Can I Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One’s Scarring?

Yes, you can make a claim on behalf of a loved one who is a minor or mentally incapacitated, as neither group can claim for themselves. To do so, you would need to take on the role of a litigation friend.

As a litigation friend, you are responsible for handling the claim on their behalf, ensuring all decisions are made in their best interests. The claims process and eligibility requirements remain the same. However, litigation friends can only step in while a claimant is unable to make their own claim.

If someone you care about has suffered facial scarring and may have grounds to claim, contact our team today for confidential, no-obligation guidance.

What Accidents Can Lead To Facial Scarring?

Many types of accidents can cause facial scarring. Below, we’ve provided some examples of those which might result in a valid compensation claim.

Road Traffic Accidents

Motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, and others have a responsibility to use roads in a manner that prevents injury or damage to one another, including themselves. As part of this duty of care, they must abide by the rules and regulations set by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code. A valid compensation claim may result from scenarios like the following:

• A driver who is exceeding the speed limit cannot brake in time for the traffic ahead. This leads to them rear-ending your vehicle, causing you to suffer severe facial scarring from shattered glass.
• A lorry driver fails to check their blind spot when changing lanes and hits your motorcycle. As a result, you are thrown from the vehicle, leading to facial scarring and multiple fractures.

Accidents At Work

Employers must take reasonable steps to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and health of staff in the workplace. This duty is laid out by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and may be breached in situations such as:

• You use a grinding tool that your employer has not adequately maintained or regularly inspected. The disc shatters mid-use and fragments strike your face, leaving permanent scarring and causing a serious head injury.
• You are asked to handle hazardous chemicals without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Subsequently, a chemical splashes onto your face, leading to severe burns and scarring.

Public Liability Accidents

Those in control of a public space must comply with the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This legislation requires occupiers to take practicable measures to ensure all visitors are kept reasonably safe on their premises. If they fail to do so, it can lead to incidents like:

• A supermarket fails to fix a shelving bracket it has known to be broken for some time. It collapses, causing tins to fall onto your face, resulting in visible laceration scars.
• You trip on a loose paving slab outside a busy shopping centre. Despite multiple reports about the potential risks, no steps are taken to make repairs or alert pedestrians to the tripping hazard. When you trip on the slab and fall forward, you hit your face on a metal railing and suffer permanent facial scarring.

These examples are by no means an exhaustive list of facial scarring accidents. You can discuss your personal experiences and see if you can make a facial scar compensation claim by getting in touch with our advisory team.

The Average Facial Scar Compensation Amount

The average facial scar compensation amount ranges from £36,340 to £118,790 for very severe scarring. These figures are sourced from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a publication that compiles suggested compensation brackets for different injuries, including facial scars.

The figures in the JCG relate to general damages, which cover physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of amenity. A loss of amenity refers to the reduction in quality or enjoyment of life caused by an injury, such as being unable to participate in hobbies, social activities, or daily routines that you previously enjoyed.

Solicitors may use the JCG when valuing general damages for a facial scar compensation claim. Your claim may also include special damages, which can compensate for any financial loss connected to your injuries.

The figures in the table below are from the JCG (except for the top row). Since these are suggested compensation brackets, this table doesn’t represent a guarantee of how much facial scarring compensation someone might receive in a successful claim.

Type of injury	Injury severity	Guideline compensation figures
Multiple severe injuries with special damages, including lost income	Severe	Up to £250,000+
Psychiatric damage generally	Severe (a)	£66,920 - £141,240
	Moderately severe (b)	£23,270 - £66,920
	Moderate (c)	£7,150 - £23,270
Facial disfigurement	Very severe scarring (a)	£36,340 - £118,790
	Less severe scarring (b)	£21,920 - £59,090
	Significant scarring (c)	£11,120 - £36,720
	Less significant scarring (d)	£4,820 - £16,770
Post-traumatic stress disorder	Moderately severe	£28,250 - £73,050
	Moderate	£9,980 - £28,250

For further information on facial scarring compensation, you can speak to one of our team members. They’re here to help and answer any questions you might have.

Can I Claim For The Psychological Impacts Caused By My Scars?

