Scarring, laceration & disfigurement compensation claims

What is a laceration?

A laceration is a cut or tear in the skin and is a very common type of injury.

Some lacerations are considered a minor injury, in which case they're unlikely to need much medical attention.

However, sometimes a laceration can cause damage to tendons, muscles, ligaments and may even cause broken or fractured bones. In these cases, a laceration would be considered a severe injury and will almost always require medical treatment, and in some cases surgery. Deep or multiple lacerations can cause serious scarring that requires reconstructive repair.

We know how painful lacerations can be and appreciate that it may be taking you a long time to make a full recovery. Your laceration may have affected your mobility, stopping you from enjoying your normal routines or even working.

As a result of your injury, you may have experienced financial hardship or a loss of earnings. It may also be the case that your deep laceration has resulted in permanent scarring. We understand this can be difficult to live with.

Getting compensation for your laceration or scarring can help ease some of the financial pressure you may be facing, so you can focus on recovery and getting your life back on track.

What should I do if I've been badly cut?

Seek immediate medical assistance at your local Accident & Emergency unit. Lacerations will need stitching or steristrips to seal the wound so it can heal properly. Deep lacerations or penetrative wounds may need surgery.

If the incident happened at work, get to A&E but be sure you or a colleague reports it to management so the injury can be logged in your employer's accident report book. They have a duty to record certain types of injuries and above a certain threshold of severity, the Health and Safety Executive will automatically investigate what has happened.

What is scarring?

Scarring is the mark, or marks, left on your skin after a lacerating or deeply penetrative wound has healed. They vary from minor to severe and there are five main categories of scars:

• Fine line scars - typically following a minor wound, this type of scar will gradually fade and flatten.
• Keloid scars - an overgrowth of scar tissue that keeps increasing after the wound has healed due to the body's excess production of collagen.
• Hypertrophic scars - like a keloid scar but where the excess tissue does not increase beyond the boundary of the wound.
• Pitted scars - dips and depressions in the skin where there's been a loss of fat under the skin or damage from skin conditions like chickenpox or serious acne.
• Contracture scars - usually caused by burn injuries where the skin shrinks and can become restrictively tight. Burns can also cause uncomfortable keloid and hypertrophic scars.

Many treatments can ease the discomfort and appearance of scarring. Your GP will be happy to explain these to you.

What kind of accidents provide grounds for laceration and scar settlements? 

Scarring occurs in all injuries where the skin is cut, broken or burned. If you've been scarred or disfigured following an accident injury that wasn't your fault, you may be able to make a claim for scar compensation.

Puncture, penetration and laceration are common consequences of injury in just about any situation you can imagine. It could be after any type of road accident, following a slip, trip or fall somewhere public,  in the workplace or in a sporting incident. 

Scarring can also be caused in medical negligence . This is when by act or omission in treatment or surgery, a doctor, nurse, surgeon or another type of healthcare practitioner harms you. Botched surgery or negligent cosmetic procedures like bleaching burns can sometimes result in unnecessarily disfiguring injury or excess scarring.

If you've been badly scarred or disfigured, the chances are your original injury was serious. You may have been unable to work for a while or do your normal job and you might have been cared for by family and friends without charge.

If the accident was someone else's fault, we don't think it's right that you should bear the physical impacts and any financial costs of your recovery. 

Contact us and talk to one of our friendly, compassionate and personal injury advisors on . Your call to us and the advice we give are free. There's never any pressure to start a claim if you're eligible - for instance for permanent facial scar compensation. It's entirely your decision. We're simply here to help you find out the information you need so you can choose what to do next. 

Can I make a criminal injuries claim for laceration or scar compensation?

Yes you can. If you've been cut, scarred or otherwise disfigured as a result of a criminal assault, there's a special process to handle scar settlements and similar types of laceration or permanent scar compensation claims.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government body that compensates people physically or mentally injured following a criminal assault in England and Wales. 

If you're eligible to make a scar settlements claim following a violent assault, the solicitor we connect you with will make your permanent scar compensation claim (or similar) directly with CICA. 

The claims process is broadly the same as for other no win no fee personal injury claims, involving investigation and the submission of evidence. CICA will then adjudicate the claim and if successful, award scar settlements compensation to you accordingly.

How much compensation do scar settlements usually pay out?

