Permanent Scar Compensation Solicitors

What are the different types of permanent scars?

Permanent Scar Injuries can either be solely cosmetic or may also cause pain and discomfort for the victim. Either way, a permanent scar can have a lasting effect on your physical and mental wellbeing.

There are several different types of scars that can occur, and according to UK law a scar needs to be classified as one of the following types in order to make a compensation claim:

• Scar Contractures - These are caused when the skin contracts or is stretched after damage, and can cause pain and mobility problems, as well as having an aesthetic impact on the victim. For example, if the skin on the victim’s elbow is burnt or scalded, the healing process may cause it to contract and thus restrict movement in the arm.
• Keloid Scars - These typically occur when the skin heals without adequate stitches and dressings. Keloid scars present as large, dark-coloured welts, which are raised on the skin’s surface, and are often quite painful. As well as being a cosmetic problem, if a keloid scar forms on a joint it can cause long-term damage to the body by preventing the normal function of the joint.
• Flat Pale Scars - These kinds of scars tend to be small and flat, with very little in the way of lasting permanent physical damage, i.e. the normal function of the skin is not usually affected. However, they can have lasting aesthetic affects which can impact the self-confidence and emotional wellbeing of the victim.

If you sustain an injury that leads to extensive scarring, it is vital that you have the injury assessed by a medical professional as soon as possible to ensure the best course of treatment to minimise the effects on your physical and mental wellbeing.

What kind of accidents can cause extensive scarring?

There are a wide variety of accidents that could potentially result in Permanent Scar Injuries, but some of the most common causes of permanent scars that lead to compensation claims include the following:

• Road Traffic Accidents - This includes accidents involving cars/vans, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians who are injured through no fault of their own whilst using the roads.
• Accidents at Work - This includes such incidents as slips and falls in offices, burns caused by unsafe equipment, injury caused due to incorrect PPE, or injuries in a warehouse or on a building site due to health and safety procedures being incorrectly implemented by management or not followed properly by staff.
• Slips and Trips in Public - Falling onto or into a sharp object in a public space or an occupied building could cause extensive scarring. This includes places such as supermarkets, restaurants, shopping centres, public highways, or on public transport.
• Chemical Accidents - This type of accident typically occurs in labs due to the misuse of chemicals, but it can also refer to bad reactions to things like make-up and toiletries, which often result in facial scarring.
• Being Involved in a Fire - The burns sustained in a house fire or a fire in a public place often lead to permanent scarring of some degree.
• Medical Negligence -  A permanent scar can be caused by a badly or incorrectly carried out surgical procedure. This could be a result of the doctor making a mistake during the surgery or by someone failing to provide adequate treatment and care of the wound post surgery. For example, allowing the incision wound to become infected could cause it to heal badly, leaving a permanent scar.

This list of injuries causing extensive scarring is by no means exhaustive; if you have sustained any injuries or scarring as a result of an accident that occurred due to no fault of your own, our specialist team of solicitors may be able to help you to claim compensation.

What should I do after suffering an extensive scar injury?

If you have been injured in an accident, it is often the case that your injuries will leave a scar as they heal, varying from minor to extensive scarring. The first thing we would advise you to do after an accident or incident is to have your injury looked at by a medical professional to ensure it is treated properly in order to heal effectively. Once you have had your injury treated and your health isn’t at risk, the next step is to start gathering any relevant evidence to support your compensation claim.

The type of evidence we advise you to collect includes:

• Evidence of the accident - This can be things such as video footage captured via dash cams, smartphones, or CCTV, witness details so that statements can be obtained, photos of the scarring, and a copy of the accident book (correctly filled in and signed) if it was an accident at work or in a public place such as a supermarket.
• Proof of extensive scarring - When your injury was assessed by a medical professional, a report should have been produced to record the severity of your injury, the treatment prescribed, and the future prognosis of the injury, and you should be able to obtain a copy of this report as evidence.
• Proof of negligence - If the accident occurred due to negligence, for example improper safety training or unsuitable PPE, it is helpful to collect evidence of this, such as photographs and witness statements.
• Evidence of expenses - If your scar injury has caused you to incur any expenses, such as medical bills or loss of earnings, keep a record of any receipts, invoices, and pay slips as evidence.

It’s not always easy or straightforward to gather the right type and amount of evidence you need to support your permanent scarring compensation claim, but our team of experienced injury claim lawyers will provide you with the guidance and assistance you need in order to make a strong case for compensation.

The law states that personal injury claims must be made within three years from the date of the accident. There may be special mitigating circumstances where this timeframe can be extended, but we strongly advise our clients to start the claim process as early as possible after the incident in order to avoid your claim becoming statute barred.

How much compensation could I get for my Permanent Scar Injury?

Each personal injury claim for permanent scarring is different, and it is difficult to estimate how much compensation you will receive until we have gathered all of the necessary information and evidence. There are several areas that need to be taken into consideration when making a compensation claim, and your compensation award will be split to include general damages and special damages.

General damages typically refers to the amount of compensation you will be awarded for the physical and psychological effects of your injury, such as the type and severity of the injury, as well as the associated pain, suffering, distress, or anxiety caused by the incident, and the impact your injury may continue to have on your future.

Special damages refers to any additional financial losses incurred as a direct result of the incident, including the following:

• Travel costs, such as taxi fares, or parking costs incurred as a result of having to attend medical appointments directly related to your injury.
• Medical costs due to having to pay for prescriptions or for any private medical treatment you receive as part of your recovery.
• Loss of income if your injury has led to you needing to take time off work.
• Care costs incurred if your scar is severe enough to cause you to need a carer, even if only for a short time.

It’s important to keep any receipts and invoices so that you have a good record of all the financial costs incurred, in order to prove the financial impact your permanent scar injury has had on you. Unfortunately, without the proof, the expenses will not be considered in your claim.

As you can see, there are many variables that must be taken into account when valuing your compensation claim, so it is impossible to predict the exact outcome until we have all of the necessary information and evidence. Each individual case will differ, but here at PSR Solicitors we will always strive to help you achieve the best possible outcome from your personal injury claim.

Our injury compensation calculator page might help you understand the range within which your settlement could fall, but it’s vital to seek advice from an experienced solicitor before making a claim.