Guide To Body Piercing Compensation Claims

By Joanne Jeffries. Last Updated 11th November 2022. Welcome to our guide on body piercing claims. On this page, you will find a full and detailed guide designed to help anyone who might need to make a body piercing compensation claim. If you have suffered long-term side effects from having a bad piercing done, such as permanent scarring and disfigurement, then you may be able to make a personal injury claim. This guide will help you learn about the process of claiming for piercing accidents or piercings gone wrong. If you’ve had a piercing gone wrong, there’s also an alternative to a compensation injury calculator. It could give you a rough idea on how much your injury could be worth in compensation.

If you would rather not read this guide and move straight forward to making a body piercing compensation claim, you can call Accident Claims UK on 0800 073 8801 now, and we will begin assisting you in claiming compensation for a body piercing that has gone wrong.

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A Guide To Body Piercing Injury Claims

Welcome to our body piercing claims guide.

A person sticking out their tongue showing off their tongue piercing

Body piercing is a cosmetic procedure whereby the patient has some form of jewellery inserted into their body by piercing the location the jewellery needs to be affixed to. Common piercing locations are the ears, nose, tongue, eyebrows, nipples and genitals. For most people, body piercing is a fairly painless procedure with no side effects. However, for a small number of people, a body piercing can lead to infections, which in themselves can leave nasty permanent scars.

Your guide to body piercing claims

If you have suffered due to a badly done body piercing, then this guide is for you. Within it, you will learn all about the process of making a body piercing compensation claim for a bad piercing or infection. It includes information such as:

  • A discussion of how common accidents that lead to a bad body piercing are.
  • Information on the main health risks that a person faces when they decide to have a body piercing done.
  • A list of the most common forms of negligence that could lead to a person being injured either by a body piercing or through a subsequent infection of the pierced area.
  • An answer to the question, can a parent claim compensation for a child’s body piercing?
  • Information on claiming personal injury compensation for infection that was caused by unclean instruments or unhygienic conditions during a body piercing.
  • A brief overview of where you stand if you decide that you don’t like your body piercing once it has been done.
  • Information on what options you have for claiming compensation if you find that you are allergic to the jewellery that was used for the body piercing.
  • A step by step list of things you should do to make a body piercing compensation claim, as well as information on what to do to start your claim.
  • Data related to the typical amounts of compensation that people receive for body piercing related injuries. We also introduce the Accident Claims UK No Win No Fee claims service at this stage and explain why we believe this is the best way to make a claim.

What to do next

If, once you have finished reading this guide to body piercing claims, you have more questions, or need additional information, then please contact Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this page, and we will do our very best to help you. We could provide you with accident claims solicitors who could begin your journey to personal injury compensation.

How Common Are Body Piercings And Accidents?

Body piercing is a very common form of cosmetic procedure that can be carried out on different areas of the body. It is popular with a number of social groups. The following statistics depict this:

  • One in ten people in the UK has some form of body piercing.
  • 46% of females in the 16 to 24-year-old age group have one or more body piercings.
  • 31% of all people who have had a body piercing had some form of complication set in after the procedure had taken place.

The Top 10 Most Common Body Piercings

There are lots of different types of piercing, including:

  1. Industrial piercings – usually in the top of the ear of the bridge of the nose, these are serious piercings through tough cartilage and sometimes bone.
  2. Helix piercings – these are made in the upper part of the ear, through the cartilage. Usually, several piercings are made in a row.
  3. Conch piercings – through the earlobe with a ring circling the outside of the earlobe.
  4. Rook piercings – of the tough cartilage inside the ear.
  5. Naval piercings – of the bellybutton either to insert a stud or a bar.
  6. Bite piercings – to insert a stud into the flesh just below the lower lip.
  7. Labret piercings – of the lower lip so that a hoop can be inserted that rings the lip.
  8. Nipple piercings – insertion of a bar in one or both nipples.
  9. Nose piercings – insertion of a bent bar through the centre of the nostrils.
  10. Tongue piercings – insertion of a straight bar or a stud in the centre of the tongue.

