Last Updated On The 11th Of June 2025. If you have recently suffered a facial injury, even if minor, it may have been life-altering. A facial injury claim can be pursued when you suffer an injury caused by the careless actions or inactions of a liable party who owed some sort of responsibility towards your safety in a given situation.
This guide provides an illustrative case study, which looks at how a claimant was awarded £23,000 in a combination of compensation for his injuries and related expenses. We’ve provided it to help you understand more about making an accident at work claim for steam facial injury compensation. An accident at work isn’t the only type of incident that could result in a facial injury caused by steam. This is why we also provide information about claiming for road traffic accidents and public place injuries.
If you are eligible to claim for a facial injury caused by steam, you may wish to instruct a solicitor to manage the process for you. However, you may believe that high upfront costs or hourly rates move this out of your reach. So, to conclude this guide, we explain the type of No Win No Fee arrangement offered by the solicitors on our panel and how this could benefit you.
Our team of advisors who are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week can provide free advice through a consultation with no obligation to proceed with a claim. If you need a question answering right away please call 0800 408 7825. You can also write to the team using our contact us form, or you can ask your question in our live chat.
Select a Section
- Can I Claim For Injuries From Steam?
- Financial Loss From Face Steam Incidents
- What Is A Steam Accident?
- Public Interest Lawyers Value Compensation Settlements For A Facial Injury Claim
- Case Study: £23,000 Compensation For A Facial Injury Caused By Steam
- Steam Facial Injury Compensation Calculation Estimates
- No Win No Fee Agreements For A Facial Injury Claim
- Extra Reads
Can I Claim For Injuries From Steam?
Yes, you could be eligible to claim for injuries from steam. However, every personal injury claim must meet set criteria:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- The liable party breached this duty.
- You sustained injuries due to this breach, in this case, a facial injury caused by steam.
When taken together, these 3 points form ‘negligence’ under tort law. It is negligence that you can make a facial injury claim for. A duty of care means that a liable party was, to some degree, responsible for your safety. The duty of care and the laws that govern it vary from situation-to-situation. However, it is that duty that the responisble party must have failed to comply with.
Below, we look at a few common examples of how you could suffer a facial injury caused by steam.
Steam Accidents At Work
To protect you from suffering an accident at work, your employer must comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It is this law that sets the duty of care, as all employers must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. How they comply with this duty of care will vary, not just by industry, but by the physical location of the workplace.
However, steps they could take to prevent steam accidents include:
- Carrying out appropriate risk assessments. If a risk is identified, they could either eliminate it entirely (if possible), or identify and provide ways to reduce it, such as making sure anyone who needs it has appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Advice on the risks associated with a particular job task. For example, ensure that everyone working in a busy kitchen that has boiling pans of water knows that lifting the lid on those pans may lead to a facial injury caused by steam, which brings up the next point.
- Provide adequate training. Back to the kitchen example, any worker expected to lift the lids on these pans should be taught how to do so in a way that reduces the risk of steam injuries.
Although they may not have taken these steps, say, for instance, you work as a mechanic and not a chef or kitchen assistant, these steps won’t be of much use to you. However, if they fail to take reasonable and practicable steps and you sustain a scald or burn, then you might have a valid facial injury claim.
Public Liability
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 was established so that those using public services, premises open to the public and those visiting businesses were protected so far as is reasonably possible from any dangers.
Occupier’s must reasonably establish that a visitor will be safe in the area under their power. In order to determine whether they did, you should ask yourself:
- Did they forewarn you of the risk at the property?
- Were all measures taken to ensure your safety?
- Did they abide and adhere to health and safety legislation.
You may also want to consider whether or not you accepted the risk of injury and continued at the site despite being apprised. If so, discuss this with a personal injury solicitor so they can advise how it may affect your claim.
Facial Steam Injuries Caused By A Road Traffic Accident
You could also suffer a facial injury caused by steam in a road traffic accident. The duty of care while using the roads applies to all; from motor vehicle drivers to pedestrians and every road user in between. It means that everyone using the nation’s roads must navigate in a safe and responsible manner that prevents others from coming to harm. As part of this duty, road users need to comply with any relevant sections of the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988.
If a road user fails to comply with their duty, you could suffer a facial injury caused by steam. For example, if another driver is speeding and not complying with road signs, they could crash into your car. Due to this impact, your vehicle may release steam, causing a facial injury.
A Facial Injury Claim
If you are to make a facial injury claim, it is crucial that the injuries received were a result of the accident. We will review the necessity of medical evidence later in the guide.
