Facial Scar Claims – How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

Facial scar injuries can range in severity from a minor blemish on the skin to severe disfigurement of the facial features. Even when the pain from the injury has diminished, facial scars can act as a constant reminder of the trauma felt when the injury happened. Importantly, if you’ve suffered a facial scar because of the negligence of somebody else, you may be eligible to file a facial scar compensation claim.

This guide will explain when you could be compensated, how the claims process works and how much compensation for a facial scar you could be awarded.

Our team is ready to help if you do decide to take action. Initially, they’ll review your case with you during a no-obligation telephone consultation. During your call, free advice on your chances of being compensated for facial scarring will be given and your next steps will be considered.

If a claim appears viable, we’ll ask one of our personal injury solicitors to step in. Should they take you on as a client, they’ll work on a No Win No Fee basis meaning you’ll only pay for their work if compensation is paid.

To get started right away, please call our team on 0800 6524 881. Alternatively, please read on to learn more about making a compensation claim for a facial scar.

Am I Eligible To Make A Facial Scar Compensation Claim?

Our solicitors will always try to help if they believe your claim has a realistic chance of success. Before taking on any facial scar compensation claims, they will always check whether

• The defendant owed you a legal duty of care;
• That duty of care was breached through negligence; and
• As a result, you were left with a facial scar.

There are many reasons why you might be owed a duty of care. For example, your employer will have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep you safe at work. Similarly, all drivers have to drive as safely as possible to try and prevent road accidents. Your solicitor will check whether a duty of care can be established so you shouldn’t worry too much about this.

Instead, you can help by providing evidence that proves how your facial scar occurred and the severity of the scarring. We’ll explain how to gather this evidence later in the guide.

Common Causes Of Facial Scar Compensation Claims

As explained above, you can only claim compensation for a facial scar if the injury was caused by somebody else’s negligence. To give you an idea of what that means, we’ve added a list of common causes of facial scar compensation claims below:

• If you suffered cuts and lacerations to your face in a car crash caused by another driver’s negligence.
• Where your face was cut by faulty machinery in a workplace accident.
• If you were burned and scarred by a hot drink spilt by a coffee shop employee who was carrying too many items.
• If you suffered avoidable facial scarring due to medical negligence, such as improper surgical procedures.
• Where you sustained chemical burns on your face because your employer failed to provide proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• If a dog bite left you with a facial scar due to a lack of control by the dog’s owner.
• Where you cut your face during a fall caused by a slippery floor with no warning signs.
• If you suffered burns on the face resulting in scarring from laser hair removal carried out by a beauty salon.

If you believe you have a valid facial scar compensation claim and would like one of our solicitors to represent you, please call us for free legal advice today.

Claiming Compensation For Facial Scars Caused By Criminal Activity

In the list above we didn’t mention facial scars caused by criminals. That’s because claims based on violent crimes are usually handled differently. If you have been left with facial scars following a knife crime or acid attack, you could be compensated through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

Unlike personal injury claims, CICA claims can be made even if you don’t know who attacked you. That means you could be compensated if the criminal was never caught, charged, or prosecuted. Please let us know if you’re interested in claiming through the CICA scheme as we could help with that.

How Much Compensation Will I Get For Facial Scarring?

There is no fixed amount of compensation for facial scarring, as payouts are calculated based on general damages (pain, suffering, and loss of amenity) and special damages (financial losses and expenses). You can read more about general and special damages here.

Importantly, compensation for general damages not only covers the physical pain caused by facial scarring but also the psychological harm. This could include feelings of embarrassment, social anxiety, or depression due to the visible change in appearance.

While no two facial scar claims are identical, in principle, you could be compensated for:

• Physical pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
• Any psychological harm your facial scar has caused such as embarrassment, anxiety, depression and stress.
• Loss of income.
• Any impact your injuries and scars have had on your social life, family activities and hobbies (loss of amenity).
• Future loss of income. For example, if you’re an actor or model and your scar will reduce your capacity to earn in the long term.
• The cost of private plastic surgery and other remedial treatment.
• Care costs if you needed somebody else to support you while you were recovering.
• Travel expenses relating to hospital appointments, for example.

