£3,250 awarded for scarring and head injury | Case Study

The male claimant was awarded £3,250 for pain and suffering and loss of amenity when he suffered a head injury and scarring.

Accident circumstances

The claimant was aged 26 at the time of the accident. He suffered a minor head injury when he hit his forehead on a pillar whilst playing football.

Details of injury

The head wound bled and the claimant was shocked after the accident. He attended the local minor injuries unit where he sought medical attention. The wound was cleaned and steri-strips were applied to close it.

The claimant suffered with headaches for six weeks following the accident and his sleep was troubled for three or four days.

He had also planned a holiday which began a day after the accident. Due to his head injury and the steri-strips that had been applied he was unable to use the spa facilities or do any swimming. This therefore affected the enjoyment of his holiday and the activities that he was able participate in.

When the wound did heal it left a scar across the claimant's hairline. This was three centimetres long and one and a half centimetres of it was visible.

The claimant found the scar embarrassing and was particular embarrassed when the scar remained visible at his wedding, six months after the date of the accident.

The scar remained sensitive to touch some eight months after the accident. Experts advised that there had been some altered sensation in the area surrounding the scar and that this might be permanent. They also advised that the scar would gradually fade by fourteen to sixteen months.

The claimant's and defendant's solicitors entered into meaningful negotiations to try and reach an amicable settlement; however, this process was unsuccessful.

The claimant therefore issued court proceedings and asked that the Court determine the level of damages to be awarded.

Conclusion and Settlement

The Judge based his assessment of damages on the fact that this was an injury that fell towards the lower end of the scale of the JSB Guidelines in respect of facial scarring. The claimant was awarded £3,250 in respect of pain, suffering and loss of amenity.