If you need a personal injury lawyer to make body piercing claims, whether for infected ear piercings or blood poisoning from a tongue piercing then Accident Claims UK can help you. Call us at the number at the bottom of this guide to find out how.

What Are The Most Common Risks Of Body Piercings?

A study in the British Medical Journal looked at the prevalence of body piercings other than the earlobe and the risks associated with these piercings. They found that:

  • Around 27.5% of piercings reported complications, with further help being sought for problems 12.9% of the time.
  • The most common kind of complications with piercings belonging to those in the 16-24 age group were swelling, infection and bleeding.
  • The most problematic piercing sites were the tongue (50%), genitals (45%) and nipples (38%). People were most likely to seek medical attention for piercings of the genitals (45%), nipples (25%) and tongue (24%).
  • Piercings that were done in settings other than a specialist tattoo shop were more likely to cause complications resulting in medical attention being sought (22% of non-specialist piercings compared to 14% of specialist piercings)

If you believe that you have a valid reason to claim body piercing compensation as part of body piercing claims, then call Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this guide so we can assist you.

[Source:https://www.bmj.com/content/336/7658/1426]

What Are The Most Common Types Of Negligence Leading To Body Piercing Injuries?

When it comes to a negligent beauty treatment, including having body piercings done, there are a number of ways that negligence occurs that are more common than others, and these are:

  • Failing to keep a hygienic workplace and maintain properly sterilised tools, instruments and equipment.
  • Accidents such as slipping and injuring a person while piercing them or putting the piercing in the wrong place.
  • Failing to inform a person of the proper care of a recent body piercing, leading to complications.
  • Failing to inform a person about potential allergies that the jewellery they have chosen could bring out.

These are the most common forms of negligence with regard to body piercings. There are more, so call Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of the page if your own situation isn’t apparent in our body piercing claims guide. We could give you further advice on claiming body piercing compensation

Can I Make A Body Piercing Claim On Behalf Of A Child?

Under UK law, a person must be 18 years old or over to make their own decisions about any cosmetic procedures they wish to have done, including body piercings. Therefore, if your child is younger than 18-years old and a piercing salon has gone ahead and pierced them without your informed consent, you will be able to make a body piercing claim against the salon operator.

Contact Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this body piercing claims guide, so we can help you make a piercing claim against a salon that has pierced your child without your consent.

Could I Claim Compensation For A Body Piercing Infection Injury?

All piercings carry the risk of infection due to the puncturing of blood vessels and skin. If you have suffered a body piercing infection injury, then as long as it can be proven that the salon was the cause of the infection, you will have a valid route to making a personal injury compensation claim.

Infections can be caused by many causes, the most common being:

  • Imperfectly sterilised tools, instruments and equipment.
  • The person performing the piercing procedure failing to meet minimum hygiene standards such as washing their hands before performing the piercing.
  • A generally unhygienic salon that is a breeding ground for bacteria.

If you have suffered an infection following a body piercing and you believe the salon itself was the cause, then contact Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this page to discuss your body piercing claims.

Can I Make A Body Piercing Claim If I Lose Feeling In The Area Around My Piercing?

The ability to claim compensation if body piercing goes wrong and causes loss of feeling in the location of the piercing will depend on whether it can be proven the salon was at fault.

For example, if the salon accidentally pierces a nerve by mistake, leading to numbness, then there is clearly a valid reason to make a claim. However, if the numbness occurred at a later stage, it could be argued that your own actions, such as failing to keep the piercing clean, or fiddling with the piercing too much before it had healed, could have been the cause.

In many cases, you will need to get an expert medical opinion to support your body piercing claims and prove liability. Accident Claims UK can arrange for you to get a local medical examination, the results of which would form such a medical opinion. Call us at the number at the bottom of this page to arrange a local examination.

Could I Claim Compensation If I Am Unhappy With My Piercing?

Generally, you will not be able to claim compensation for your body piercing if you simply don’t like it once it has been done. It was your decision to have the piercing done, and only your judgment is to blame if you do not like it.

However, if the piercing has been made in error; for example, it was in the wrong position, then you could be able to claim. Call Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this guide, and we can let you know whether we think you have a valid reason to make a claim because you don’t like your body piercing.

