Has A Hairdresser Cut You? Find Out If You Can Sue In The UK

Going to the hair salon should be something to look forward to, but what happens if your visit leaves you hurt, scarred, emotionally distressed, and suffering from financial loss? If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be wondering, ‘Can you sue a hairdresser for cutting you?’ Generally, you can pursue compensation for your injuries, but you will need to show that you were hurt as a result of a third party’s negligent actions.

What You Need To Know About Suing A Hairdresser For Cutting You

• A hairdresser may cut you due to inadequate training, improper techniques, and defective or poorly maintained equipment.
• Cuts can lead to lacerations, excessive and permanent scars, as well as infections.
• Hairdressing cuts may also adversely affect self-esteem and cause psychological harm, including anxiety and depression.
• Liability for your injuries would generally lie with the operator or owner of the hairdresser’s, rather than the individual who cut you.
• Our personal injury solicitors have a proven track record of expertly handling documentation and gathering evidence on behalf of clients nationwide.

Here at Advice, our solicitors have decades of experience supporting clients, and one of them could use this expertise to guide you through the hairdressing compensation claims process. They can manage all aspects of your claim, so you won’t have to worry about how your case is progressing. It also couldn’t be easier to find out if you can claim for your hairdresser injury. Our friendly advisors are just a click or phone call away and will talk you through the next steps:

• Call on 0161 509 2856.
• Select the live chat feature.
• Contact us online.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can You Sue A Hairdresser For Cutting You?
2. How Long Do I Have To Claim Against A Hairdresser?
3. How Much Compensation Could You Get If You Sue A Hairdresser For Cutting You?
4. How Could Hairdressing Injuries Happen?
5. Claim Against A Hairdresser With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
6. Resources For Beauty Treatment Injury Claims

Can You Sue A Hairdresser For Cutting You?

You can sue a hairdresser for cutting you if you can prove that you were hurt as a direct result of a third party’s negligent actions (or inactions). As a visitor to a public space like a hairdressers or salon, you are owed a duty of care under a piece of legislation called the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Essentially, this is the responsibility that the occupier (the party in control of the public space) has to use practical measures to keep you reasonably safe while visiting the premises.

Hairdressers, as traders, also have an obligation under Part 1 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This legislation outlines your rights and options in the event that they fail to provide a service with ‘reasonable care and skill.’

The duty of care discussed in this section does not mean you can sue for getting a terrible haircut – though we know that can sometimes feel like the end of the world. Instead, in order to have a potentially valid hairdressing claim, you need to be able to give a firm ‘yes’ to the following questions:

• Were you owed a duty of care?
• Did the hairdressers breach this duty?
• Were you injured due to the breach?

Please contact our team of advisors to find out whether you can take your first steps towards starting the hairdressing compensation claims process.

How Long Do I Have To Claim Against A Hairdresser?

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have 3 years from the date of the incident to start a personal injury claim against a hairdresser. This time limit doesn’t apply if the person claiming is under 18 or lacks sufficient mental capacity, as neither can pursue compensation by themselves.

Instead, the 3-year time limit will only apply under the following circumstances:

• Children must wait until their 18th birthday before time limits take effect, allowing them to claim independently of someone else.
• The 3-year time limit only extends to mentally incapacitated adults if they make a recovery. This would see the 3 years running down from the date mental capacity is restored (in the event that a recovery is ever made).

For those under 18 or who are mentally incapacitated, a litigation friend can be used to represent the claimant. This would allow an eligible adult to pursue compensation during the pause on the 3-year time limit.

Our advisors can tell you more about time limits and provide further guidance concerning the question of, ‘Can You Sue A Hairdresser For Cutting You?’

How Much Compensation Could You Get If You Sue A Hairdresser For Cutting You?

The compensation you could get if you sue a hairdresser for cutting you can be determined by the value of the injuries you sustained, their overall impact, and the financial consequences of the harm you suffered.

General Damages

In personal injury claims, general damages compensate you for your pain and suffering. According to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), if you suffered very severe facial scarring, you could receive £36,340 to £118,790. The JCG is a document sometimes used by solicitors to value general damages, as it contains guideline compensation brackets for various types of injuries.

Please note that the first entry in the list below is not from the JCG. Moreover, since all the brackets are guidelines, none of the bullet points guarantee a public liability payout for your particular claim.

