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Permanent scar compensation may be available if you were left with lasting scarring because another person, employer, business, or organisation failed to keep you safe. Whether the injury happened in a road traffic accident, at work, or in a public place, you could be entitled to claim for the physical pain, emotional impact, and financial losses linked to permanent scarring. Many people also find that visible scarring affects their confidence, mental wellbeing, and day-to-day life long after the original injury has healed, particularly where the scar is difficult to conceal or acts as a constant reminder of the accident. The amount of compensation for permanent scarring depends on the severity and location of the scar, the treatment required, and the overall impact the injury has had on your life.
At Legal Helpline, we can connect you with a solicitor from our panel who could value your permanent scar compensation claim, arrange an independent medical assessment, gather evidence such as photographs and medical records, and negotiate with the other party’s insurer on your behalf. Where appropriate, the solicitor may also be able to help arrange access to specialist treatment, including an assessment with a plastic or reconstructive surgeon to consider options for improving the appearance or effects of scarring. The solicitors on our panel understand that permanent scarring can affect both your physical and emotional wellbeing, and they aim to provide support that reflects the impact the injury has had on your life from the outset of your claim.
Get in touch with our advisory team today to find out whether you could begin a permanent scar compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
Jump To A Section
- How Much Permanent Scar Compensation Can I Claim?
- What Can Compensation For Permanent Scars Help With?
- Can I Make A Scarring Compensation Claim?
- What Accidents Could Result In Permanent Scarring?
- Can I Claim For Scarring As A Result Of Medical Negligence?
- Claiming For Permanent Scars After A Violent Crime
- What Will I Need When Bringing A Permanent Scar Claim?
- Why Choose To Claim With Our Expert Panel Of Solicitors?
- Permanent Scarring Claims On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More
How Much Permanent Scar Compensation Can I Claim?
How much permanent scar compensation you could claim will depend on the severity of the scarring, where the scar is located, the treatment required, and the lasting impact the injury has had on your life. Claims involving severe facial scarring, permanent facial scarring, painful scar tissue, or visible scarring to areas such as the hands or neck will often attract higher compensation awards, particularly where there is a significant psychological impact.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are used by those responsible for valuing general damages in personal injury claims. General damages compensate for the physical pain, emotional suffering, and any loss of amenity caused by your accident.
We have included a compensation table below using figures from the JCG to show how this part of your claim will be valued. However, these figures are guidelines only, and every permanent scar compensation claim is assessed on its own circumstances. Please also be aware that the top entry has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| A number of very severe injuries + financial losses | Very Severe - various very serious injuries as well as financial loss such as specialist dermatologist costs, lost income or domestic support expenses | Up to £500,000+ |
| Scarring to the Body | Burns Covering at least 40% or more of the Body - factors taken into account will include the percentage of bodily area affected by the burns and whether the burns are full thickness or superficial | Likely to exceed £138,490 |
| One Disfiguring Scar or a Multiple Scars caused by Lacerations - awards for a number of noticeable laceration scars or one disfiguring scar of the legs, hands, arms, back or chest | £10,350 to £30,030 | |
| Scars With No Serious Internal Injuries -no internal injuries with significant effect | In the region of £11,420 | |
| An Individual Scar Or Various Superficial Scars - one singular scar that is noticeable or a number of superficial scars | £3,130 to £10,350 | |
| Facial Disfigurement | Very Severe Scarring - cases of young claimants where the cosmetic effect is disfiguring and there is a severe psychological reaction | £39,340 to £128,590 |
| Less Severe Scarring - substantial level of disfigurement and significant psychological reaction | £23,730 to £63,970 | |
| Significant Scarring - the most serious impacts will have been minimised by plastic surgery | £12,040 to £39,750 | |
| Less Significant Scarring - cases of one scar or a number of very small scars but the reaction is not serious | £5,220 to £18,150 | |
| Trivial Scarring - minor effect only | £2,260 to £4,670 |
What Can Compensation For Permanent Scars Help With?
Compensation for permanent scars can help cover the physical, emotional, and financial impact the injury has had on your life. In a permanent scar compensation claim, you may be able to recover general damages as we discussed above, for the pain, suffering, and psychological effects caused by the scarring, as well as special damages for expenses and financial losses linked to medical treatment, recovery, and changes to your daily life. To claim special damages, you will usually need evidence of your financial losses, such as receipts, invoices, wage slips, bank statements, or travel records showing costs linked to your injury.
Below, we discuss some of the special damages you could claim for within a permanent scar compensation claim:
Loss Of Earnings
Permanent scar injuries can affect a person’s ability to work, particularly where the scarring is highly visible, physically painful, or causes psychological symptoms such as anxiety or reduced confidence. Compensation could help recover lost earnings, missed overtime, or reduced future earnings.