Can I Claim Compensation If I Am Allergic To The Jewelry Used?

In order to make botched body piercing claims for a piercing that has led to an allergic reaction, you would need to prove that the salon is liable.

For example, you would need to prove that the salon failed to ask you about any allergies you have or failed to identify the metal the jewellery was made of correctly and accidentally fitting a piece made from a metal you are allergic too.

Proving liability in these cases is always going to be a complex challenge, one that Accident Claims UK can help you overcome. Call us on the number at the bottom of this page so that we can help you claim compensation for an allergic reaction to a piece of body jewellery.

What Steps Should I Take If I Have A Body Piercing Injury Or Infection?

First of all, you need to know that there is a personal injury claims time limit that applies to body piercing claims. This is usually 2 years from the time the incident took place, within which you are allowed to make a claim if you have valid grounds to. The steps you can take to expedite your claim are as follows:

  • Take photographs of your piercing – if it is infected, take daily photographs, so the severity of the infection can clearly be seen. Once the infection is over, take photographs of any scarring you are left with.
  • Gather information about the salon if you can – this includes the name of the owner, the name of the person who performed your piercing, etc.
  • Document any financial losses – for example, if you have missed time off work or had to pay prescription charges or travel expenses.
  • Call Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this guide to begin your claim.

How Do I Start A Body Piercing Accident Compensation Claim?

Starting a claim for body piercing compensation is very straightforward. The No Win No Fee personal injury claims service operated by Accident Claims UK is simple to understand. When you call us, we will ask you questions about your injury, such as:

  • Where and where did the piercing take place?
  • When did the infection or other medical problem arise?
  • Have you seen a doctor about the problem?
  • Have you suffered any form of financial loss due to your injury?

Once we have asked a serious of questions similar to those above, we will then have a good picture of your body piercing claims case and will be able to advise you on what we believe your next legal move should be.

What Can You Include In Your Body Piercing Accident Compensation Claim?

All piercing claims will consist of two main types of damages. General damages and special damages, which can be defined thus:

  • General damages – under this category, we find all of the physical aspects of the injury taken into consideration. This includes the initial pain and suffering, as well as any long-term or permanent effects. It also covers mental trauma and anguish.
  • Special damages – under this category, we find all of the non-physical aspects of the injury taken into consideration. This covers financial losses such as medical costs, travel expenses, loss of earnings, etc. It also covers additional losses such as the lowered chance of employment or limits placed upon your chosen career due to the injury.

If you would like to know what type of damages you can claim for body piercing claims, call Accident Claims UK on the number at the bottom of this page, and we can advise you.

Compensation Injury Calculator

If you’re eligible to start a claim for injuries sustained due to a piercing gone wrong, you might wonder how much you could receive.

Generally, in successful personal injury claims, a payout should reflect the mental, physical and financial detriments caused by the injury. All claims are assessed on their own unique facts and circumstances. General damages could be awarded to compensate for the pain and suffering a claimant has experienced due to the harm caused by a piercing gone wrong. Special damages could be awarded to compensate for financial costs and losses caused by the injuries such as loss of income, provided you have evidence to support these losses.

Calculating compensation for a piercing gone wrong

You could look to a compensation injury calculator to get an idea of how much a general damages payout could be for a piercing injury caused by negligence. However, we have presented the table below, which could provide a useful alternative to a compensation injury calculator.

The figures in the table come from the Judicial College Guidelines, which offers guidance on claims in England and Wales for general damages payouts. We have used the 2022 release of this publication to give you an idea of how much certain injuries could attract. 