No two cases are the same and so permanent scar compensation amounts vary. We look at each case on an individual basis so we can decide the best way to help you and who's the most suitable solicitor for your claim.

Because of this, we can't tell you exactly how much you may receive in a facial scar compensation payout, for example. However, you can get an estimate by using our facial scarring compensation calculator.

We'll work hard to make sure you get the full amount of scar compensation you're owed. Your solicitor will take anything caused by your injury into consideration when putting together your back injury claim.

For example, they'll take into account:

• Any medical treatment, medications costs, adaptations made to your home
• Any care you've received, even if given for free by a family member
• Lost earnings due to time off work
• The effect your injury has had on your social life and hobbies
• The wider effects on your family

Your compensation can't take away what you've been through, but it really can help you get your life back on track.

How much does it cost if I make a permanent scar compensation claim?

You do this with a no win no fee arrangement, also known as a conditional fee agreement. It's the contract between you and your no win no fee scar settlements solicitor.

There are no upfront costs or hidden charges but if you win the claim, you'll be asked to pay any costs and expenses, not paid for by the other side, out of your compensation. This is likely to happen in most cases, as the other side is only required to make a contribution to your legal fees.

These costs will only be deducted when your compensation is paid, and may include: 

• A ‘success fee' that compensates the solicitor for the risk they take, as if your claim is unsuccessful they won't be paid at all.
• Any other legal costs or expenses not recovered from the other side, such as the costs of any legal expense insurance.

When you start your laceration compensation or scar settlements claim, your solicitor will take out legal insurance protection on your behalf. This is sometimes called ATE (After The Event) insurance. 

If your claim is unsuccessful, then the other party's costs will be paid out of this insurance. 

If you don't receive any scar compensation, then you won't have to pay for the ATE insurance. If your claim is successful, then it'll be paid out of your compensation as part of the fees.

Your solicitor will discuss this with you at the start, so you'll know what to expect when your claim settles. If you don't win your no win no fee claim, you won't pay anything to anyone. 

How do I know who's responsible for my scarring claim injury?

The owners of public places such as councils, shops, pubs, restaurants and other similar businesses are all legally bound to keep you safe. 

This is called their duty of care. If they've failed to follow the proper safety regulations and you've been injured, then they've broken the law and you may be able to make a claim.

This also applies to employers, who have a duty of care to make sure you can do your job safely. This includes providing you with the correct training and safety equipment. If they don't comply with general health and safety regulations such as The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and you've been injured, then it's likely you could make a scar settlements claim.

No matter what the cause, if you've suffered a laceration or scar injury in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, then there's a good chance we'll be able to help you get the compensation you deserve. You can find out if we think you have a claim by giving us a call on .

What are the time limits if I want to make a laceration or scar settlements claim?

To qualify for making any no win no permanent scar compensation claim, you must have been injured within the last three years. The accident must also have been wholly or partially someone else's fault.

• If you were 18 or over when the injury occurred, you have three years to make a personal injury claim from the accident date. 
• If you were under 18 at the time and no claim was made, you have three years from your 18th until your 21st birthday to claim.

There are exceptions to the three-year limitation. For instance, if the claimant has experienced such severe injury they can't make the claim themselves or if they lack the psychological capability to do so.

If you've got any questions about making a no win no fee compensation claim, contact us for free and impartial advice on . We'll listen to what you've been through and let you know if we think you could make a no win no fee claim. 

Alternatively, you can try our eligibility verifier. This asks some simple questions about your experience and will let you know whether we think you may be able to make a scar compensation claim. In addition, you can use our scar compensation calculator in the UK to get an estimate on how much compensation you might receive.

It's important to add that we'll never rush or pressure you. We're here to give you impartial and free no win no fee compensation advice so you can decide what to do next.

Is National Accident Helpline a claims management company?

No, we aren't. National Accident Helpline is an independent personal injury advice brand owned by legal practice National Accident Law. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the independent professional ethics and standards regulator that licences all solicitors across England and Wales. Our SRA registration number is 655606.

Claims management companies (CMCs) are overseen by a different regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). CMCs do not have their own law practices. We advise on personal injury claims as part of National Accident Law. We also work with a national network of specialist law firms who we choose carefully and check closely to make sure you receive an outstanding customer experience.