Essential points when claiming for an abrasion injury
- Abrasion injury claims are common for work accidents, public place slips and trips, and road incidents.
- Typical awards can range from £1,890 for mild dermatitis to £116,300 for widespread, painful scarring.
- You must start your claim within 3 years from when the injury occurred.
- Claims are handled with a no win, no fee agreement.
- Compensation covers pain and suffering, loss of amenity, medical costs, lost earnings, and any ongoing treatment required. Use our injury compensation calculator to find out how much you could receive.
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).
How much compensation can I claim for an abrasion injury?
How much you can claim for your abrasion injury is based on:
- the extent of your injury,
- the extent to which your injury limits your daily life and working ability,
- any economic losses or costs you?ve incurred due to your injury.
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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.
Special damages will 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
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average abrasion injury general damages compensation table
The following abrasion injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th 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).
Dermatitis
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms resolve with treatment, or short term aggravation of an existing condition | £1,890 to £4,380 |
| Longer-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms take several months or years to resolve with treatment | £9,590 to £12,660 |
| Dermatitis lasting years or indefinitely | Symptoms that last indefinitely, and that affect your daily life and ability to work | £15,250 to £21,300 |
Facial scarring
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A hardly noticeable scar (or scars) | £1,890 to £3,920 |
| Moderate | A single scar that can be camouflaged with makeup, or multiple small scars that don't markedly affect your appearance | £4,380 to £15,250 |
| Significant | Significant scarring where the worst affects are reduced by cosmetic surgery, and/or with causing a psychological impact | £10,110 to £33,380 |
| Serious | Substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £19,930 to £53,720 |
| Severe | A younger person (under 30) with substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £33,040 to £107,990 |
Non-facial body scars
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Burns with scarring and ongoing pain | £2,630 to £8,690 |
| Moderate | Scarring such as an exploratory laparotomy scar | Around £9,590 |
| Serious | A noticeable laceration scar or single disfiguring scar | £8,690 to £25,220 |
| Severe | Severe burns with continuing pain and psychological injury | Up to £116,300 |
Am I eligible for abrasion injury compensation?
You can claim for an abrasion injury, if:
- you were injured within the last 3 years, and;
- another person was to blame, and;
- that person owed you a duty of care.
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.
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
How the cause of your abrasion injury affects the claims process
The claims process changes depending on the cause of your abrasion injury. Click the icons below to learn more.
Can I make a no win, no fee abrasion injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim abrasion injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?
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Call 0800 376 1001
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Cuts and grazes - NHS (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
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.