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Advice On Claiming Permanent Scar Compensation
Read our guide to learn all about permanent scar compensation and how our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you.
£85 million in compensation
Advice On Claiming Permanent Scar Compensation
Read our guide to learn all about permanent scar compensation and how our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you.
How Much Permanent Scar Compensation Could I Claim?
If you have sustained scarring which wasn’t your fault, you may have a valid basis for a permanent scar compensation claim with us at JF Law. Keep reading to learn how you could start your personal injury claim with us today.
What You Need To Know
- You will typically have 3 years from the date of your injury to start a claim
- Your permanent scar compensation may consider both the physical and psychological harm.
- If your accident has caused financial losses, you could claim them back as part of your compensation.
- You will need to provide evidence that demonstrates the nature and extent of your injuries.
- You can claim on a No Win No Fee basis if your case meets the requirements.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the claims process, or are wondering how you could seek compensation for your scar injuries, you can contact us by:
- Calling us on 0151 375 9916
- Filling in our online claim form
What Amount Of Permanent Scar Compensation Could I Get?
The amount of permanent scar compensation you oculd get will depend on various factors, such as the severity of the scar you suffered.
In the section below, we explore how your compensation might be calculated; however, we have provided a table below that lists some compensation guidelines for various types of scarring injuries. These have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines, a framework used by solicitors to help them value various injuries and illnesses in compensation claims.
Please note that the first entry has not been taken from the JCG, and these amounts are guidelines only and not a guarantee of compensation.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries plus Special Damages | Serious | A number of severe injuries as well as special damages such as loss of current or future earnings | Up to £500,000+ |
| Scarring to the Body | Burns Covering 40% or More of the Body | The award will be impacted by the level of burns, whether the burns are full thickness or partial and the psychological impact | Likely to exceed £127,930 |
| Several Laceration Scars or a Singular Disfiguring Scar | Noticeable laceration scars or one significant scar will fall into this bracket | £9,560 to £27,740 | |
| No Internal Injury That Is Significant | Where an laparotomy to explore has been performed but no significant internal injury has been found | In the region of £10,550 | |
| Facial Disfigurement – Scarring | Very Severe | Cosmetic impact of the injuries is disfiguring and the psychological reaction is severe | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less Severe | Substantial disfigurement and substantial psychological reaction | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Significant | The disfigurement may have been fixed with plastic surgery, but still a not great psychological reaction. Visible scarring from a conversational distance | £11,120 to £36,720 | |
| Less Significant | May be one scar, or a number of smaller scars | £4,820 to £16,770 | |
| Trivial | Minor effects only | £2,080 to £4,310 |
Contact our advisors today if you have any questions regarding compensation in personal injury claims.
How Is Permanent Scar Injury Compensation Calculated?
Your permanent scar compensation is usually calculated by considering the two heads of claim that you might be eligible for. These are referred to as general and special damages.
When your general damages are being calculated, solicitors will consider:
- The severity of your injuries or harm
- Pain and suffering
- Any loss of amenity, e.g. any impact on the quality of life
Whereas, your special damages are compensation for any financial losses caused by your injury. As part of this head of claim, you could receive compensation for:
- Loss of current or future earnings
- Medical expenses, such as prescriptions, private medical treatment or reconstructive surgeries such as plastic surgery
- Care costs
- Travel costs
In order to claim this head of claim, you will need to hold evidence that proves your financial losses. This can include:
- Payslips to demonstrate a loss of current or future earnings
- Medical receipts or invoices, including costs of care
- Travel receipts
To learn more about how your permanent scar compensation is calculated, contact our friendly advisors, who will be happy to discuss this with you.
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Can I Make A Permanent Scar Compensation Claim?
You may be eligible to make a permanent scar compensation claim if you can prove that your case meets the following requirements:
- Someone owed you a duty of care
- They breached this duty
- The breach led to you suffering a permanent scar as a result.
These three requirements amount to negligence, which forms the basis of all personal injury claims.
Further in our guide, we will discuss some examples of how permanent scar compensation claims can arise in different scenarios. However, below we explore who owes you a duty of care in these situations:
- On the roads, you are owed a duty of care by all road users to use the road in a way that prevents causing harm. This includes following the rules set out in the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
- In the workplace, your employer owes you a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In line with this, they have a responsibility to ensure they take all reasonable steps to ensure your health and safety at work.
- While out in public, the party in control of that space (the occupier) has a duty of care to ensure your reasonable safety, as stated within the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
- For medical negligence cases, you are owed a duty of care by all healthcare professionals. As per their duty, they should treat you with the minimum standard of care that is expected of them in their role.
Can I Make A Permanent Scar Compensation Claim If It Was Caused By Criminal Injury?
If you have suffered a permanent scar as a result of a crime of violence, you could claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which is a governmental body responsible for handling compensation claims for those who have suffered a criminal injury.
To fulfil the requirements needed to claim this way:
- Your injury must be a result of a crime of violence, such as abuse, arson or sexual assault.
- The criminal injury must have happened in England, Wales, Scotland or another relevant place (such as a boat registered to any of these countries)
- There must have been a report to the police about the incident
- The claim must be brought within the permitted time limit (generally 2 years).
To discuss the validity of your claim, contact our friendly advisors today, who could connect you with one of our expert solicitors to begin your scar injury claim.
What Types Of Scarring Could I Make A Claim For?
Below, we discuss the most common types of scars that you could make a claim for and how they appear.
- Atrophic scars – usually a deep, small hole in the skin, which appears similar to a pore. These scars can occur after acne or chickenpox.
- Contracture scar – this typically occurs after a burn, and the scar tissue may be painful or difficult to move.
- Fine-line scars – can initially appear as a raised section of tissue but typically heal, flatten, and fade over time.