Yes, you can claim for the psychological impacts caused by facial scars, including:

• Anxiety or depression.
• Body image issues.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Social withdrawal or embarrassment.

Compensation may be available for these effects if they are supported by a medical report and are linked to the original accident.

Your mental health matters, so please don’t hesitate to contact our advisory team. They can provide free and confidential advice to help you find out whether you can make a facial scar compensation claim.

I’ve Suffered Financial Losses Due To My Scars, Can I Sue For That?

If you have suffered financial losses due to your scars, you can claim for these under special damages. These costs can include:

• Lost earnings, as well as a future loss of income.
• Private cosmetic treatment and medications.
• Therapy or counselling if you suffered psychological harm due to your facial scarring.
• Travel costs incurred while attending medical appointments.
• Occupational therapy or support in the home from carers.

To claim special damages, you’ll need evidence to prove your financial losses. Examples include:

• Payslips showing lost wages.
• Receipts and invoices for treatments.
• Bank statements verifying transactions.
• Travel tickets or mileage logs.
• Written quotes or estimates for future costs.

With the right documentation, your scar compensation claim can reflect the full financial impact of your injury.

You can find out more about special damages and the evidence they might need by contacting our team today.

Is There A Time Limit For Facial Scar Compensation Claims?

Yes, there is a 3-year time limit for starting facial scar compensation claims under the Limitation Act 1980. The time limit usually runs down from when the injury occurred, but there are exceptions for minors and mentally incapacitated adults. As mentioned earlier in this guide, neither group can claim on their own, so time limits are suspended unless (and until):

• A child turns 18. That gives someone 3 years to begin their claim, up to turning 21.
• Mental capacity is restored. If that capacity is regained, then the time limit will apply from the point of recovery.

Alternatively, a litigation friend can help someone claim while time limits are paused.

Starting a claim at the earliest opportunity can ensure your facial scar compensation claim is filed on time. So, get started today by reaching out to an advisor for a free case assessment.

What Evidence Do I Need To Prove My Scarring Was Caused By Negligence?

The evidence you need to support your facial scar injury claim can include CCTV footage, diary entries, and reports from the emergency services. Your claim may also benefit from the following:

• For road traffic accidents, you may need the other road user’s insurance details, model, make, and registration.
• Medical records, which may include a timeline of treatments and provide insight into the severity of your facial scarring.
• Photographs of your scarring, as documenting them can create a visual record showing how extensive your injuries are.
• Contact details for anyone who may have witnessed the incident. At a later stage in the claims process, they can provide your solicitor with statements in support of your claim.
• Accident reports (e.g. work incident logs or public liability forms).

You don’t have to face the task of gathering evidence by yourself. If you work with a solicitor from our, they can assist with collecting and presenting this evidence effectively.

Call our team today for further information on proving a scar injury claim and see how our panel of solicitors can assist you.

Do I Need A Solicitor To Make A Facial Scar Compensation Claim?

You don’t need to use a solicitor to make a facial scar compensation claim, but having one can significantly improve your chances of success. We work with a panel of solicitors who have years of training and experience, which has helped them win compensation for their clients nationwide.

Our panel of solicitors work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee contract. Claiming under the terms of a CFA means:

• No upfront or ongoing solicitor fees during your claim.
• No solicitor fees to pay at all if the claim is unsuccessful.
• Paying a success fee for your solicitor’s work if you win compensation. It is deducted from your compensation, but the percentage taken from it is capped.

If you sign a CFA with a solicitor from our panel, you’ll not only benefit from their expertise but get access to a range of services. From helping with collecting evidence to handling correspondence on your behalf, they work tirelessly to give clients peace of mind as they navigate the claims process.

Speak To Our Advisors To Start Your Claim

You can speak to our advisors anytime to start your claim journey. They’re available 24/7, ready to offer both free advice and a no-obligation case assessment. If eligible, they can connect you with our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors.

Reach out today to get started and take your first steps towards claiming the facial scar compensation you deserve:

• Call 0800 408 7827.
• Fill out our ‘Contact Us‘ form.
• Message us using our on-screen live chat box.