This article will discuss when you could be eligible to seek compensation for facial disfigurement and how much you could receive if your case succeeds.
Facial disfigurement claims guide
There are certain circumstances in which you are owed a duty of care, such as at work, on the road or in a public place. We will discuss this in further detail throughout our guide and look at the steps you could take if you are injured after this duty of care is breached.
In addition, we’ll discuss the benefits of using a No Win No Fee solicitor to represent your claim.
For more information, please continue reading. Alternatively, you can get in touch with an advisor for free legal advice regarding your potential claim. To reach them, you can:
- Call 0113 460 1215
- Fill out our ‘contact us’ form online.
- Chat with one of our advisors through the live chat feature on our website.
Select A Section
- What Is A Facial Disfigurement?
- Examples Of Ways That Facial Injuries Could Occur
- How Do I Prove Someone Else’s Negligence?
- Facial Disfigurement Compensation Payouts
- What Is A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
- Extra Information About Facial Disfigurement Claims
What Is A Facial Disfigurement?
Facial disfigurement can refer to injuries affecting the face, such as lacerations, scars and burns. A facial injury can impact a person in different ways including:
- Psychologically: A visible facial injury could affect a person’s self-esteem and may cause them anxiety or depression.
- Physically: The injury could cause a person physical pain and suffering while recovering or long-term.
- Financially: The person may be required to take time of work while recovering or change jobs entirely due to the injury. As a result, they may lose out on income.
In some cases, you may be able to seek compensation for the way in which your injury has impacted your life. However, there are certain eligibility criteria that must be met. You must prove that you were owed a duty of care, this duty of care was breached and you experienced harm as a result. This is defined as negligence.
Certain third parties owe a duty of care, including:
- Employers: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that employers owe a duty of care to their employees. They must take reasonable and practical steps to prevent you from sustaining an injury, either physical or psychological, in the workplace.
- Road users: The Road Traffic Act 1988 sets the duty of care for road users. They must navigate the roads in a way that reduces the risk of others sustaining harm.
- Occupiers: The person in control of a public space has a duty of care to members of the public under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. They must ensure the reasonable safety of those visiting the space.
To find out whether you could claim compensation if this duty is breached and you experience harm as a result, get in touch on the number above.
Are Facial Injuries Common?
The Health and Safety Executive collates reports made by employers under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) into helpful workplace accident statistics.
As per the statistics, there were 5,533 non-fatal injuries to locations around the head. Of these, 739 affected the eyes, 80 affected the ears, 1,212 affected other parts of the face, 3,365 affected the head not including the face and 37 affected several locations of the head.
Please note these only relate to workplace incidents and do not provide an insight into facial injuries sustained in road traffic accidents or public place accidents.
Examples Of Ways That Facial Injuries Could Occur
There are several ways you could sustain an injury to the face which could result in facial disfigurement. For example:
- Accident at work: An employer may fail to provide you with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) while cutting materials on a construction site, such as goggles. As a result, you sustain a laceration around your eye due to a piece of the material flying loose while it is being cut.
- Road traffic accident: A driver crashes into the side of you after failing to check their mirrors before overtaking. As a result, you sustain multiple injuries, including having a piece of glass stuck in your face.
- Accidents in public places: You might slip, trip or fall on a wet floor in a supermarket that isn’t signposted causing you to land on your face. As a result, you might sustain a broken nose that requires surgery causing you facial scarring.
Not all accidents will form the basis of a valid claim. In order to seek compensation for facial disfigurement, you must prove that you sustained harm as a result of negligence. You can do so by collecting evidence. We have discussed what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim in the following section.
How Do I Prove Someone Else’s Negligence?
You can take several steps if you have sustained facial disfigurement in an accident. For example, you can gather evidence to prove a personal injury claim. This can include:
- Contact details of witnesses
- CCTV footage of the accident
- Pictures of your injuries
- Medical records
Additionally, you can seek legal advice. An advisor from our team can help you understand whether you’re eligible to claim compensation. If they find you are eligible, they could assign a solicitor from our panel to represent your claim, provided it is valid and has a chance of success.
A solicitor can help you through the different stages of the claims process, including gathering evidence and ensuring you put forward a full and complete claim.
For more information on whether you could work with a solicitor from our panel, get in touch on the number above.
Facial Disfigurement Compensation Payouts
General damages is one of the heads of claim that can form the overall settlement you are awarded after making a successful facial disfigurement claim. It compensates for the physical and emotional pain and suffering experienced due to your injuries.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is used by legal professionals to help them value this head of claim. It contains guideline compensation brackets that correspond to different types of injuries at varying levels of severity.
The table below contains guideline compensation amounts from the JCG. These are not guaranteed, however, as each claim is unique.
| Type of Harm | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Facial Disfigurement (Very Severe) | Very disfiguring cosmetic effect with a severe psychological reaction. | £29,780 to £97,330 |
| Facial Disfigurement (Less Severe) | Substantial disfigurement with a significant psychological reaction. | £17,960 to £48,420 |
| Facial Disfigurement (Significant) | The worst effects have been reduced by surgery but some cosmetic disability is left and there is still a psychological reaction which may have improved. | £9,110 to £30,090 |
| Facial Disfigurement (Less Significant) | One scar or a number of very small scars. | £3,950 to £13,740 |
| Skeletal Injuries (a) | Le Fort fractures affecting the frontal facial bones. | £23,810 to £36,740 |
| Skeletal Injuries (c) (i) | Nose fracture or fracture of the nasal complex that are serious. There may also be multiple fractures that require several operations. | £10,640 to £23,130 |
| Skeletal Injuries (d) (i) | Serious fractures of the cheekbones requiring surgery. There are lasting consequences. | £10,200 to £15,780 |
| Skeletal Injuries (e) (i) | Very serious multiple fractures of the jaws requiring a prolonged treatment and causing ongoing issues. | £30,490 to £45,540 |
| Skeletal Injuries (f) | Damage to teeth involving the loss of or serious damages to several front teeth. | £8,730 to £11,410 |
| Skeletal Injuries (f) | Loss of or serious damage to back teeth: per tooth | £1,090 to £1,710 |
Your settlement could also comprise special damages which reimburse you for any financial losses that have resulted from your injuries. This can include travel costs, medical bills, and loss of earnings. You should keep a document of any monetary losses including receipts and payslips.
For more information on the compensation you could receive following a successful personal injury claim, get in touch on the number above.
What Is A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
You may benefit from hiring a personal injury solicitor to represent your claim under a No Win No Fee arrangement. There are different types of these arrangements, such as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) which the solicitors from our panel can offer. There are several benefits of claiming with No Win No Fee solicitors.
For example, this kind of agreement allows you to access legal representation without generally paying any upfront fees to access your solicitor’s services. There are also no fees to pay for your solicitor’s services if your claim doesn’t succeed.
However, if you’re successful in receiving a settlement, you will pay a legally capped success fee from your compensation.
To discuss your potential facial disfigurement claim or to learn whether a solicitor could take on your case, please get in touch with our advisors. They can offer free legal advice 24/7. You can reach them by:
- Calling 0113 460 1215
- Filling out our ‘contact us’ form online.
- Chatting with one of our advisors through the live chat feature on our website.
Extra Information About Facial Disfigurement Claims
Please read some more of our guides below:
We have also included some resources below for you to explore:
- GOV – Statutory Sick Pay
- HSE – Employer’s Responsibilities
- NHS – First Aid
Thank you for reading this guide on claiming compensation for facial disfigurement. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the details provided above.
Writer Saif Stanhope
Editor Meg McConnell