What to consider when making a facial injury claim
- You can make a claim whether your facial injury was work-related, road-related, happened in a public place, or resulted from medical negligence or a cosmetic treatment.
- Compensation awards vary, from around £1,210 for damage to back teeth to up to £107,990 for serious facial scarring and disfigurement.
- You must start your claim within 3 years from when your injury occurred.
- You can claim on a no win, no fee basis.
- Your compensation amount will be influenced by the extent of your injury and your financial losses and expenses. Discover how much you could claim with our compensation calculator.
- Compensation can also cover reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, and support for any psychological harm you have suffered following your facial injury.
If a facial injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Facial injuries from accidents or violence can be particularly traumatic, potentially affecting your appearance and self-esteem.
If you have been affected by a facial injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Compensation may be awarded for surgical repair, therapy, and any psychological counselling for the emotional consequences of your injury.
You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
What counts as a facial injury?
In the context of making a personal injury claim, facial injuries refer to any harm or trauma to the face. This can include a wide range of conditions, from minor cuts and bruises to more severe injuries like fractures, burns, lacerations, nerve damage, broken bones, scarring and conditions relating to the eyes.
Facial injuries can affect various areas, including the skin, muscles, nerves, eyes, nose, mouth, and jaw.
With 20% of Britons affected by a facial scar, you are not alone
Facial injuries are common, particularly in situations involving physical activities, sports, road accidents, falls, or acts of violence.
The face is vulnerable in professions and activities where the risk of impact or contact is higher, such as construction, sport, or certain types of manufacturing.
Around 1 in 5 people have a visible mark, scar or other facial injury condition in the UK. (changingfaces.org.uk).
If you decide to make a facial 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.
How much compensation can I claim for a facial scar or injury?
Compensation for your facial scar or injury is based on:
- how severe your injury is,
- the disruption caused by your injury to your daily life and work,
- any financial losses or costs you have 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 facial injury such as pain medication, antibiotics and surgical repair.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average facial injury general damages compensation table
The following facial 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).
Cheekbone injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple fractures without surgery | Complete recovery with no surgery required | £2,570 to £3,320 |
| Simple fractures with surgery | Complete recovery that requires surgery | £4,830 to £7,160 |
| Serious fractures | Surgery required, with permanent symptoms, scarring or disfigurement | £11,320 to £17,510 |
Facial injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple fractures | Multiple fractures of facial bones, with some facial deformity | £16,530 to £26,560 |
| Skeletal injuries | Le Fort fractures of frontal facial bones | £26,420 to £40,760 |
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 |
Hair damage
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Temporary, patchy hair loss and/or mild scalp dermatitis or alopecia | £4,380 to £8,150 |
| Serious | Extensive or permanent hair damage, and/or eczema or other scalp injury, with some psychological damage | £8,150 to £12,230 |
| Moderate | Moderate hair damage, with minor scalp injury (e.g. eczema) | £8,150 to £12,230 |
Injury to senses
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of taste | £21,300 to £27,730 | |
| Loss of smell | £27,730 to £36,500 | |
| Total loss of smell & significant loss of taste | £36,500 to £43,460 | |
| Total loss of taste & smell | Around £43,460 |
Jaw injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Simple fracture requiring immobilisation, and/or with full recovery | £7,160 to £9,690 |
| Serious | Serious fracture, with permanent symptoms (e.g. difficulty eating or nerve damage) | £19,930 to £33,830 |
| Severe | Serious multiple fractures that require prolonged treatment, and/or permanent symptoms (including pain, paraesthesia, and a risk of arthritis) | £33,830 to £50,520 |
Nose injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Undisplaced fracture | Simple undisplaced fracture with full recovery | £1,890 to £2,800 |
| Displaced fracture | Recovery after manipulation with no surgery required; | £2,800 to £3,500 |
| Displaced fracture with surgery | Complete recovery following surgery | £4,380 to £5,660 |
| Serious/multiple fractures | After surgery, permanent damage to airways with breathing difficulty, and/or nerve damage, scarring or disfigurement | £11,810 to £25,650 |
Teeth loss or damage
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Back teeth | £1,210 to £1,890 | |
| One front tooth | £2,450 to £4,380 | |
| Two front teeth | £4,830 to £8,460 | |
| Several front teeth | £9,690 to £12,660 | |
| Chronic tooth pain | Including untreated abscess, symptoms over several years and/or deterioration in overall condition of teeth | Up to £42,310 |
Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?
Psychiatric harm is less obvious than physical injury, but the consequences can be just as difficult to deal with.
According to our 2024 Personal Injury Claimant Survey shows that 29.03% of potential claimants sustained a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
Facial injuries can cause concerns about appearance and lead to depression, anxiety, social anxiety (social phobia), and body image issues.
Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
Who is legally responsible (liable) for my injury?
Liability for facial injuries depends on where and how they occur.
Workplace injuries, like burns from chemicals or fires, typically hold the employer responsible if they failed to provide adequate protection. These claims are usually covered by the employer's public liability insurance.
In road traffic accidents, a claim would be pursued against the culpable driver's insurance.
For injuries from physical assaults, even if the attacker is unidentified, compensation can be sought from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which assists victims of criminal acts.
Facial injuries from slips or falls in commercial spaces like shops or cafés could make the business owner liable, especially if caused by preventable factors such as spills or uneven flooring.
What should I do following a facial injury
If you have facial injuries that were caused by the negligence of another party, such as your employer or a commercial organisation, it is likely that you will be able to claim compensation. A compensation award accounts for pain and suffering, time off work, scarring and long term consequences on a person's health and well-being.
The panel of solicitors have years of experience of dealing with facial injury compensation cases, and will work hard to ensure that you receive as much redress as possible for your accident. This will not change what has happened, but can help you to cope with the consequences and cover your costs.
How the cause of your facial injury affects the claims process
The claims process changes depending on the cause of your facial injury. Click the icons below to learn more.
Can I make a no win, no fee facial injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim facial 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?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
We are open until 9pm this evening.
or arrange a callbackSources
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - GOV.UK (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.