evidence to help support your case.
Gather Evidence
When seeking compensation for facial scarring, you have to provide evidence of your injuries and highlight the negligence that caused them. Photos, CCTV footage of the accident scene (if available), and witness statements can all be helpful in filing your claim.
Keep Track Of Expenses
Whether it is a hospital bill, lost wages, medication costs, or travel expenses to and from doctor appointments, you should document all financial losses incurred as a result of your facial scar injury. Keep copies of all receipts and invoices, because such records will support the compensation amounts specified in your claim.
How Much Is The Average Payout For Facial Scarring Compensation?
Several factors will determine the amount of compensation you could receive from a facial scar injury claim.
Interestingly, younger victims tend to receive higher payouts than older claimants. The rationale behind this is that a young person would have to live with facial scarring or disfigurement for a longer period.
The extent of your injuries plays a significant role in determining the amount of compensation that would be due to you. With that in mind, here is a quick list of the level of compensation you could be looking at receiving.
- Very severe facial scarring – £22,000 to £85,340.
- Less severe facial scarring – £13,650 to £42,260.
- Significant facial scarring – £7,780 to £26,380.
- Less significant facial scarring – £3,000 to £12,050.
- Minor facial scarring – £1,300 to £3,090.
To get a more accurate estimate of the amount you could reasonably expect from your facial scar injury claim, talk to a solicitor that specialises in these types of cases.
A legal professional will also take into account the psychological consequences of living with a facial injury. A visible scar on the face can have a significant affect on a persons self-esteem and, in severe cases, cause mental health disorders like social anxiety or depression.
Remember, however, your claim will seek to reimburse all the medical expenses paid out to get treatment. That includes the cost of hiring a therapist or psychologist to help you deal with the trauma of a facial scar injury, where applicable.
Need Help Starting Your Claim?
If you sustained an injury that left a scar on your face and you have reason to believe that someone else was to blame, we recommend seeking legal help to check if you have a valid case for compensation.
A personal injury solicitor will be able to assess your case, provide advice on evidence gathering, and represent you in any legal action or out-of-court negotiations so that you can get compensation.
To help you get started you can use the form below to book a call with an experienced claims advisor to receive, free, no-obligation advice.
