Facial Disfigurement Compensation Claims
A facial injury can leave lasting changes to your appearance as well as affect different areas of everyday life. If you have suffered short-term or permanent facial damage because of an accident or another party’s negligence, you may be able to make a facial disfigurement compensation claim.
Claims can involve visible scarring, burns or more substantial changes caused by damage to the bones, nerves or soft tissues of the face. The value of a claim will depend on the injury itself and its individual effects, including any psychological injury supported by medical evidence.
Tylers Solicitors can assess what happened, establish whether there may be grounds to claim and help gather the evidence needed. Eligible claims may be handled on a No Win No Fee basis. Call our team on 0800 699 0079.
Can I Make A Facial Disfigurement Compensation Claim?
You may be able to claim if another person or organisation owed you a duty of care, breached that duty and caused the facial injury you suffered.
The circumstances behind facial disfigurement vary considerably. It can result from a road traffic accident, an accident at work or an incident in a public place. Claims can also arise following a defective product, an animal attack or negligent medical or cosmetic treatment.
An injury does not need to leave the most serious level of permanent disfigurement before a claim can be considered. Facial scarring and other changes that improve over time may still form part of a personal injury claim if liability and causation can be established. How long the effects are expected to last will be relevant when the injury is valued.
Medical evidence is therefore important. It can establish the nature of the injury, document its progression and provide a prognosis for any remaining disfigurement. Where another party disputes responsibility, evidence about how the original incident happened will also need to be considered.
Here at Tylers Solicitors, we can help you to claim the compensation that you deserve. If you’ve suffered any kind of facial disfigurement injury or illness that wasn’t your fault, get in touch today. So long as there is a direct link between the injury or illness you sustained, you will be able to make a claim for compensation. If you are unsure as to whether or not you are eligible to make a claim, feel free to contact our personal injury solicitors for friendly, no obligation advice.
Can I Make a Facial Disfigurement Claim?
Facial disfigurement describes a visible or substantial change to a person’s facial appearance following an injury. Although scarring is one of the most recognisable forms, it is not the only type of facial disfigurement that can be relevant to a compensation claim.
Burns and other skin injuries can leave lasting changes in appearance. Damage to soft tissue may result in tissue loss or asymmetry, while fractures can affect the structure or shape of the face after they have healed. Nerve injuries can also cause changes to facial movement or sensation.
Some injuries involve several of these effects at the same time. A serious fracture, for example, may require surgery and leave both structural changes and visible scarring. Damage involving the mouth or lips can also affect appearance alongside other functions.
The extent of any lasting change cannot always be established immediately after an accident. Facial injuries can continue to heal and treatment may alter their eventual appearance. Medical evidence and prognosis are therefore important before the long-term effect of the disfigurement is assessed.
Where scarring is the main injury, our Permanent Scar Compensation page provides further information about claims involving scars elsewhere on the body as well as the face.
What Can Cause Facial Disfigurement?
Facial injuries can happen in many circumstances. The cause matters because a compensation claim requires legal responsibility for the injury to be established.
A collision involving a car, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian can cause facial injuries through direct impact, broken glass or contact with parts of the vehicle. Our Road Traffic Accident Claims service covers the wider process of pursuing compensation following a road accident.
Facial injuries can also happen at work following falls, impacts, machinery incidents or exposure to hazardous substances. Where an employer may have failed to protect a worker from a foreseeable risk, the circumstances can be considered as part of an Accident at Work Claim.
Burns and scalds can cause facial disfigurement even where conventional scarring does not describe the full extent of the injury. Our Burn Injury Claims page provides more information about serious burn claims and their wider effects.
Animal attacks can cause puncture wounds, lacerations and facial scarring. A Dog Bite Compensation Claim may be possible where the legal requirements for holding another party responsible can be established.
Some facial injuries result from medical or cosmetic treatment. A poor outcome by itself does not establish negligence, but a Medical Negligence Claim may be possible where treatment fell below the legally required standard of care and caused avoidable injury.
The underlying injury can also be significant in its own right. Where facial disfigurement follows a fractured jaw, our Broken Jaw Claims page explains how these injuries and their effects are considered.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Facial Disfigurement?
There is no fixed amount of compensation for facial disfigurement. Two people can sustain injuries that initially appear similar but experience very different long-term effects.
When general damages are assessed, the nature of the underlying injury and the remaining disfigurement are important. Treatment, age, the personal impact of the change in appearance and its effects on social, domestic or working life can also be relevant. Any psychological impact must be considered on the evidence rather than assumed from the appearance of the injury.
The Judicial College Guidelines provide guideline brackets used when assessing general damages for personal injuries in England and Wales. The current facial disfigurement guidance includes the following brackets for facial scarring:
Facial Scarring Compensation Guidelines
These figures are guidelines for general damages, not fixed payouts or a prediction of the total settlement. The correct bracket depends on the evidence and circumstances of the injury.
