How Much Compensation For Disfigurement Could I Claim?

This guide will discuss when you could be eligible to begin a personal injury claim to seek compensation for disfigurement. There are several requirements that need to be met in order to do so. We will explore these further as we move through our guide, as well as the steps you can take to strengthen your claim. 

compensation for disfigurement

How Much Compensation For Disfigurement Could I Claim?

Additionally, you can find information on the compensation that you might be awarded for injuries which lead to cosmetic disfigurement. We will also discuss how personal injury settlements are calculated and the factors considered when valuing awards. 

There are several third parties who owe a duty of care, including employers, road users and occupiers. If there is a breach of duty and this leads to you becoming injured, this is negligence. Throughout our guide, we will explore examples of how third party negligence could result in you becoming injured in a road traffic accident, workplace accident or public place accident.

Finally, our guide will discuss how it could help you to have a solicitor from our panel represent your potential claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

For more information regarding your potential personal injury claim, please contact an advisor via one of the methods listed below:

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How Much Compensation For Disfigurement Could I Claim?

If you make a successful personal injury claim, you will be awarded compensation for the pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, that you experienced because of your injuries. This is awarded under general damages which is one of the heads of claim that will form part of your overall settlement.

There are several factors that can be considered when valuing compensation for disfigurement, including:

  • The severity of the injury
  • The psychological impact caused by the injury
  • Any treatment you have received
  • The impact the injury has on your overall quality of life

Personal injury solicitors can use the Judicial College to help them value your injuries. This is a publication which contains a list of guideline compensation amounts for different types of injuries. You can find some of these figures listed in the following table. However, you should only use these as a guide because each settlement can differ depending on the unique circumstances of the case.

Compensation Table 

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Injury Severity Compensation Notes
Scarring To Other Parts Of The Body Significant Burns Likely to exceed £104,830 Burns that are significant covering 40% or more of the body.
Scarring To Other Parts Of The Body Noticeable Laceration Scars £7,830 to £22,730 The legs, arms, hands, back, or chest sustain several laceration scars that are noticeable.
Facial Disfigurement Very severe scarring £29,780 to £97,330 The cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the person suffers a severe psychological reaction.
Less severe scarring £17,960 to £48,420 The disfigurement is still substantial in cases within this bracket and the person suffers a significant psychological reaction.
Significant scarring £9,110 to £30,090 Cases in this bracket will see the worst effects reduced by plastic surgery. There will be some cosmetic disability and an improved psychological reaction.
Less signficant scarring £3,950 to £13,740 Cases in this bracket include one single scar, not hyperpigmented or keloid, that can be hidden.
Trivial scarring £1,710 to £3,530 The effect of cases in this bracket is minor only.
Eye Total loss of one eye £54,830 to £65,710 Age, cosmetic effect and psychological impact will all affect what is awarded.
Skeletal Injuries Multiple fractures of facial bones £14,900 to £23,950 Involves some permanent facial deformity.
Fractures of cheekbones (i) £10,200 to £15,780 Serious fractures that need surgery and cause lasting consequences, such as some form of disfigurement.

What Else Could You Be Eligible To Claim?

Your settlement could also include special damages which is the head of claim that compensates for the financial losses caused by your injuries.

For example, if you have to take time off work to recover from your injury, you could incur a loss of earnings. This could be claimed back under special damages if you have evidence to prove the loss, such as wage slips. 

Other costs you could incur include:

  • Domestic care costs
  • Travel costs
  • The cost of adaptations made to your home
  • Medical expenses

For more information on the compensation for disfigurement that you could receive following a successful personal injury claim, please speak with an advisor on the number above.

Compensation For Disfigurement – Am I Eligible To Claim?

There are a set of requirements that need to be met in order to seek personal injury compensation for disfigurement:

  • Firstly, you were owed a duty of care by a third party.
  • Secondly, this duty of care was breached.
  • Finally, you experienced harm, either physically or emotionally, or both, because of the breach.

If these are satisfied, you could have valid grounds to pursue a claim for a personal injury.

The following sections offer insight into the duty of care owed by different third parties, including road users, employers and occupiers, as well as the legislation that outlines their responsibilities.

Road Traffic Accidents – Are You Eligible To Claim?

Road users owe a duty of care to one another as per the Road Traffic Act 1988. They need to navigate the roads in a way that prevents one another from becoming harmed when using the road. Additionally, the Highway Code offers guidance on the different responsibilities each road user has, as well as rules that they must follow. These rules are backed elsewhere in law.

If a road user did not uphold their duty of care, and this led to you sustaining an injury, such as disfigurement, you could be eligible to seek personal injury compensation. For example, you could be involved in a head-on collision caused by a driver failing to check their mirrors before overtaking on a narrow road. This could lead to you suffering facial disfigurement due to broken glass from a smashed window. 

Workplace Accidents – Are You Eligible To Claim? 

A duty of care to take reasonably practicable steps to prevent harm to employees is owed by employers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. 

If your employer did not uphold their duty of care, and it resulted in you becoming harmed as a result, it may be possible to begin a claim for a workplace accident. For example, your employer may have failed to provide you with necessary personal protective equipment, such as gloves when handling hazardous substances. As a result, you sustain a chemical burn injury to your hands which leads to substantial disfigurement.

Public Accidents – Are You Eligible To Claim?

The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 establishes the duty of care that those in control of a public space owe members of the public. It states they need to take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of those visiting the space.

A failure to uphold this duty of care could potentially lead to you experiencing harm in an accident in a public place. For example, you could experience a laceration injury to your arm due to falling down a stairwell with inadequate lighting that had not been addressed in a reasonable timeframe.

For more information on when you could be eligible to claim compensation for disfigurement, please speak with an advisor by calling the number above.

Evidence Supporting Disfigurement And Scar Claims

Evidence can help to strengthen your case by showing that a third party did not uphold the duty of care they owed you and, as a result, caused you to become injured. It can also offer an insight into how your injuries have affected you. Examples of the evidence you could gather can include:

  • Visual evidence, such as CCTV or dashcam footage as well as pictures of the scarring and any hazards that caused the accident.
  • A copy of your medical records, such as prescriptions you have been given and X-ray scans. 
  • A diary or record of your treatment, symptoms and mental state.
  • Contact information of potential witnesses who could give a statement later on in the claims process.

A personal injury solicitor from our panel could help you build your case, provided you have valid grounds to seek compensation for disfigurement. To find out more about the services they can offer, please speak with an advisor on the number above.

How To Start Your Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

A No Win No Fee solicitor could offer their services via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of contract that means you won’t need to pay for the work completed on your claim by your solicitor at the following times:

  • At the beginning of your claim
  • While your claim is in progress
  • Following the unsuccessful completion of your case

If your case completes successfully, you will need to pay your solicitor a success fee. This is taken as a percentage of your compensation. However, as the amount is legally capped, this restricts how much they can take. Also, you can discuss the fee with your solicitor before any work begins on your claim.

How To Contact Us

For more information on the process of seeking personal injury compensation for disfigurement, including the eligibility criteria that need to be met, please contact an advisor. They can offer free advice and guidance as well as answer any questions you might have relating to your potential claim.

To reach them, you can:

Further Guidance On Disfigurement Injury Claims

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We hope this guide to compensation for disfigurement has helped you determine your next steps. If you have any questions or need help with those next steps, then please get in touch.

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