By Jo Caine. Last Updated 13th July 2023. Have you been injured by a jagged object? Was the accident that caused your injury caused by the negligence of someone who owed you a duty of care? If so, then you may be able to claim compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained.
An injury caused by a jagged object can impact your quality of life negatively. The injury itself can cause you pain and suffering and may need stitches to heal, resulting in a scar. Furthermore, you may acquire an infection because of the injury you sustained.
Jagged object injury claims
You may want to claim with the help of a solicitor, but be worried about the cost this could incur. We explain how legal representation in the form of a No Win No Fee lawyer could be beneficial to you.
Our advisors are on hand to listen to the details of your claim and offer you free legal advice. If they feel your claim has a good chance of success, they may be able to connect you with a solicitor from our panel. To get in touch with us, you can:
- Call on 0161 696 9685
- Write to us using our online contact form
- Use the ‘live support’ option at the bottom right of this screen for instant help
Select A Section
- Jagged Object Injury Claim Compensation Payouts
- Special Damages Calculator
- What Is A Jagged Object Injury?
- Where Could You Suffer A Jagged Object Injury?
- How To Start A Jagged Object Injury Claim
- Time Limit For A Jagged Object Injury Claim
- No Win No Fee Jagged Object Injury Claims
- Supporting Resources
Jagged Object Injury Claim Compensation Payouts
How much a jagged injury claim is worth depends on how severe it is and how it might impact your quality of life. For example, higher awards may be appropriate where there has been residual scarring on an area of the body that is visible, such as the face.
Immediately after your accident, you might need medical attention. Depending on severity this could require a trip to A&E or a walk-in centre. The medical report from your initial assessment can be used as evidence to support your claim.
Legal professionals use a publication that outlines guideline compensation brackets for injuries of varying severities. It’s called the Judicial College Guidelines and below is a summary of some of the award amounts that are included in it.
| Injury type | Severity | Suggested Amount from JCG |
|---|---|---|
| Cut to foot | Severe- for a jagged object injury to be valued within this bracket, an injury such as extensive degloving would have to have occurred. | £41,970 to £70,030 |
| Cut to foot | Modest- a puncture wound to the foot may necessitate an award within this bracket | Up to £13,740 |
| Scar | Where a relatively young claimant has suffer scarring so severe that it causes a severe psychological reaction and a disfiguring cosmetic effect | £27,940 to £91,350 |
| Scar | This bracket covers a number of noticeable scars, or a single disfiguring scar, to the legs, arms, hands, back or chest. | £7,830 to £22,730 |
| Scar | Where the injured person experiences cosmetic deficit because of a single noticeable scar or several superficial scars to the hands, arms or legs. | £2,370 to £7,830 |
| Cut to hand | Severe - Injuries of this nature may, for example, have reduced the hand to about 50 per cent capacity. Included would be cases where several fingers have been amputated but rejoined to the hand leaving it clawed, clumsy, and unsightly, or amputation of some fingers together with part of the palm resulting in gross diminution of grip and dexterity and gross cosmetic disfigurement. | £29,000 to £61,910 |
| Cut to hand | Moderate - Injuries within this bracket will include penetrating wounds and deep lacerations | £5,720 to £13,280 |
You will usually be invited to a medical assessment as part of your claim. In this assessment, an independent expert will confirm that your injuries were caused by your accident and note their findings and prognosis in a report. This report will then be used with the help of the Judicial College Guidelines to value your claim.
Special Damages Calculator
In addition to general damages, you could be compensated for any financial loss caused by the injury. You may be able to claim for:
- Loss of earnings for time taken off work
- Child care arrangements
- Travel costs to medical appointments, like fuel and parking
- The cost of public transport if your injuries mean you cannot drive
- Care costs if you need help from a professional
- Rehabilitation or physiotherapy costs
To be clear, you will need thorough evidence to support these claims. Receipts, bank statements, bills, invoices and other forms of tangible proof can all be considered. The aim of special damages is to return you as much as possible to the financial position you were in before the accident occurred.
What Is A Jagged Object Injury?
A jagged object injury occurs when you are cut, pierced or otherwise injured by an object with a sharp, uneven edge. A jagged object could include a piece of glass, the unfinished metal edge of a piece of furniture or the blade of a piece of equipment like a saw.
Initially, the injury caused by the jagged object could be detrimental in and of itself. It may cause you some degree of pain and suffering. Furthermore, depending on where the injury occurred, it might stop you from being able to do the things you usually do. For instance, a deep cut on the palm of your hand caused by a jagged object may mean that you’re unable to do your role safely, leading to you taking time off work as you recover.
However, you may also experience problems outside the initial cut or laceration that you sustained. Scarring can happen when you’ve been cut by a jagged object. It can be relatively minor, but it can also be quite serious and cause severe psychological distress in the injured person depending on the severity of the scar and how much of an impact it has on your appearance.