The Guidelines describe very severe scarring as involving a very disfiguring cosmetic effect and severe psychological reaction, typically in relatively young claimants. Less severe cases still involve substantial disfigurement and a significant psychological reaction.
Significant scarring can include cases where plastic surgery has reduced or is expected to reduce the worst effects but some cosmetic disability remains. The Guidelines also recognise visible scarring at conversational distance within this category. Less significant cases involve a more limited overall effect on appearance, while trivial scarring has only a minor effect.
Facial burns require careful assessment. The Judicial College Guidelines do not place burns into a separate facial disfigurement category and recognise that their painful and disfiguring effects can influence the appropriate award. Serious burns may also cause other physical or psychological injuries that need to be assessed as part of the overall claim.
Compensation may extend beyond the general damages represented by this table. Financial losses resulting from the injury can also form part of a claim where they are recoverable and supported by evidence.
If you would like to understand how these factors could apply to your injury, contact Tylers Solicitors for an initial discussion about your circumstances and whether your claim may be suitable for No Win No Fee funding. Email our team directly at info@tylerssolicitors.co.uk.
How Is Facial Disfigurement Compensation Calculated?
A compensation figure should reflect the individual consequences of the facial injury rather than simply the presence or size of a scar. Medical evidence is used to establish the injury and prognosis, while evidence about its effect on the claimant helps with the overall valuation.
What Can Facial Disfigurement Compensation Cover?
A facial disfigurement claim can account for the injury itself as well as financial losses caused by it. These are generally considered as general damages and special damages.
Reconstructive surgery or scar-revision treatment may be relevant to a claim, but the cost is not automatically recoverable. Medical evidence can help establish whether proposed treatment is reasonable, what it may achieve and the likely cost. This can be important where further treatment is expected after the claim has begun.
Psychological Effects Of Facial Disfigurement
A change in facial appearance can affect people differently. Some people experience difficulties with confidence or social situations, while others may develop a recognised psychological condition following the injury or the traumatic event that caused it.
Possible effects can include anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Facial disfigurement may also affect relationships, social activities or a person’s ability to carry out aspects of their work. These effects should always be considered individually rather than assumed from the severity or visibility of the injury.
Where psychological injury forms part of the compensation claim, appropriate medical evidence will normally be needed. An independent assessment may help establish whether there is a recognised condition, whether it is connected to the accident or injury and what the prognosis is.
The Judicial College Guidelines also recognise psychological impact as one of the factors relevant to facial disfigurement awards. This does not mean that a particular psychological response is automatically attributed to a certain type of scar. The evidence of how the injury has affected the individual remains important.
What Evidence Do I Need For A Facial Disfigurement Claim?
Evidence is needed both to establish responsibility for the original injury and to show its physical, psychological and financial consequences.
Medical Evidence
Medical records can document the initial facial injury and treatment received. Records from maxillofacial, plastic surgery or other relevant specialists may also be important where the injury has required specialist care. Independent medical evidence can then help establish the remaining disfigurement, prognosis and whether further treatment may be appropriate.
Dated Photographs
Dated photographs can be particularly useful in facial injury claims. Taking photographs during different stages of recovery can provide a record of how the injury, swelling and scarring have changed over time. Photographs should complement medical evidence rather than replace it.
Evidence of the Accident
Evidence relating to the accident will depend on how the injury occurred. Accident reports, CCTV or dashcam footage, witness details and relevant correspondence may help establish the circumstances and liability where available.
Evidence of Financial Losses
If you are claiming financial losses, documents such as payslips, invoices and receipts can help demonstrate the amounts involved. Records of reasonable travel, treatment or care costs may also be relevant.
You do not need to have everything ready before getting in touch. Tylers Solicitors can identify what evidence is likely to be important once the circumstances of the claim have been assessed.
Facial Disfigurement Following An Assault
An assault can result in serious facial injuries, including fractures, burns and permanent scarring. Where the injury was caused by a violent crime, it may be possible to apply for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, subject to the eligibility requirements of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
A CICA application is different from bringing a civil claim against a negligent party. Compensation is assessed using the Scheme’s statutory tariff and rules rather than the Judicial College Guideline brackets shown earlier on this page.
Separate eligibility requirements and time limits also apply. The circumstances of the assault and the route available should therefore be considered before deciding how to pursue compensation.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Facial Disfigurement Claim?
For most adult personal injury claims in England and Wales, court proceedings generally need to be started within three years of the accident or the relevant date of knowledge, if later. The correct date depends on the circumstances, so it is sensible to seek advice rather than waiting until the end of the three-year period.
Different rules apply to children. Where the injured person was under 18 when the accident happened, the usual three-year limitation period generally does not begin until their 18th birthday. This normally means they have until their 21st birthday to start court proceedings if a claim was not brought earlier. A litigation friend can bring a claim on behalf of a child before they turn 18.