Should you need any deeper guidance on third party responsibilities or your’s, call our team of advisors on the number at the top of the page. Their advice is free and they are available around the clock.
Financial Loss From Face Steam Incidents
Aside from the injuries you sustained from steam scalding, you may have lost out financially. For example, injuries can often prompt numerous visits to hospitals and clinics. If you paid for travel, therapy or medication as a result of the accident, you may be able to claim back the costs through your facial injury claim.
Perhaps a family member looked after you while you recovered? Maybe you paid for a cleaner or cook? Or you had to take unpaid leave from work or lost out on a workplace bonus? All of these could be seen as financial loss, meaning that the costs could be recovered if your personal injury claim is successful.
Our panel of trusted solicitors will be able to help you determine other financial losses you may have suffered, and you can also call our team of advisors about it for free on the number at the top of the page.
What Is A Steam Accident?
Steam pipework is often used to distribute heat through an area (in some cases entire districts, famously New York). If not pressure-tested and without proper insulating, it can cause accidents in public places. Roadworks also use emulsions that produce hazardous levels of steam to those in close proximity.
Steam generators (such as most boilers, including electric) can be sources of a workplace accident or an accident in a public place. You can also get a serious steam burn from kettles or ovens, the former appliance being often used on UK properties and in workplaces.
If a third party neglected to maintain the machine, appliance or object that caused your injury, you may have a right to make a facial injury claim. Medically, the NHS advises that your injury would be classed as a scald rather than a burn because steam is wet rather than dry heat. However, your injury would still be treated under the three burns degrees:
- First-degree: painful; no blisters; treatable without medical professional aid; no scarring; heals within a week.
- Second-degree: skin is red and blistering; treatable without medical professional aid but skin grafting might be needed for deeper scalding; might scar; heals in up to three weeks.
- Third-degree: skin is pale, brown-ish or leathery; hospital admittance usually required; skin grafts may be needed; scarring likely; can take months to heal.
A qualified medical professional is best-placed to help you understand what scalding means for your health and wellbeing. A personal injury solicitor is best-placed to advise you on what the medical evidence means for burn compensation amounts. If you’d like help with your facial injury claim, call our team on the number at the top of the page. You can also message them using our live chat feature.
Public Interest Lawyers Value Compensation Settlements For A Facial Injury Claim
This section looks at how a solicitor from the panel here at Public Interest Lawyers values your facial injury claim.
Firstly, they may send you for an independent medical review (with your consent), which will provide them with a more thorough understanding of the harm you suffered than your medical records. At this stage, they may also ask for documentation relating to any out of pocket expenses caused by your facial injury caused by steam.
From here, they can get a more accurate valuation of your potential steam facial injury compensation. That’s because personal injury settlements can have up to 2 heads of claim.
General Damages
The first head of claim, awarded in all successful personal injury claims, is called general damages. This is the part of your settlement that covers your physical pain, emotional suffering and any loss of enjoyment, such as from favourite hobbies (known as loss of amenity).
To arrive at a value for general damages, those responsible for doing so may refer to your medical records, documentation from an independent medical exam and the Judicial College Guidelines. These guidelines list a variety of different injuries alongside compensation brackets that might be awarded in a successful facial injury claim.
Our table below provides a few figures from these guidelines, except for the figure in the first row. That figure is provided to show you how you could be compensated for multiple injuries in the same claim for a facial injury caused by steam. Please only use this table as guidance.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries and Related Costs | Very Severe, plus costs, such as plastic surgery expenses and lost wages | Up to £500,000 or over |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | Loss of sight in one eye with reduced vision and serious risk of further deterioration in the other | £117,150 to £219,400 |
| Total loss of one eye | £66,920 to £80,210 | |
| Serious but incomplete vision loss in one eye but without significant risk to the other | £28,900 to £48,040 | |
| Minor eye injuries | £4,820 to £10,660 | |
| Facial Disfigurement | Very severe scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less severe scarring | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Significant scarring | £11,120 to £36,720 | |
| Less significant scarring | £4,820 to £16,770 |
Special Damages
Special damages intend to recompense you for any additional care you’ve received or financial damage inflicted due to the personal injury. To prove special damages, it is crucial that you provide some form of evidence such as bills, receipts, or even travel documents related to medical appointments.
A few examples of special damages that may apply in a claim for steam facial injury compensation include:
- Loss of earnings.
- Plastic surgery expenses.
- Specialist oils and creams to reduce the effects of facial scars.
- Compression bandages.
- Nursing care.
- Help around the house, such as with cleaning or childcare, while you recover.