- Keloid scars – tend to be raised from the skin, have a hard and smooth texture, overgrow the usual wound, and may be uncomfortable or difficult to move.
- Hypertrophic scar – raised and firm, but the scar tissue might be uncomfortable or difficult to move.
Noticeable scars, particularly permanent facial scars, can potentially have an impact on your confidence, causing you to feel anxious when leaving the house or being perceived. Adjusting to your new appearance can feel isolating and challenging, even in some cases evoking a significant psychological reaction, which is why our solicitors at JF Law are committed to supporting you through each step of your personal injury compensation claim.
We pride ourselves
on providing the best service
possible for our clients.
We pride ourselves on providing the best service possible for our clients.
What Accidents Could Result In Scarring Being Sustained?
Below, we examine how various accidents may result in permanent scarring compensation claims.
Road Traffic Accidents
Road traffic accidents can result in permanent scarring and lead to compensation claims in several ways. For example:
- You are driving when another driver crashes into the back of you. This causes your window to smash, leading to a laceration on the leg and later causes a permanent scar.
- Another party is speeding on a roundabout and causes a crash. Your car then catches fire, causing burns to your arms and legs, resulting in permanent scar tissue.
Accident At Work
With more than half a million non-fatal injuries being suffered in accidents at work between 2023 and 2024, workplace accidents can be common. You might have sustained a permanent scar at work if, for example:
- You work in a factory, and faulty machinery sprays hot oil. This makes contact with your skin, causing burn injuries and significant permanent scarring to both arms.
- At work, your employer failed to supply you with adequate personal protective equipment. You then suffer a chemical burn, which later led to scarring.
Public Place Accident
Some examples of how you may suffer a permanent scar in a public place include:
- A restaurant did not clean up broken glass left on the floor. You suffer a trip and land on this glass, causing a permanent scar on your arm from the laceration.
- A glass chandelier in a hotel lobby was not properly secured, causing it to become loose and fall. Upon impact, the glass shatters and cuts your face, causing a permanent scar.
Medical Negligence
A few examples of how medical negligence could cause permanent scarring include:
- A cosmetic surgeon performs your procedure incorrectly, leading you to suffer from a permanent scar following your tummy tuck.
- You might have been scheduled for an operation, but your doctor failed to use the right type of stitches to close the incision. This then leads to the development of a permanent scar on your face.
Criminal Injuries
Permanent scar compensation claims may arise following criminal injuries if you experience something like:
- A knife crime attack, where you might have been a victim of a stabbing. This can cause severe scarring, which might be unsightly and physically painful.
- Domestic violence attacks, where a number of different incidents could lead to laceration wounds, which then develop into permanent scar tissue.
To learn more about how to start your permanent scar compensation claim, call us today.
How Can I Make A Scar Claim?
In any personal injury claim, evidence is hugely important. It can help to demonstrate and explain how your permanent scar occurred at the fault of someone else. One of our solicitors could help you compile this supporting evidence, such as:
- GP or medical records – to demonstrate the extent of your injuries or harm suffered
- Any pictures of the injuries
- Details of anyone who could provide a witness statement at a later stage
- CCTV or dashcam footage of the event, if it was caught on camera
- Any relevant reports of the accident, such as a workplace accident book or police reports, if they were called to the scene
There is also a time limit imposed on personal injury claims, including permanent scar compensation cases. Under the Limitation Act 1980, the time limit varies depending on the scenario. It is generally 3 years from:
- The date of the accident
- In medical negligence claims, the date of knowledge that the treatment you received was negligent
There are also two situations where the time limit may be paused:
- In cases where the claimant is under 18 at the time of the accident, they have 3 years from the date of their 18th birthday to initiate their claim.
- Claimants who are mentally incapacitated cannot make their own claim unless they regain mental capacity. Their 3-year time limit would resume on the date of their recovery.
A litigation friend could be appointed by the courts to begin the claiming process on behalf of a claimant who is unable to pursue their own case.
If you’re unsure whether your claim still falls within the time limits, please contact us today to discuss this further.
How Can JF Law Help My Claim?
Here at JF Law, our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis, through a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement. The benefits of making a No Win No Fee claim include
- No upfront costs for their services
- No service fees during the progress of your claim
- If your claim were unsuccessful, then you also wouldn’t have to pay any solicitor’s fees.
If your claim were, however, successful, a small fee would be taken at the end of your claim. This is a limited fee in line with the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 to ensure that you receive the bulk of your compensation.
Why Use Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
Our solicitors have decades of experience in permanent scar compensation claims. They are committed to providing you with a personalised service, whether this be helping you to compile evidence to support your claim or offering support during your recovery and rehabilitation; we are here to help.
By instructing us to work on your claim, you could expect:
- Regular updates about how your claim is progressing
- Help with gathering evidence which will support your case
- Answering questions that you might have about your claim
- Making sure that your claim is started within the time limits
- Support through every step of the claim
- Working alongside you to help develop a rehabilitation plan that suits your needs
- Arranging an independent medical assessment if required
- Helping you to apply for interim compensation payments
- Communicating with the other parties and the courts
- Negotiating a suitable settlement amount that accurately reflects the pain and suffering you have endured
Contact Us
To discuss the next steps of your potential permanent scar compensation claim, you can contact us by:
- Calling us on 0151 375 9916
- Filling in our online claim form
More Information
Why not read our other guides about:
- How to make car accident claims
- Serious injury claims
- Make a claim for slipping on a wet floor
Useful External Resources
- When to report a workplace accident from the Health and Safety Executive
- How to claim Statutory Sick Pay from GOV.UK
- NHS advice around permanent scars
Thank you for reading our guide on permanent scar compensation.
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