Limitation can also operate differently where an injured person lacks the relevant mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings. The position depends on the individual circumstances and should be assessed carefully.
Claims arising from criminal violence can follow a different route with different time limits. The rules governing a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority application should therefore not be confused with the limitation rules for an ordinary civil personal injury claim.
How Does A Facial Disfigurement Compensation Claim Work?
The precise process depends on the circumstances and whether liability is disputed, but a claim will usually begin with an assessment of how the injury happened and whether there are reasonable grounds to proceed.
Initial Assessment
We discuss the incident, your injuries and the information currently available to determine whether there may be a viable claim.
Gathering Evidence
Relevant medical records and evidence about the accident can be obtained, alongside documents showing any financial losses being claimed.
Medical Assessment
Independent medical evidence may be arranged to establish the extent of the facial injury, remaining disfigurement and prognosis. Further specialist evidence may be required for associated injuries or psychological harm.
Valuation & Negotiation
Once there is enough evidence to assess the effects of the injury, the claim can be valued and negotiations can take place with the defendant or their insurer.
Settlement or Court Proceedings
Many personal injury claims are resolved without a final trial. Where liability or the value of the claim cannot be agreed, court proceedings may be required.
How long does the process take?
The time required to resolve a facial injury claim varies. Where treatment is ongoing or the long-term appearance of an injury remains uncertain, obtaining a reliable prognosis can take time. It can be important to understand those future effects before a final settlement is agreed.
Can I Make A Facial Disfigurement Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Tylers Solicitors may be able to handle an eligible facial disfigurement claim through a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly known as No Win No Fee. Whether this funding arrangement can be offered will depend on an assessment of the claim.
Where a case is accepted on this basis, you would not normally pay an upfront solicitor fee to begin the claim. If the claim succeeds, a success fee can be deducted from the compensation in accordance with the agreement and applicable legal rules.
The funding terms, potential deductions and any circumstances in which costs could arise will be explained before you agree to proceed. This gives you the opportunity to understand how the arrangement applies to your case before making a decision.
Why Choose Tylers Solicitors?
Facial disfigurement claims require careful consideration of both the original injury and its longer-term effects. Tylers Solicitors has experience handling personal injury and serious injury claims and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Our team can investigate liability, arrange appropriate medical evidence and assess the losses resulting from your injury. Where several injuries are involved, we can consider their combined impact without treating overlapping compensation brackets as separate fixed amounts.
We will explain the progress of your claim in clear terms and discuss the evidence needed at each stage. Where your case is suitable, No Win No Fee funding may also be available.
Take The Next Step With Tylers Solicitors
If a facial injury has left you with scarring or another lasting change to your appearance, Tylers Solicitors can assess what happened and explain your options for pursuing a claim.
An initial discussion gives you the opportunity to explain the circumstances of your injury and ask questions about liability, evidence, compensation and funding. Where your claim is eligible, we can also discuss whether it can proceed on a No Win No Fee basis.
Call us on 0800 699 0079, email us at info@tylerssolicitors.co.uk or complete our online contact form to speak to Tylers Solicitors about your facial disfigurement compensation claim.
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Facial Disfigurement Compensation Claim FAQs
Can I claim compensation for a scar on my face?
You may be able to make a facial scarring claim if another party was legally responsible for the injury that caused the scar. The scar does not necessarily need to fall within the most serious JCG categories, although liability and causation still need to be established.
For information about scarring more generally, including scars elsewhere on the body, visit our Permanent Scar Compensation page.
Can I claim for psychological effects caused by facial scarring?
A recognised psychological injury caused by facial scarring or the incident that caused it may form part of a claim. Appropriate medical evidence will normally be needed to establish the condition, causation and prognosis.
Can I claim for facial disfigurement caused by a dog bite?
Potentially. Dog bites can cause facial wounds and lasting scarring, but compensation depends on establishing a legal basis for holding another party responsible. You can find further information on our Dog Bite Compensation page.
How long do I have to make a facial disfigurement compensation claim?
For most adults in England and Wales, personal injury court proceedings generally need to begin within three years of the accident or relevant date of knowledge, if later. Different rules can apply to children, people lacking the relevant mental capacity and claims made through the CICA.
Does facial disfigurement have to be permanent to make a claim?
Can compensation cover reconstructive or cosmetic surgery?
Reasonable treatment costs may be recoverable where they result from the injury and are supported by appropriate evidence. This can potentially include reconstructive or scar-revision treatment, but recoverability depends on the individual claim and medical evidence.
How much compensation could I receive for facial disfigurement?
There is no standard payout. The Judicial College Guidelines provide facial scarring brackets ranging from £2,260 to £128,590, but the appropriate assessment depends on factors including the underlying injury, residual disfigurement, treatment and individual impact. These brackets concern general damages and do not represent a guaranteed total settlement.
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