How to Get Compensation After Suffering Scarring at Work

In this guide, we look at scarring at work injuries and how workplace accidents that lead to scars could be caused by employer negligence. This guide will also explain some of the legislation that is in place to safeguard you while you’re in the workplace.

In addition, we look at No Win No Fee agreements and how they can be used to fund legal representation. Furthermore, this guide goes into greater detail about how settlements for scar injuries are valued.

Our advisors are standing by with free legal advice if your employer’s negligence resulted in a workplace injury. Get in touch with us today by using the live chat feature or following the banner above.

Select a Section

Can I Claim Compensation For Scarring At Work?
How Could I Suffer Scars From An Accident At Work?
Gathering Evidence After An Accident
Payouts For Scarring At Work
How Can I Appoint A No Win No Fee Solicitor For My Claim?
Further Information About Scarring At Work

Can I Claim Compensation For Scarring At Work?

Employees are owed a duty of care from their employers under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA). This means your employer must take reasonably practicable steps to reduce hazards in the workplace.

You might be eligible to file a compensation claim for scarring at work that was caused by employer negligence. Negligence is where your employer breaches the duty of care that they owe you.

In order for you to claim compensation, it’s not enough to demonstrate that negligence occurred. You also need to show that you were injured as a direct result of this.

Furthermore, it’s also important that you begin your claim within the appropriate time frame. This is usually three years from the date of the accident, but some exceptions can apply. Speak with a member of our team for more information.

What Do The Workplace Accident Statistics Tell Us?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collects statistics on workplace accidents that resulted in injury. Their statistics for Great Britain in 2021 record 51,211 non-fatal injuries reported under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

Of these, 4,368 injuries were lacerations and open wounds. While it’s not clear how many of these led to scarring injuries, or how many were the result of negligence, it gives an idea of how many people are cut in the workplace each year.

How Could I Suffer Scars From An Accident At Work?

There are a number of different ways that you could be injured at work and it leaves a scar. For example:

Slips, trips and falls. It’s important that good housekeeping is maintained in the workplace. If boxes or wires are left trailing across walkways, this could cause someone to trip and fall. They could hit their face on the corner of a table as they do, resulting in a scar.
Burn injuries. Scalds and burns can result in scarring. If, for instance, there was a faulty fire alarm that led to you being burned in a fire, you could claim for any scars you sustain as a result.
Crush injuries. If you work with moving machinery, or if there are fixtures in your workplace that have the potential to fall, this could result in a crush injury which leaves a limb badly scarred. For instance, you might work in a supermarket where a shelf that is unsecured falls and crushes your leg, leaving it scarred.

These are not the only ways that you could sustain scarring as a result of employer negligence. Get in touch with our advisors today to see if you have a valid claim.

Gathering Evidence After An Accident

If you suffered an injury that caused scarring at work you might be eligible to claim compensation. However, in order to make a claim, you must be able to prove that your injuries were a result of employer negligence.

Evidence could include:

Medical records. If you sought medical attention after the injury occurred, then your medical records might be able to be used to value your claim. You might also be invited to an independent medical assessment.
Witnesses. Witness statements may be taken at a later date to support your version of events.
CCTV. There may not always be CCTV footage of the accident that caused your injury. However, you are within your rights to ask for footage of yourself.
Accident log book. If your workplace has ten or more employees it is legally required to have an accident log book. Following an accident at work, you could fill it out with your name, the date and time, and any relevant details.

You may also want to seek legal advice in anticipation of making a claim. Accident at work lawyers could advise on what evidence to supply should you want to file a claim for compensation. There are many more benefits to working with a solicitor.

Talk to our advisors today about what evidence could be used to seek compensation following scarring at work.

Payouts For Scarring At Work

If you decide to file for compensation, your claim could have two heads: general damages and special damages.

The head of your claim that covers the physical pain and emotional distress suffered as a result of your injuries is covered by general damages. Solicitors use a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help value claims based on the guideline compensation bracket provided for different injuries.

Some examples of these brackets are provided in the table below:

Injury	Potential Compensation	Notes
Facial disfigurement- Very severe scarring	£27,940 to £91,350	Disfiguring cosmetic effect with severe psychological impact in relatively young claimants (teens to early 30s typically).
Facial disfigurement- Less severe scarring	£16,860 to £45,440	Significant psychoological reaction and substantial disfigurement.
Facial disfigurement - Significant scarring	£8,550 to £28,240	Worst cosmetic effects reduced by surgery and the psychological reaction has diminished.
Facial disfigurement Less significant scarring	£3,710 to £12,900	One scar which can be concealed or a number of very small scars.
Facial disfigurement- Trivial scarring	£1,600 to £3,310	Minor effect.
Scar	£7,350 to £21,330	Noticable laceration scars or one disfiguring scar on the legs, arms, chest or back.
Scar	£2,220 to £7,350	One noticable scar or superficial scars of legs, arms, hands resulting in minor cosmetic deficit.
Burn scars	Likely to exceed £98,380	The award is impacted by percentage of body area covered in burns, whether they're full thickness, partial thickness or superficial, cosmetic impact and psychological reaction, the need for surgery, plus any resultant physical disability.
Moderate psychiatric damage	£5,500 to £17,900	An inability to cope with life and work and an impact on relationships, but an improvement is made and the prognosis is good.
Moderate post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	£7,680 to £21,730	Largely recovered but some continuing effects that are not grossly disabling.

Special damages

If you’re successful in claiming compensation for scarring at work, you may also receive special damages. Special damages are the part of your claim that covers expenses incurred as a result of your injury. You will need to provide evidence of the costs in order for them to be included in your claim.

You could claim for:

Specialist makeup. Camouflage makeup is available to help reduce the appearance of scarring.
Cosmetic surgery. You might have cosmetic surgery to improve the appearance of your scars.
Travel costs. If you record the mileage and save bus tickets or taxi receipts you could claim back travel costs to and from your medical appointments.
Lost earnings. Even if your workplace has a sick pay scheme or you’re eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) you might be able to claim back the difference between this and the amount you would receive if you were working.

Contact our advisors today for an estimate of your claim. You can get in touch using the banner above.

How Do I Appoint A No Win No Fee Solicitor For My Claim?

If employer negligence resulted in an injury at work that resulted in scarring, you might be eligible to claim compensation. Using the services of a No Win No Fee solicitor might make the claims process feel easier. Furthermore, they can offer help and guidance at each step of the claims process.

With a No Win No Fee agreement there are no upfront solicitors fees. There’s also nothing for you to pay as the claim progresses.

If your case is successful a legally capped success fee will be taken from your award. But, if your case is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay any fees to your solicitor.

For more information on the benefits of claiming with a No Win No Fee agreement in place, speak with an advisor today.

Call Us To Claim Compensation For Scarring At Work

If your employer breached their duty of care and you were injured as a result, you might be able to claim for scarring at work. Our advisors are available to assess what damages you may be able to claim. Furthermore, they can give you free legal advice about strengthening your claim.

If you would like to get in touch, you can do so by using the live chat feature or following the banner above.

Further Information About Scarring At Work

For more information about scarring at work we have provided some links that you might find useful:

Information on making a CCTV footage request.
NHS guidance on scars.
Government guidance for Statutory sick pay (SSP).

And some guides:

If you have any more questions about claiming for a scarring at work injury, get in touch today.

Writer Danielle Beasley

Publisher Fern Stein

Scarring At Work Claim