Medical Treatment Costs
Compensation may help cover the cost of treatment linked to permanent scarring, including plastic surgery, scar revision procedures, dermatology treatment, laser scar therapy, counselling, prescription costs, or medical treatments not covered on the NHS, recommended as part of your recovery.
Travel Expenses
Permanent scarring often requires ongoing medical appointments, particularly where specialist treatment or rehabilitation is needed.
If you need to travel to hospital appointments, dermatology clinics, counselling sessions, physiotherapy, or consultations relating to scar revision treatment or plastic surgery, you may be able to recover related travel expenses such as fuel, parking, train fares, or taxi costs.
Care And Support
Severe scarring or painful scar tissue may leave you needing help with personal care, household tasks, childcare, or attending appointments during your recovery.
Psychological Support
Permanent facial scarring and other noticeable scars can have a lasting effect on personal confidence, social life, and mental health. Compensation could help fund counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or other psychological support linked to the emotional impact of permanent scarring.
Speak to our advisory team today to find out which financial losses, treatment costs, and other expenses could be considered when valuing your permanent scar compensation claim.
Can I Make A Scarring Compensation Claim?
Yes, you can make a scarring compensation claim if your injuries were caused by another person, employer, business, or organisation failing to take proper care for your safety. To be eligible to claim compensation for permanent scarring, your case will need to meet the following criteria:
You Were Owed A Duty Of Care
Another person or organisation had a legal responsibility to protect your safety. This could include employers providing safe working conditions, businesses maintaining safe premises, or road users following the rules of the road. Where individuals or organisations take the appropriate actions to protect your safety, accidents that cause burns, lacerations, chemical injuries, or other serious wounds can be prevented. For example, employers should provide safe equipment and training, businesses should deal with hazards on their premises, and road users should drive responsibly to reduce the risk of accidents that could leave someone with permanent scars.
This Duty Was Breached
You must then show that the responsible party failed to prevent avoidable harm or ignored risks that could have prevented the injury. Examples may include unsafe working environments, poorly maintained public areas, or negligent driving such as speeding that caused a scarring injury.
You Suffered A Permanent Scar As A Result
You must also demonstrate that the accident caused permanent scarring. This may include permanent facial scarring, painful scar tissue, burn injuries, or associated psychological damage such as anxiety, reduced confidence, or depression linked to visible scarring.
If you are unsure whether you could claim compensation with Legal Helpline, our advisory team can provide free guidance and discuss whether you may be eligible to start a claim with a solicitor from our panel on a No Win No Fee basis.
What Accidents Could Result In Permanent Scarring?
Permanent scarring can result from many different types of accidents, including incidents at work, public liability accidents, and road traffic accidents. Below are some common examples:
Permanent Scarring After An Accident At Work
Permanent scarring can happen in many accidents at work, particularly in environments involving machinery, chemicals, hot surfaces, or manual labour. Examples include:
- A factory worker suffering severe burn injuries to their arms and face after coming into contact with defective work equipment or machinery.
- A construction worker being left with noticeable facial scarring after falling debris causes laceration injuries requiring stitches and ongoing treatment.
Scars Caused By A Public Liability Accident
Public liability accidents can also result in permanent scarring, particularly where someone suffers cuts, burns, or other visible injuries in a public place. Examples include:
- A customer sustaining permanent scar tissue after slipping on an unmarked wet floor and falling into broken glass in a supermarket.
- A pedestrian being left with disfiguring scars after tripping on uneven paving and striking their face during the fall.
Road Traffic Accident Caused Permanent Scars
Road traffic accidents can leave people with lasting and visible scars, particularly where the collision causes lacerations, burns, or crush injuries. Examples include:
- A driver developing permanent facial scarring after shattered glass causes deep cuts during a car accident.
- A motorcyclist suffering severe road rash and visible scarring following a collision with another vehicle.
If you suffered permanent scarring after an accident at work, on the road, or in a public place, speak to our advisory team to find out whether you could make a compensation claim.
Can I Claim For Scarring As A Result Of Medical Negligence?
Yes, you can claim compensation for permanent scarring if negligent medical treatment caused avoidable scarring injuries or made an existing injury worse.
Medical negligence claims involving permanent scarring arise where a healthcare professional provides treatment below the standard expected of a healthcare professional, resulting in unnecessary harm, visible scarring, or ongoing medical complications.
Examples can include:
- Cosmetic surgical errors
- Negligent laser treatment
- Poorly performed surgical procedures
- Delayed diagnosis of infections
- Failures to properly treat wounds and burns
In some cases, the scarring may lead to permanent facial scarring, psychological harm, reduced confidence, or the need for corrective treatment such as scar revision surgery or skin grafts.