Our solicitors will always work hard to try and secure the most compensation possible by reviewing your claim with you in detail before it’s filed with the defendant.

Facial Scar Compensation Amounts

The following amounts that could be awarded for facial scarring are based on Judicial College Guidelines. However, they are provided for demonstration purposes only. Actual compensation may vary depending on the specifics of your case:

• Very severe facial scarring – £36,340 to £118,790.
• Less severe facial scarring – £21,920 to £59,090.
• Significant facial scarring – £11,120 to £36,720.
• Less significant facial scarring – £4,820 to £16,770.
• Minor facial scarring – £2,080 to £4,310.

Any award made in a successful claim will typically be based primarily on the severity of your injuries. Therefore, a medical report from an independent specialist is typically required to assess the scarring and its impact.

Your solicitor will arrange an appointment (usually locally), and the resulting report will be shared with all parties involved to explain how your facial scars have affected you and whether they are likely to continue doing so.

Evidence To Support A Facial Scar Compensation Claim

To claim facial scar compensation, you’ll need to demonstrate how the incident happened, who was responsible, and the severity of your injuries. Therefore, it’s a good idea to collect as much supporting evidence as possible. This could include:

• Photographs of the accident scene. Take photos immediately after the accident, if possible, using your phone. Be sure to photograph your injuries and the progression of your facial scarring during recovery.
• Medical records. Obtain records from the GP surgery or hospital that treated you, as well as any medical records related to plastic surgery or other treatments for your facial scar.
• Rehabilitation records. If you’ve undergone physical or mental rehabilitation as a result of your facial scarring, keeping track of this process can help show the long-term impact of the accident.
• Witness statements. If anybody saw the cause of your facial scars, their statements can help confirm how the incident occurred and who was responsible.
• Video footage. This might include CCTV or dashcam footage of the accident. Request this as soon as possible, as such data can be deleted quickly.
• Accident report forms. These can confirm the time, location, and details of the incident. For example, if you reported the incident to the police, your workplace, or a business like a beauty salon.
• Financial records. Keep receipts and records of any costs incurred due to your facial scar such as medical expenses or travel to appointments.

Additionally, it may be helpful to write a personal statement describing how the incident and your facial scars have affected you. Doing so soon after the accident can provide a detailed account of your experience.

Time Limits For Claiming Facial Scarring Compensation

Most personal injury claims are subject to a 3-year time limit. Where you’ve suffered facial scarring, this might begin on the date you were scarred, or the date you would have reasonably known the scarring was linked to an accident or negligence (such as by a careless surgeon). However, exceptions can apply in some situations, such as:

• If you’re under 18, the 3-year limit doesn’t begin until your 18th birthday, but a litigation friend can claim on your behalf before that.
• If you’re claiming through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme, the time limit is reduced to 2 years.
• For those with impaired mental capacity, the time limit is paused until capacity is regained. In the meantime, a litigation friend can file the claim on your behalf.

While you do have quite some time to take action if you were injured recently, we would suggest that you start your claim sooner rather than later. By taking action early, you should find it easier to recall how you were injured and it will also be easier to gather evidence to support your claim.

Do I Need A Personal Injury Solicitor To File A Facial Scar Claim?

You don’t have to use a personal injury solicitor to file a facial scar claim. However, having an experienced solicitor handling your claim may significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome. Facial scar compensation claims often involve complex legal procedures. A solicitor can help collect the right evidence, communicate with the defendant, and build a strong case on your behalf.

Our experienced solicitors can handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you won’t need to worry about upfront legal costs. You’ll only pay if your claim is successful. We also offer free legal advice, so you can discuss your case with us without any obligation. Our team will assess your situation and guide you through the next steps.

Starting A Facial Scar Compensation Claim

If you’ve decided to seek damages for a facial scar injury, the quickest way to begin right now is to call our advice centre on 0800 6524 881. A claims advisor will review your facial scar compensation claim for free and explain your options during your initial consultation.

If one of our solicitors agrees to take your case on, they’ll work for you on a No Win No Fee basis, explained here.

Our live chat service is open 24 hours a day so please get in touch if you have any further questions on making a facial scar compensation claim.