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• PIAB Application Guide
• Statute of Limitation
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Facial Injury Claim

At Coleman Legal LLP, we understand the complexities of facial injury claims. With our experienced legal team by your side, we work tirelessly to secure the rightful compensation you deserve, ensuring your voice is heard. For a confidential consultation, please call us at 1800-844-104 for free or email [email protected].

Facial injury claims

Facial injury claims refer to legal cases where individuals seek compensation for injuries specifically affecting the face, including injuries to the skin, bones, muscles, or soft tissues. These claims can arise from various incidents such as accidents, assaults, medical negligence, workplace injuries, or road traffic accidents that result in facial injuries. Facial injuries include fractures, lacerations, burns, scarring, nerve damage, and other forms of trauma that impact the face. Seeking legal advice is crucial for understanding the specific circumstances surrounding a facial injury claim and determining the available legal options.

Common causes

Common causes of facial injury claims in Ireland can vary, but some of the typical causes include:

• Road traffic accidents: Car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accidents can result in facial injuries due to the impact of the collision, such as facial fractures, lacerations, or soft tissue damage. Read More
• Workplace accidents: Inadequate safety measures, faulty equipment, or workplace hazards can lead to facial injuries. Examples include injuries caused by falling objects, machinery accidents, or chemical exposures. Read More
• Assaults: Intentional acts of violence, such as assaults or physical altercations, can cause facial injuries ranging from bruises and lacerations to fractures and more severe damage.
• Sports injuries: Participation in sports activities without proper protective gear or contact sports can lead to facial injuries, including fractures, broken noses, or dental injuries. Read More
• Slips, trips, and falls: Falls on uneven surfaces, slippery floors, or poorly maintained premises can result in facial injuries such as fractures, cuts, or bruising. Read More
• Medical negligence: Errors during medical procedures, surgical mistakes, or misdiagnosis can cause facial injuries, especially in cases involving facial surgeries, dental procedures, or cosmetic treatments. Read More

It’s important to note that these are just some common causes, and facial injury claims can arise from various other circumstances. Each case is unique, and the specific cause of the injury will determine the legal aspects and potential compensation available for the claim.

Types of facial injury claim

Common types of facial injury claims in Ireland include:

• Facial fractures: This includes fractures of the facial bones, such as the nose, cheekbones (zygomatic fractures), jaw (mandibular fractures), or orbital bones (eye socket fractures). Read More
• Soft tissue injuries: These involve damage to the skin, muscles, ligaments, or tendons of the face, resulting in cuts, lacerations, contusions (bruises), or abrasions.
• Dental injuries: Trauma to the face can cause dental injuries, such as broken or knocked-out teeth, jaw misalignment, or damage to the surrounding structures like gums or nerves. Read More
• Eye injuries: Facial injuries can also impact the eyes, leading to conditions like orbital fractures, corneal abrasions, chemical burns, or foreign object penetration. Read More
• Burns: Thermal, chemical, or electrical burns affecting the face can cause severe damage, including scarring, disfigurement, and long-term physical and psychological consequences.
• Nerve damage: Trauma to the face can result in nerve injuries, leading to conditions like facial paralysis, loss of sensation, or chronic pain. Read More
• Scarring and disfigurement: Significant facial injuries can result in permanent scarring or disfigurement, which can have a lasting impact on an individual’s physical appearance, self-esteem, and quality of life.
• Eye socket injuries: Injuries to the eye socket (orbital bone) can lead to issues with vision, double vision, or even loss of the affected eye.

These are some common facial injuries for which individuals may seek compensation through legal claims in Ireland. Each case will have unique circumstances, and the severity and long-term consequences of the injury will be factors considered in determining the compensation amount.

Compensation amount

Ref: Personal Injury Guidelines 

1. Facial disfigurement

Facial injuries, particularly those involving cosmetic defects or disfigurement, present challenges in determining damages. Burns are not assessed separately, and the severity of the injury and the suffering endured during initial treatment are considered. Severe burns result in significant disfigurement, pain, and ongoing physical and psychological injuries, deserving high compensation. Several factors influence the level of compensation, including age, nature of the underlying injury, treatment duration, residual scarring, impact on work, quality of life, social and leisure activities, relationships, and psychological damage.

• Most severe scarring: For relatively young claimants (typically teens to early 30s) with highly disfiguring cosmetic effects and severe psychological reactions, awards range from €80,000 to €200,000.
• Severe scarring: In cases where disfigurement is still substantial, accompanied by significant psychological reactions, compensation falls within €60,000 to €80,000.
• Serious scarring: When the worst effects are or will be reduced through plastic surgery, resulting in some cosmetic disability and diminished psychological reaction (which may have initially been considerable), the compensation ranges from €30,000 to €60,000. This includes cases where scarring is visible at a conversational distance.
• Moderate scarring: These cases involve a single scar that can be concealed or several small scars that minimally impact appearance, causing reactions similar to an ordinarily sensitive young person. Compensation ranges from €7,000 to €30,000.
• Minor scarring: In such cases, the effect is minor only, resulting in lower compensation.

Claim process

1. Contact our facial injury claim solicitor

Our team of experienced facial injury solicitors in Ireland is here to assist you with your claim. We understand that back and neck injury claims can be complex, and our solicitors will work with you every step to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

2. The PIAB Application

The first step in making a facial injury claim in Ireland is to apply to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). PIAB handles claims related to workplace injuries, road traffic accidents, serious injuries, and accidents in public places.

3. Submitting information and documents to PIAB

Your solicitor will gather all the necessary evidence, including medical reports and expert reports, and submit them to PIAB on your behalf.

4. Consent to assess the claim

Once the application is submitted, PIAB will formally notify the defendant(s) of the claim. The defendant(s) have 90 days to indicate whether or not they consent to the claim assessment. If the defendant consents, PIAB will proceed with the assessment. If they decline, an Authorisation will be granted to allow the claimant to bring court proceedings.

5. Claim assessment time

If PIAB is assessing the claim, it usually takes 9 months to issue their assessment. This assessment reflects the general and special damages awarded regarding your claim. If both parties accept the assessment, PIAB will issue an Order to Pay, which must be discharged by the defendant(s) within 10 days. A settlement cheque will then be issued to the claimant. If either party rejects the assessment, PIAB will grant authorisation to bring court proceedings. Our expert solicitors will then work with you to ensure that your case is heard in court and that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the accident date within which to issue proceedings. If you are under 18, a separate set of rules apply, and we would recommend you contact our solicitors to talk about these. Learn more about the statute of limitations.

Our team

Our dedicated team has over 30 years of experience and is ready to help you with your building site accident claim. We can guide you through the PIAB application and advise on the best course of action to ensure you are awarded the fairest compensation for your individual case.

At Coleman Legal LLP, we understand our client’s circumstances. We know that because you are reading this part of our website, you have likely been involved in an accident and perhaps have been injured. At times like this, you need the support of an experienced firm that can assist you with the practical issues that now confront you as a result of the fault of another. For example, you may need to understand your Social Welfare entitlements should you be out of work. Also, you need to know that your legal advisers will obtain all of the essential Reports that may be required to ensure that you get the best outcome in your case. We provide a national service and can meet you locally to ensure you have a voice and access to the best advice and resources needed in your particular case. Our service concerns you, the client, and we speak plain English with no unnecessary legal jargon. Our teams have dealt with thousands of claims over many years and pride ourselves in our respectful and concerned approach to all of our clients.

Coleman Legal LLP

Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60

Contact Details

Free Phone: 1800-844-104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
Online Enquiry Form: Apply