Edit
Injury Severity Notes Compensation
Facial scarring Trivial Scarring Very light scarring that is only visible face to face. £1,710 to £3,530
Less Significant Scarring Scarring that is clearly visible when standing close. £3,950 to £13,740
Significant Scarring Scarring that is clearly visible to the person speaking to you. £9,110 to £30,090
Less Severe Scarring Scarring that is clearly visible to anyone in the same room. £17,960 to £48,420
Very Severe Scarring Scarring that is clearly visible to anyone at a distance. £29,780 to £97,330
Body scarring Severe Scarring anywhere on the body, which is visible from a distance. £7,830 to £22,730
Minor Scarring anywhere on the body, which is visible to anyone you are talking to. £2,370 to £7,830
Mental anguish Fear of impending death £4,670
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Less Severe Virtual full recovery in 1-2 years £3,950 to £8,180
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Moderate Largely recoveredm with no grossly disabling effects that continue £8,180 to £23,150

The figures in the table are only illustrative, however. If you would like to get an idea of how much compensation your case could bring, please call our team. We could provide you with personalised advice, and we could also help you start a claim if you’re eligible to do so.

No Win No Fee Piercing Injury Compensation Claims

Here at Accident Claims UK, we offer our body piercing claims service as the best way to seek body piercing compensation on a No Win No Fee basis.

Under our No Win No Fee deal, you will gain access to a personal injury solicitor who will help you make your claim. You pay nothing to begin your claim, and you won’t be charged any ongoing costs, no matter how long your claim takes. If we fail to win your claim, then you still pay nothing at all. However, once you do receive a compensation payout for your botched body piercing, we will then ask you to pay our fees.

Why Make Your Negligent Beauty Treatment Claim With Us?

The personal injury claims service operated by Accident Claims UK is simple, effective and financially risk-free. A perfect way to make a compensation claim for a botched body piercing without any financial outlay.

We have over three decades of experience in winning significant compensation payments for our clients across a wide range of cases from a road traffic accident to a negligent beauty treatment injury. We have the knowledge and expertise required to ensure you have the best chance of winning your claim.

Contact Accident Claims UK Today About Body Piercing Claims

If you are ready to make body piercing claims of your own, call us on 0800 073 8801 now. Once we know a little about your claim, we will offer you some free legal advice on what we think you should do next.

Body Piercing Compensation FAQs

How much could I claim in compensation for a body piercing gone wrong? 

It’s extremely difficult for anyone to put a value on a personal injury claim without collecting all the information. Please contact us today for a free valuation.

How will my settlement award be valued?

Your compensation amount will depend on the type of damage you’ve sustained as a result of your accident. Typically, the more severe your suffering, the more compensation you’ll likely be entitled to.

What type of damages could I claim?

General damages payouts will be decided based on the type of injures you’ve sustained, how severe they are and how long they’re likely to affect you for. Special damages can also be claimed to cover you for any expenses you’ve incurred like loss of earnings or travel expenses.

What should I do if I suffer from a body piercing injury?

If you think that your body piercing is causing you some issues, then you should seek medical advice right away. A doctor will be able to confirm if your injury is a result of your piercing or other external factors. If you think that you have an infection in your piercing, it’s advised to speak to a doctor instead of the person who performed the piercing, as they’re not a medical professional and so are unable to provide a diagnosis.

Can I make a claim for infection or injury caused by bad aftercare? 

When you get a body piercing, one of the most common things that can go wrong is infection. This can be caused by a variety of things, from an unclean studio or equipment to bad aftercare techniques.

If your piercing has become infected because you’ve failed to look after it properly once you’ve had it done, then you may not be able to claim compensation as there’s no duty of care that has been breached. However, you may be able to claim if you were given incorrect aftercare advice by your piercer, and got an infection as a result.

How can I determine negligence?

Typically, negligence meets the following criteria:

  1. A third party had a legal duty of care to you
  2. That they failed to uphold
  3. And you suffered as a result

Do I need a solicitor to handle my claim?

Legally, there is no obligation to have a solicitor in order to make a claim. However, they could significantly help your chances of winning the maximum compensation that you deserve for your suffering and ease the claims process for you.

