Skin Injury Compensation Calculator

The estimates given above have been generated by JMW’s Compensation Calculator, which uses the Judicial College Injury Tables to provide a guideline of how much you could be entitled to claim. Using this information, you can make a decision about whether or not you wish to begin the claims process.

The personal injury solicitors at JMW offer legal support on a no win, no fee basis at all stages of the personal injury claims process. We can advise you of whether or not you are entitled to claim compensation during a free initial consultation, discuss how much compensation you could be owed, and start collecting all the evidence you need to make a successful claim.

For a more accurate calculation of how much your skin condition claim might be worth or to formally begin proceedings, get in touch with the expert solicitors at JMW. Call us on 0345 872 6666, or fill in our online enquiry form to request a call back.

What Should I Do to Claim Compensation? 

When you have experienced scarring due to an injury caused by someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to make a scarring claim. While the compensation amounts listed above are a guide, they do not cover all types of scarring for which you could seek compensation, and it is not only severe scarring that can entitle you to make a claim.

The first step towards making a claim is to speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to discuss the circumstances of your injury and the nature of the scarring. JMW can offer accurate advice on whether you are entitled to pursue compensation and how much you could claim. While permanent scarring will often lead to more compensation, we will have an independent expert review your case and assess your skin damage to make sure all of your needs are accounted for.

What Is the Claims Process?

Once you have spoken to a solicitor, you will know what to expect from the claims process. If you choose to go ahead with your compensation claims, your solicitor will compile the strongest possible case for you and make contact with the party responsible for your injuries ahead of the relevant deadlines. By gathering evidence like medical records, witness statements and financial records, we can secure the maximum compensation possible for you and make sure it covers all of your needs.

With a strong case built and an estimate of how much compensation you should receive, we will send a formal Letter of Claim to the person we believe was responsible for your scarring or skin condition, or their insurance provider in some cases. This document outlines how the injury occurred and why we believe the other party was responsible. The defendant will then have a set period to investigate and respond, which is typically around three months in non-clinical cases.

The defendant can either admit liability (in full or in part), or deny liability and provide reasons. If they admit liability, we can proceed directly to negotiations with the other party over the compensation award you should receive. If the other party will not accept their liability or offer a fair compensation settlement, we may issue court proceedings.

Most skin injury claims settle without going to trial. Negotiations take place between the parties or their insurers, and even issuing proceedings does not necessarily mean the case will reach trial. Claims are often resolved through negotiations before the first hearing takes place.

If the matter proceeds to trial, a judge will determine liability and assess compensation. JMW will present the evidence we have gathered on your behalf and make a strong case for the compensation you are owed.

When your claim is successful, compensation is usually paid within a few weeks of the conclusion. If you have urgent financial needs to address, we may be able to secure interim payments, which means that you will receive a portion of your compensation before the claim has fully resolved.
Learn more in our guide to the lifecycle of a personal injury claim.

What Can Affect How Much Compensation You Can Claim?

The value of a compensation award accounts for more than just the injury itself. In order to properly reflect the damage you have experienced, compensation amounts are based on the wider impact of the incident on your life, finances and professional prospects. Compensation is divided into two aspects in reflection of this aim: general damages for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries, and special damages for financial losses related to the accident.

General damages compensate not only for pain and suffering, but for any psychological impact and loss of amenity that were the direct result of your accident. This means that if your quality of life is affected, or you are unable to take part in activities you used to enjoy because of the restrictions of scar tissue, you will likely receive more compensation.

Special damages can include a range of losses, such as:

• Lost wages, if your injury prevented you from working. This includes future loss of earnings if long-term scarring or sensitivity affects your ability to work.
• Medical expenses for non-NHS treatments such as private dermatology consultations, prescription charges and psychological therapy. Costs for private corrective or reconstructive procedures or scar revision treatment may also be covered.
• Travel expenses for transport to hospital or GP appointments.
• Money spent on care and assistance by professionals and the value of unpaid care provided by family or friends.
• The costs to repair damage to personal property, where skin injuries arise from chemical spills or workplace accidents that also damage items such as clothing, footwear or protective equipment.
• Expenses related to specialist products and adaptations that are needed to manage your scarring, such as pressure garments, sun-protection clothing or adjustments to your home or working environment.
• Future costs, if the injury results in permanent scarring, pigmentation changes or skin sensitivity. A claim may include projected future losses based on reduced earning capacity or long-term care needs where expert evidence confirms that this is needed.