Our advisors are on hand to put you in touch with our panel of solicitors but can also give you free advice with no obligation. Give them a call any day of the week on the number at the top of the page or send a message in our live chatbox.
Case Study: £23,000 Compensation For A Facial Injury Caused By Steam
Mr Singh was a young customer services coordinator for a paper supplier in Norwich. He worked at Head Office, but the company held annual training days in their factory nearby. On one of these days, Mr Singh was part of a group touring the factory when he passed a steam valve that unexpectedly opened.
The steam missed most of his face as he turned away, but the skin over his lower jaw was scalded. Mr Singh was distressed and confused, and a factory colleague administered first aid before a different co-worker transported him to hospital. As the temperature of the steam had been considerably high part of his face near his ear needed surgery so that the cosmetic disability was not great.
Mr Singh spent a few days in the hospital and recuperate the rest at home. He was only paid minimum sick pay and did not receive his full pay.
He lived with his mother who was able to care for him and look after the general running of the house. His mother put him in touch with a personal injury solicitor.
Investigations found that the valve had been installed incorrectly long ago and finally failed as the group were passing it.
The defendant argued that Mr Singh had listened to the health and safety guidance before the tour, which illuminated potential risks. However, the defendant had not been warned of potential valves opening. Plus maintenance records following the incident confirmed the valve had been incorrectly installed.
As a result, Mr Singh’s solicitor recovered £23,000 and the breakdown of special damages can be seen below.
| Type of Special Damages: | Includes: | How much?: |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Expenses | To and from appointments/treatment | Trains and taxis to appointments: £50 |
| Medications/Prescriptions | Prescriptions, treatment, physiotherapy, walking aids, etc. | Painkillers and dressings: £100 |
| Additional Care | Professional care at home, from family, childcare, etc. | Mother’s care: £700 |
| Loss of Earnings | £2500 to make up the wage shortfall. |
Mr Singh’s facial injury claim serves as an example. It draws from our experiences valuing and working on claims. It is being used here to convey the causes of accidents and the claims process.
Steam Facial Injury Compensation Calculation Estimates
In the case study above, Mr Singh may have been awarded more compensation had his scarring been more significant and the psychological impact longer-lasting and damaging.
Similarly, your facial injury claim will be particular to your circumstances. This guide aims to help you estimate burn compensation amounts, but more accurate predictions can be determined by a personal injury solicitor, such as those on our panel.
If you’d like to get free advice, call our team of personal injury claims advisors on the number at the top of the screen. They offer non-committal services and you can also message them via our live chatbox, 24/7.
No Win No Fee Agreements For A Facial Injury Claim
If you wish to instruct a solicitor to support your facial injury claim, you may be interested to hear about the solicitors on our panel. Our panel offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). A CFA is a way to provide a No Win No Fee service.
A No Win No Fee service means:
- You won’t pay upfront or ongoing solicitor’s fees.
- There’s no fee for these services if you aren’t awarded compensation following an unsuccessful claim.
- You only pay for your solicitor’s services if your facial injury claim is successful. Furthermore, you won’t need to worry about paying this fee (called a ‘success fee’) because your solicitor will automatically deduct a pre-agreed and legally capped percentage from your compensation.
You may worry that you won’t get a full solicitor’s service when funding them in such a way. However, the solicitors on our panel:
- Will ensure an accurate calculation of your steam facial injury compensation and negotiate with this figure in mind.
- Help gather supporting evidence.
- Explain the personal injury claims process to you in terms you can understand.
- Manage any paperwork connected to the claim, such as sending the Letter of Claim to the defending party’s insurer.
- Connect you with any specialist you may need. Suffering facial steam injuries may result in requiring plastic surgery. Additionally, you may experience emotional injuries as a result of the accident as well. A solicitor from our panel will ensure you get the help and support you need.
As each claimant receives a bespoke service from our panel, the best way to find out what one of them can do for you is to speak to a member of the advisory team:
- Our number is 0800 408 7825
- Fill out our contact us form for a call back.
- Use the live chat feature.
Extra Reads
Here are a few extra guides from Public Interest Lawyers that you may find helpful:
- Learn about making a factory accident claim with this guide.
- Information about claiming for a permanent scar.
- Guidance about claiming for an accident at work if you are self employed.
These external links might also be useful:
- An overview about burns and scalds from the NHS.
- The eligibility criteria to qualify for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) published by the government.
- NHS first aid guidance.
Thank you for reading about how to make a facial injury claim. We hope the case study relating to a claim for steam facial injury compensation helped you to understand when you might have good grounds to claim compensation. If you need any further guidance or would like to get the claims process started, please speak to a member of our advisory team.