Speak with our advisory team today to find out whether negligent treatment may have caused your permanent scarring and whether you could claim compensation on a No Win No Fee basis.
Claiming For Permanent Scars After A Violent Crime
You may be able to claim compensation for permanent scarring caused by a violent crime through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is a government-funded scheme that handles compensation claims for people injured because of violent criminal acts, including assaults, abuse, and other violent offences that result in permanent scarring or psychological harm
To be eligible to claim compensation through the CICA, the following criteria will usually apply:
- Your permanent scarring must have been caused by a crime of violence, such as an assault, abuse, arson attack, or sexual assault.
- The incident must have taken place in England, Wales, Scotland, or a vessel registered in any of these countries.
- The crime must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably possible.
- Your claim will need to be made within the relevant CICA time limit, which is generally 2 years from the date of the incident.
If you have been left with permanent scarring after a violent crime, Legal Helpline can explain the criminal injuries compensation claims process and assess whether you may be eligible to claim through the CICA.
What Will I Need When Bringing A Permanent Scar Claim?
To bring a permanent scar compensation claim, you will need evidence showing how the accident happened, who was responsible, and the effect the scarring has had on your life. You will also need to ensure your claim is brought within the relevant time limits.
The sections below explain how you can prove fault for your permanent scarring and how long you have to begin a claim:
How Can I Prove Who Was At Fault For My Scarring?
To prove who was at fault for your scarring, the evidence needed may include:
- Photographs showing the scarring at different stages of healing, including any visible facial scarring or scar tissue.
- Medical records confirming the extent of the injuries, treatment received, and whether the injuries are likely to result in permanent scarring.
- CCTV footage, dashcam recordings, or accident scene photographs showing how the incident occurred.
- Witness contact details or statements supporting how the accident happened and who was responsible.
How Long Is The Permanent Scar Compensation Claim Time Limit?
In most personal injury claims, the time limit for making a permanent scar compensation claim is 3 years running from the date of the accident. There are, however, some exceptions for injured parties who cannot manage the claims process on their own, including claims involving children or people without mental capacity.
If you are unsure whether you are still within the time limit to claim compensation for permanent scarring, an advisor can assess your circumstances and explain whether you may still be eligible to claim.
Why Choose To Claim With Our Expert Panel Of Solicitors?
When you claim through Legal Helpline, you could be connected with a personal injury specialist from our panel who understands that permanent scarring can affect far more than your physical appearance. Visible scarring often acts as a lasting reminder of a traumatic accident and may impact confidence, mental health, relationships, and day-to-day life.
Whether you are dealing with permanent facial scarring, restrictive scar tissue, or visible surgical scars following an accident, the solicitors on our panel aim to make the claims process as straightforward as possible while you focus on your recovery.
Some of the tailored ways the solicitors on our panel could support your permanent scar compensation claim include:
- Connecting you with independent plastic surgeons, dermatologists, or psychologists to assess the severity and long-term psychological impact of the scarring.
- Helping gather supporting evidence, including photographs of the scarring, medical records, expert reports, and proof of financial losses linked to treatment or recovery.
- Seeking interim payments where appropriate to help fund scar revision treatment, laser therapy, dermatology appointments, or psychological support during your recovery.
- Negotiating with insurers to seek compensation that reflects the long-term impact the permanent scarring has had on your appearance, confidence, and quality of life.
- Explaining the claims process in clear, straightforward language so you understand what to expect at each stage of your permanent scar compensation claim and can make informed decisions about your recovery and treatment options that become available with a successful personal injury claim.
Permanent Scarring Claims On A No Win No Fee Basis
The solicitors on our panel offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means you would not need to pay upfront costs for your solicitor’s work, and there would also be no ongoing service fees while the claims process is progressing. If your claim is unsuccessful, you would not pay for the solicitor’s work completed under the agreement.
If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will deduct a legally capped percentage from your compensation as a success fee. This percentage will be explained and agreed with you before the claim begins, helping you make an informed decision about moving forward with your claim.
Our advisory team could connect you with a solicitor from our panel who can explain whether a No Win No Fee agreement may be available in your case.
Contact Our Advisors
Get in touch with our advisors today with any questions you may have about the claims process. You can reach us by:
- Calling us on 0333 000 0729
- Contacting us online
- Speaking to an advisor using our live chat
Learn More
Read some more of our guides about:
- How to claim for an avulsion fracture
- Spinal cord injury solicitors from our panel and how they could help you
- How to make a minor injury claim
Helpful External Resources
- NHS information about permanent scars
- How much Statutory Sick Pay you could receive
- Find an urgent or emergency care service
Thank you for reading our guide about permanent scar compensation. An advisor can help you get a claim started today.