Special damages must be supported by evidence like receipts, invoices, bank statements, wage slips, employment records and medical reports confirming the need for treatment or care.

With all of this in mind, determining the level of compensation for skin scarring or a skin condition can be difficult. This type of compensation claim is relatively uncommon and usually complex in scope, which can add further complexity. The payout will need to be calculated according to its effects on the injured party, any long-term scarring sustained, and the impact on the individual’s work and home life.

By speaking to the legal team at JMW, you will be able to get an accurate appraisal of how many of these factors are relevant in your case, and how much you could be owed as a result. We typically pursue claims on a no win, no fee basis, which means that there are no legal fees to pay if the claim is unsuccessful. 

How Can a Compensation Claim Help? 

Skin injuries and conditions can have a huge and long-lasting impact on you and those around you. Permanent scarring can have a substantial adverse effect on your mental health and result in a significant psychological reaction. A compensation claim aims to account for the mental impact as well as the physical harm, which means that the full effects of the injury and its aftermath will be taken into account.

Compensation awards will help to fund your medical and rehabilitation bills, which can make a compensation claim a key part of the healing process. By covering the costs of any lost earnings, a personal injury claim will also enable you to take the time you need to support your recovery.

If your injuries were so severe that you are not able to make a full recovery after your accident, you will receive money that can be used to pay for long-term treatment and plastic surgery, or address lost future earnings if you are unable to work as a result. Where approaches such as laser treatment, scar revision surgery, steroid injections, medication or makeup are likely to work for you, compensation can cover the related costs. The aim is to put you back into the position you would have occupied if the scarring or skin condition caused by your accident had never happened.

What Types of Skin Injuries or Skin Conditions Can Lead to a Claim?

There are many ways in which your skin can become damaged in accidents that have happened as a result of someone else’s negligence. We have helped former clients claim for a range of injuries and conditions, including dermatitis, burns and scalds, scars and lacerations and damage caused by laser hair removal.

Dermatitis and eczema

This is a common skin condition with diverse symptoms ranging from rashes, itching and cracked skin to psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety. There are many types of dermatitis that may be caused by negligence.

• Atopic is the most common form of dermatitis, caused by abnormal function in the body’s immune system. The symptoms of itchy and inflamed skin can worsen around triggers, including soaps and detergents, cold and dry weather and certain materials and foods.
• Contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to an allergen or irritant, such as chemicals or dust in a workplace. With this condition, allergic reactions cause the skin to become red and itchy and may have a burning sensation.
• Allergic contact is caused by a substance that forces a reaction in your body. It has similar symptoms to contact dermatitis, but can also cause weeping around the area of interaction.
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis affects the face and scalp, causing yellow, oily and scaly patches on the skin. There is no known cause, but stress, uncleanliness and the weather can increase the risk of development, and this may be tied to a personal injury claim.

You can make a compensation claim if your dermatitis was caused by the negligence of another person. For instance, it may have originated from exposure to dust or chemicals in your workplace, or was the result of a hairdresser’s failure to provide a patch test before using a solution on your hair. If you have developed dermatitis or another skin condition due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

Burns and scalds

JMW regularly handles cases involving people who have experienced burns and scalds in accidents. If someone else’s negligence was to blame, you may be entitled to compensation. That could mean anything from botched beauty treatments to a lack of protective equipment provided when working with corrosive chemicals, or safety procedures not being implemented properly when working with ovens and hobs in a kitchen environment.

The effects of burns and scalding injuries are diverse and can be long-lasting, both physically and psychologically. Making a compensation claim will allow you to address the financial ramifications your injury has had on you, as well as recompense you for the pain and suffering caused, ensuring you are able to focus on your recovery.
To find out more, visit our page dedicated to making a claim for a burn or scald.

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