If an accident that wasn't your fault has left you with scarring on your face, you could be eligible to make a facial scar compensation claim.
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Facial Scar Compensation
Facial scarring can have a lasting impact on your life and well-being, long after the initial injury has healed. If the scarring was caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to make a facial scar compensation claim.
Facial scars can affect your confidence and make you feel self-conscious, leading to anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal. Common causes include road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, burns, and violent crimes such as assaults and acid attacks.
To check if you have a valid claim for scarring, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0472 to speak to an experienced legal adviser.
Key points about facial scar compensation claims
- Eligibility: You may be entitled to compensation if a facial scar resulted from an accident that wasn’t your fault.
- Types of Accidents: Facial scars can result from accidents including slips, work accidents, road accidents or medical negligence.
- Time Limit: You generally have 3 years from the date of the accident to make a personal injury claim.
- Compensation: Depends on scar size, visibility, psychological impact, and financial losses such as time off work.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will work on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you only pay if your claim is successful.
Table of Contents
Can I make a facial scar compensation claim?
Yes, you could be entitled to compensation for facial scar injuries, but you can find out for sure through a free consultation over the phone with a personal injury solicitor. They will ask you a few questions to determine if you could make a facial scar claim, such as:
- Did your injury happen within the last three years?
- Did it cause you pain, suffering and financial losses?
- Was someone else responsible for your injury?
- Did they owe you a duty of care?
If you answer yes to these questions, you may have grounds to claim compensation for the scar on your face and the losses incurred as a result.
Who is liable for compensation for a facial scar?
Depending on the circumstances of your injury, you could make a claim for facial scarring against various parties, including:
- Your employer – If they failed to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and keep you safe from injuries at work.
- A business owner – If you were injured in a public place such as a restaurant, bar or supermarket due to a breach of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
- A road user – If you were injured in a road traffic accident due to another negligent road user who broke the Highway Code.
- The local council – If your accident was due to a poorly maintained street, park or another public place because the local authorities failed to comply with the Highways Act 1980.
Can I claim for facial scars caused by a criminal assault?
Yes, if you were the victim of an unprovoked attack, you might be able to make a permanent scar compensation claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The eligibility criteria include:
- The attack happened within the last two years (although in limited circumstances CICA may extend this).
- The incident took place in the UK, and you were a UK resident or otherwise eligible under the scheme.
- You reported the crime to the police and obtained a crime reference number.
- Your behaviour did not contribute to the attack, or any award may be denied or reduced.
- You do not have unspent criminal convictions that would lead to a reduction or refusal of an award.
There is a fixed tariff scheme the CICA uses to award facial scar compensation, according to which you could receive:
- £2,400 for an injury causing significant facial disfigurement.
- £11,000 for severe facial disfigurement.
How long do I have to claim facial scar compensation?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you typically have 3 years to make a personal injury compensation claim for facial scars, starting from the accident date (or from your date of knowledge in some cases). Exceptions include:
- You can make a compensation claim on behalf of a child anytime before their 18th birthday.
- There is no time limit if the claimant cannot conduct legal proceedings on their own because of a lack of mental capacity.
- There is a two-year time limit to claim through the CICA scheme if you were the victim of an assault or another violent crime.
- If you suffered a military injury, you have 7 years to claim for a facial scar through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
How do I claim compensation for a facial scar?
To make a claim for compensation, you will need relevant evidence to show how your accident occurred and how it affected your life, such as:
- Medical records showing the initial injuries you sustained and any plastic surgery or other treatments you needed.
- Photographs of the accident scene and the hazards involved.
- Pictures of your injuries, recovery process and subsequent facial scarring.
- CCTV or dashcam footage of the accident taking place, if available.
- A copy of an accident report made with the liable party.
- Witness statements from any bystanders and your notes about what happened.
- Financial records to show any costs you have incurred as a direct result of your accident.
Once you have everything you need to start your claim, your solicitor will usually try to negotiate a compensation amount with the defendant. If liability is denied or agreement cannot be reached, court proceedings may be issued, but most personal injury claims settle without a trial.
How much compensation can I claim for facial scarring?
There is no set amount of compensation you could receive for facial scarring. Your solicitor will calculate your facial injury claim based on the severity of the scar, your age and the impact on your life. You will receive compensation for two types of damages:
- Special damages are designed to reimburse you for your financial losses and expenses. They could include medical costs for surgery, travel expenses and loss of earnings.
- General damages are awarded for the injury itself and its subjective consequences. They take into account your physical pain, emotional distress and loss of amenity.
The actual amount awarded will depend on the circumstances of your case and will be assessed by referring to the 18th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines. According to our facial scarring compensation calculator, which is based on these guidelines, you could receive:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Scarring To The Face | Minor facial scars with very little impact on appearance | £2,300 - £4,700 |
| One or more small facial scars with no major impact on appearance | £5,200 - £18,000 | |
| Facial scarring where plastic surgery has reduced, or could reduce, the worst impact, with some additional psychological effects | £12,000 - £40,000 | |
| Facial scarring causing substantial disfigurement and significant psychological impact | £24,000 - £64,000 | |
| Facial scarring in a young person, with very disfiguring cosmetic impact and severe psychological consequences | £39,000 - £129,000 |
Can I claim compensation for a facial scar on a No Win No Fee basis?
Yes. If you are entitled to claim compensation for facial scarring, your solicitor will represent you under a no win no fee agreement. This means that:
- You will not have to pay any initial legal costs to start the claim.
- You will not pay your solicitor’s legal fees throughout the claims process.
- If you make a successful claim, they will deduct a success fee from your compensation award (capped at 25% of certain damages).
- If you lose, you will not have to pay your solicitor’s legal fees for their services.
What are the most common causes of facial scars?
The most common causes of facial injury scars include the following:
What are the different types of scars that can affect the face?
Scarring is part of the body’s natural healing process after a physical injury. When the skin is wounded, the tissues break, and collagen builds up at the site of injury, helping to heal the wound.
Over months, enzymes break down and rearrange the collagen, but the skin rarely returns to its original form. Instead, various types of scars may form:
For a free consultation with a legal adviser, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0472. They can let you know if you may be eligible to make a facial scar claim and can answer any questions you may have.
