Abrasion injury
compensation claims

If an abrasion injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

An abrasion injury may be superficial, but the painful damage to the skin resulting from scraping against a rough surface can be debilitating. Injuries are usually treated with cleaning and antibiotics to prevent infection, and bandaging.

If you have been affected by an abrasion injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

You are not alone

Abrasion is the medical term for a graze that causes one or more layers of the skin to scrape away. Usually perceived as superficial, abrasions can in fact cause major trauma to the skin leading to the formation of scar tissue. A severe abrasion that removes skin down to the dermis or subcutaneous layer should be professionally treated to aid skin healing.

Anyone who has suffered abrasion injuries as a result of an accident that was not their fault may be eligible to claim compensation.

If you decide to make an abrasion injury claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

For information on cuts and grazes symptoms and treatment, see: cuts and grazes (nhs.uk).

Am I eligible for abrasion injury compensation?

You should be entitled to abrasion injury compensation if your injury resulted from the negligence or actions of another person or organisation, or from an accident that was not your fault.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

Can I claim if I feel I was partly to blame?

Identifying who is legally responsible for a claimant's injuries is not always obvious.

In our 2024 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents felt they were at least partly responsible for their accident or injuries.

Even if you partly caused the accident or your injuries (refered to as 'contributory negligence'), you may still be entitled to make a claim. These claims can often be settled on the basis of a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to start an abrasion injury claim?

In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.

For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.

How much compensation can I claim for an abrasion injury?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

If it can be proved that your injury left you unable to work, special damages can be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.

These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your abrasion injury such as antibiotics and pain relief.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Average abrasion injury general damages compensation

The following abrasion injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Sixteenth Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).

These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.

Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).

Types of abrasion injuries

Abrasions are classified according to the depth of the skin damage.

• A first-degree abrasion damages the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Skin damage will be apparent, but the abrasion typically will not bleed.
• A second-degree abrasion damages the dermis as well as the epidermis and may bleed slightly.
• A third-degree abrasion is known as an avulsion. It involves damage down to the subcutaneous layer and scarring is almost certain.

The majority of abrasion injuries are not serious and will heal completely over time. They be painful, however, because rubbing away the outer skin layers exposes sensitive nerve endings. There is a high risk of germs entering this type of wound, so it is important to clean and irrigate abrasions thoroughly to prevent infection.

See also:

Scar injury compensation claims

Causes of abrasion injuries

Abrasions are usually caused by something rough rubbing against the skin, such as falling onto concrete or rope burns. Common accidents include:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Cycling accidents
• Playground accidents
• Scratching or rubbing the skin after an allergic reaction
• Playing rough sports such as football and rugby.

Due to the nature of the injury, abrasions are most commonly found on the hands, elbows and knees. However, they can appear anywhere on the including the eye, an injury known as a corneal abrasion.

See also:

Slip, trip and fall injury claims

Cycling accident claims

Sports injury claims

Playground accident claims

How did your injury happen?

Claiming compensation for an abrasion injury is dependent on how your injury occurred. Click the icons below for more detail:

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Citations

Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

About the author

Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.