Can I Claim For Daith Piercing Injuries

Some people believe that having a daith piercing could help alleviate certain health conditions. However, there have, at the time of posting, not been any clinical trials or solid evidence of this. Reports appear to be anecdotal as to their success. A daith piercing goes into the innermost part of your ear, and it is said to put pressure on the vagus nerve. Some practitioners liken the process to acupuncture, and believe that daith piercings could alleviate:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Migraine

Common issues with Daith piercings

Getting a daith piercing can be painful and could take longer than other piercings to heal. Such piercings could lead to infection of the cartilage, which are more common than with lobe piercings. This could be because the daith is nearer to the hair, which could mean it gets pulled. In extreme cases, those who have an infected daith piercing could suffer toxic shock or sepsis.  Daith piercings are also not recommended for those with:

  • An autoimmune condition, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Haemophilia
  • Diabetes
  • Other conditions that affect healing

You should also not have a daith piercing if you are on blood thinners.

If you have received a daith piercing that has become infected due to poor care by yourself, then you may not be able to claim compensation. However, if you could prove that the infection was due to the way in which your piercing was carried out, or if you suffered another type of injury while getting a daith piercing due to negligence, you could claim compensation for such an injury.

How can Accident Claims help With Body Piercing Claims?

We can link you to our panel of personal injury solicitors that can handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis if you get in touch today. For more information, please take a look through the next section.

Could I make body piercing claims for clinical negligence or misdiagnosis of an infection?

If you have had a body piercing and it has become in fact it, you would likely have sought medical treatment and advice. If the advice or treatment that you have been given was negligent, then you could claim compensation for medical negligence. However, you would have to claim for the mistreatment or maltreatment of your infection, rather than the actual body piercing. You would need to be able to evidence that they negligence you suffered caused you to suffer an undo infection or a worsening of an infection. When you make such claims for compensation it will be wise to have an experienced solicitor on your side. Specialist solicitors, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority could assist with such claims. They could help you fight for the maximum compensation possible for clinical negligence surrounding your body piercing.

Does The NHS pay out much in compensation?

Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong in medical treatment, as we have indicated above. If this happens, you could make a claim for medical negligence against the NHS or private practice provider. According to NHS Resolution, there was a large sum of money paid out for clinical negligence claims in 2020- 2021. This is illustrated below.

Bar graph showing cost to the NHS in millions for clinical negligence

If you’re interested in making a claim for medical negligence related to a body piercing or any other acts of clinical negligence, we could help. We could provide you with a solicitor that could fight your claim on your behalf.

I Had A Bad Piercing – Piercings Gone Wrong – How Can We Help?

We understand how frustrating it can be to have suffered long-term damage from a bad piercing. Piercings gone wrong cannot only cause you significant pain and suffering, but they could affect you psychologically too. In claims for compensation for piercing accidents or piercings gone wrong, you could not only claim for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced physically. You could also claim for the psychological impact about piercing has had on you. This is only if you can prove your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence.

When you call our team, we will listen to what you have to tell us about your bad piercing. We may ask a few questions to determine what was the cause of any piercing accidents. We do this to try and get as much of a picture of what’s happened as possible. Once we have all the information we need, we will perform a free eligibility check on your case if you would like us to.

We will always be honest with you. Our advisors will tell you if they do not think you have a valid claim. We will also answer any questions you might have about the claims process and your eligibility.

I Have A Valid Claim What Next?

If we determine that you could have a valid claim, we could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor. They could help you make claims for the damaging effects of a piercing gone wrong. As per the No Win No Fee section above, you would not have to pay upfront to your lawyer for them to help you. The solicitors can keep you up-to-date throughout the progress of your claim.

Useful Links Relating To Body Piercing Claims

At the link below, you will find information published by the NHS covering scars and how they are caused:

NHS information on scars

At the link below, you will find information published by the NHS covering infections and how they are caused:

NHS information on infections

At the link below, you will find a document that was studied by the UK Government. It offers a view to tackling the problem of botched body piercings:

UK Government document on piercing guidance

At the link below, you’ll find information on making a claim following a needlestick injury:

Needlestick injury compensation 

Have you suffered an injury that’s left you with a permanent scar? t Our guide below could help you make a claim:

Permanent scar claims 

Have you been injured while undergoing a beauty treatment? If so, read our guide below for advice on the next steps in claiming:

Beauty treatment claims 

Thank you for reading our guide on body piercing claims.