• Multiple Injuries And Special Damages – A mix of several very severe injuries along with special damages for financial impact, such as lost earnings, therapy, and the cost of private medical treatment – Up to £250,000+.
• Very Severe Facial Scarring – Scarring that causes severe psychological effects and is disfiguring – £36,340 to £118,790.
• Less Severe Facial Scarring – Scarring that causes the claimant a significant psychological reaction – £21,920 to £59,090.
• Significant Facial Scarring – The worst effects have been reduced by cosmetic surgery but some cosmetic disability remains – £11,120 to £36,720.
• Less Significant Facial Scarring – One scar or several scars that do not overly affect the appearance – £4,820 to £16,770.
• Trivial Facial Scarring – Scarring with a minor effect – £2,080 to £4,310.
• Moderately Severe Psychiatric Damage – Compensation will depend on how the claimant’s everyday life is affected – £23,270 to £66,920.
• Moderate Psychiatric Damage – Claimants may struggle with everyday tasks, but a full recovery is expected – £7,150 to £23,270.
• Less Severe Psychiatric Damage – Compensation will vary based on how well claimants can carry out everyday tasks – £1,880 to £7,150.
• Damage to Hair (a) – Dermatitis, eczema, brittle hair and tingling of the scalp that causes emotional distress – £8,960 to £13,450.
• Damage to Hair (b) – Minor symptoms along with potential for regrowth – £4,820 to £8,960

Special Damages

Special damages can reimburse you for any financial losses that have been caused by your hairdresser injury. These damages can encompass any future impact on your finances as a result of an injury, including:

• Lost earnings if you were unable to work temporarily or permanently.
• Private medical treatments to address scarring or other injuries caused by the hairdressing cut
• The cost of driving to medical appointments or using public transport.
• Therapy and other mental health services.
• Wigs or other items to address the cosmetic impact of your injury.

Evidence like payslips, bank statements, and invoices is required when claiming special damages. You can get help with obtaining this documentation if you connect with one of the solicitors here at Advice.

Do you have any queries about general or special damages? Our advisors are always on hand to help, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

How Could Hairdressing Injuries Happen?

Hairdressing injuries can happen because staff use substandard or faulty equipment, don’t receive the appropriate training, or use improper haircutting techniques. We’ve listed some ways a scalp injury or other cutting-related harm could occur below:

• • Despite their training, a hairdresser knowingly fails to use the safety guard on their equipment. This results in the client being severely scarred.
  • Equipment is not maintained to an appropriate standard, resulting in it becoming rusty. The failure to maintain the equipment or remove it from use causes a client to develop a life-threatening infection when they are cut during their salon visit.
  • A hairdresser allows themselves to become distracted while cutting hair with scissors, leading their client to suffer a deep laceration.
  • Shaving equipment is reused at a salon without being routinely sterilised. This equipment subsequently leads to a client being hospitalised with sepsis after getting cut by their hairdresser.

While this is not an exhaustive list, please note that not all injuries caused by hairdressers mean you can make a compensation claim. We recommend you contact our friendly advisors if you’re unsure about whether you’re eligible to make a hairdresser compensation claim.

Claim Against A Hairdresser With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

You can claim against a hairdresser with our No Win No Fee solicitor and get tailored, expert support from start to finish. Here at Advice, our solicitors always put clients first by prioritising their well-being and ensuring they remain at the heart of the claims process.

Besides working hard to negotiate a settlement that reflects your pain, suffering, and financial loss, Advice can:

• Provide regular updates and clear, prompt answers to any questions you may have.
• Put you in touch with therapists and other specialists to provide support for your healing journey.
• Represent you with professionalism and your best interests foremost in mind.
• Handle all paperwork and take an active role in gathering evidence on your behalf, allowing you to stay focused on your recovery.

All our solicitors represent clients via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. A CFA is beneficial in many ways, but the main advantages are:

• You do not need to pay service fees to your solicitor before your hairdresser injury compensation claim begins.
• You won’t pay a service fee during your hairdressing claim.
• You also do not pay these fees if your claim is not successful.

You pay a success fee, taken from your compensation, if your claim wins. This is deducted as a capped percentage, ensuring you receive the majority of your compensation.

Contact Our Team

If you want to know how to sue a hairdresser for cutting you, find out how the personal injury claims process works, or discover how to begin claiming, choose a contact method below.

• Call on 0161 509 2856.
• Select the live chat feature.
• Contact our team online.

Resources For Beauty Treatment Injury Claims

Use the links below to discover more related resources for beauty treatment injury claims:

• Read our public liability claims FAQs.
• See our tips about claiming fatal injury compensation.
• Find out how to claim compensation for PTSD.

We’ve also gathered some external links that have further information about hair loss and related topics.

• Learn about the work of the Hair Council.
• Find out more about hair loss via NHS.UK.
• Discover more about scarring treatments and how scarring can be reduced with this NHS guide.

Now you have the answer to the question of ‘Can you sue a hairdresser for cutting you?’ reach out to an advisor to find out if you can claim on a No Win No Fee basis today.