Furthermore, any injury in which the skin is broken poses a risk of infection. For instance, tetanus is a condition that can occur when bacteria gets into a wound. When it enters the body, it can release a toxin that causes symptoms like muscle stiffness or spasms.
For free legal advice about claiming for a jagged object injury, why not get in touch with our team today? Otherwise, read on to find out more about where you might sustain a jagged object injury that you can claim for.
Where Could You Suffer A Jagged Object Injury?
A jagged object injury could be sustained in a number of different scenarios. If a jagged object injury occurs somewhere where you were owed a duty of care, and the injury was caused by a breach in this duty of care, then you may be able to claim.
The Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) sets out the duty of care that your employer has to ensure your safety while at work. It states that your employer needs to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your wellbeing as you carry out your role. If they fail to do this and you’re injured as a result, you may be able to claim. The Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 puts a similar expectation on those in control of public spaces to ensure the safety of those who use the space.
Under the HASAWA, your employer should undertake regular risk assessments. Similarly, the occupier of a public place should take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the space is safe for members of the public to use. If they fail to do so and you’re injured as a result, you may be able to claim.
Road users are also covered by a duty of care that is outlined in the Highway Code. This sets out the duty of care that all road users owe to one another. It includes abiding by the speed limit, not undertaking dangerous manoeuvres and following road markings and signs.
If another driver neglects their duty of care to you and a collision occurs, this could result in broken glass and sharp pieces of metal being exposed. If you were cut by a jagged object in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to claim.
How To Start A Jagged Object Injury Claim
The best first step to take after you’ve been injured by a jagged object is to seek medical attention. As we’ve already touched upon, this is really important in ensuring that you get the right treatment for your injury within an appropriate timeframe. However, as well as this, it will also provide evidence to support your claim as it progresses.
You can also collect evidence of the accident itself to support your version of events. For instance, you may take photographs of the jagged object that caused your injury or obtain CCTV footage that shows the event happening. You could also collect details of witnesses so that a statement can be taken from them at a later date.
The general damages head of your claim will be valued with the help of medical reports and the Judicial College Guidelines. However, for the special damages head of your claim, you will need to provide your own evidence of the costs you have incurred. This could include things like receipts and invoiced for anything you’ve had to pay as a result of your injury.
There’s no legal requirement to have a solicitor act on your behalf when making a claim. However, you may find that their guidance and support help the claims process run more smoothly. It could also help you get more money from your claim.
Please read on to find out more about how No Win No Fee agreements can help people who want to claim fund legal representation.
Time Limit For A Jagged Object Injury Claim
If you meet the eligibility criteria to make a claim for an injury caused by a jagged object, you will only have a set amount of time to file your claim. Under the Limitation Act 1980, your personal injury claim must be started within three years from the date of the accident.
However, there are some exceptions to this. For example, in cases involving injured children, the three-year limitation period is paused until they turn 18. A litigation friend could launch a claim on the child’s behalf during this period. If no claim is made, the child could start their own claim once they reach 18 years of age. They would have until they turn 21 to do so.
To learn more about the other exceptions to the personal injury claims time limit, or if you have any questions regarding jagged object injury claims, you can contact an advisor.
No Win No Fee Jagged Object Injury Claims
A No Win No Fee agreement is a way of funding a personal injury claim. Also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), it’s a contract between you and your solicitor that sets out the conditions that they need to meet before you pay them.
With a No Win No Fee agreement, you won’t be asked to pay anything to your solicitor upfront or while they work on your claim. You also won’t be asked to pay them anything in the event that your claim doesn’t succeed.
If you win your claim, your solicitor will be paid through a “success fee” which is deducted from your compensation to cover their costs. It’s legally capped so you’ll always get the majority of the compensation awarded to you.
If you’re interested in starting a No Win No Fee agreement, why not get in touch with our team today? If they feel your claim has a good chance of success, one of our advisors could connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel. You can contact us by:
- Calling for a no-obligation, friendly chat on 0161 696 9685
- Email or write to us at Advice.co.uk
- Get instant help with our ‘live support’ option, bottom right
Supporting Resources
We hope the information contained in this article has helped inform your decision to start a compensation claim. We are able to offer guidance on a whole array of personal injury claims, such as accidents at work and what to do if you slipped or tripped in public. In addition to this, we can help with injury claims caused by road traffic negligence.
As well as the links in this article, you can access further information by clicking below on:
Claiming compensation against the local authority
Statutory Sick Pay- Eligibility criteria
Claiming for an injury in a pub or bar
Can I claim for an accident at work if I’m self-employed?
Thank you for reading our guide on making a jagged object injury claim.