Burn Injury Compensation Calculator

Quick answer: UK burn injury compensation depends on the depth of the burn, the percentage of your body affected and how visible any permanent scarring is. As broad estimates informed by the Judicial College Guidelines, minor fully-healing burns sit in the low thousands, significant burns with lasting scarring commonly reach the tens of thousands, and extensive full-thickness burns covering 40% or more of the body attract awards above roughly £100,000 – sometimes far more. Financial losses are added on top. These are estimates only – every case differs, so seek advice from a regulated solicitor.

How burn injury compensation is valued

A burn or scald claim is built from two parts. General damages compensate the injury itself: the pain of the burn and its treatment, permanent scarring and disfigurement, restricted movement where scar tissue tightens over joints, and the psychological toll – which for burns the courts treat as inseparable from the physical injury. Solicitors value this using the Judicial College Guidelines, which grade burns by depth, the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) affected, the visibility of scarring and the need for skin grafts. Special damages then add every financial loss you can evidence: lost earnings during recovery, private treatment such as laser therapy or pressure garments, creams and dressings, care from family, and travel to burns units and follow-up clinics.

The calculator above combines two assessments the way a solicitor would think about them: a band for the burn itself (depth × body area) and a band for permanent disfigurement (scarring location × severity), showing the higher of the two. The output is an honest planning estimate – only a medico-legal report and a regulated solicitor can value your actual claim.

Burn depth, body area and the estimate bands

Medical teams grade burns by depth. Superficial (first degree) burns affect only the outer layer of skin – painful but usually healing without a scar. Partial thickness (second degree) burns blister and reach deeper layers; deeper partial-thickness burns often scar. Full thickness (third degree) burns destroy all skin layers, generally require grafting and always leave permanent scarring. Body area is measured as a percentage of TBSA – clinicians use the “rule of nines”, and your own palm is roughly 1% of your body surface. Both dimensions drive the bracket: the Judicial College Guidelines indicate that significant burns covering 40% or more of the body attract awards above roughly £100,000, with the most catastrophic cases going several times higher, while a small, fully-healed scald may be worth only a few thousand pounds. All calculator figures are estimate ranges informed by those brackets, not quotations.

Why visible scarring changes the award

English courts have always valued disfigurement as its own head of loss, and location is central. Facial scarring carries the highest brackets – particularly for younger claimants – because of its daily psychological and social impact; the Judicial College Guidelines separate “very severe” facial scarring from “less significant” with a wide spread between them. Scarring to hands, forearms and legs is visible in ordinary life and valued above scarring usually hidden by clothing. Photographic evidence, a plastic surgeon's report on likely fading, and honest evidence about how the scarring affects your confidence all move a case within its band. Where a diagnosed psychiatric injury develops – anxiety, depression or PTSD are common after serious burns – it is valued separately and added; our PTSD compensation calculator covers those bands.

Special damages: the part people under-claim

Burn recovery is expensive and slow. Claimable losses typically include lost earnings and overtime, the gap between sick pay and salary, prescription and dressing costs, pressure garments and silicone treatments, laser or camouflage treatment for scarring, counselling, gratuitous care from family (valued at an hourly rate even though unpaid), adapted clothing and travel to appointments. Keep every receipt and a simple diary from day one – contemporaneous records routinely add thousands to settlements that would otherwise rest on memory.

Worked example

Dawn, 34, works in a commercial kitchen. A faulty pressure fryer – reported twice and never repaired – sprays boiling oil across her left forearm and hand, causing partial-thickness burns to about 4% of her body with permanent visible scarring on her forearm. The calculator pairs localised partial-thickness burns (£3,000–£10,000) with visible limb scarring (£5,000–£15,000) and shows the higher band: roughly £5,000–£15,000 in general damages. Dawn lost £2,800 in earnings over nine weeks and spent £450 on dressings, creams and travel, so her estimated total claim band is about £8,250–£18,250. Her employer's liability insurer settles after a medico-legal report confirms the scarring is permanent. An illustration only – every case differs.

Who can claim for a burn injury?

• Burned at work – hot surfaces, steam, chemicals handled contrary to COSHH, missing PPE or inadequate training: your employer owes you a legal duty of care and carries compulsory liability insurance.
• Scalded or burned as a customer – overheated drinks or food served unsafely, hair treatments, wax or laser treatments gone wrong: occupiers and businesses owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers’ Liability Act.
• Defective products – exploding e-cigarette batteries, faulty appliances or flammable goods can found a claim against the producer under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
• Assault victims – where suing the attacker is unrealistic, the CICA pays fixed tariff awards (generally lower than civil damages, two-year time limit, police report required).
• Road collisions – vehicle fires and airbag burns are claimed against the at-fault driver's insurer.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Settling before scarring has matured. Burn scars change for 12–24 months; settling early risks under-valuing permanent disfigurement.
• Ignoring the psychological injury. A diagnosed psychiatric condition is a separate, additional award – ask for a psychiatric report if you are struggling.
• Throwing away evidence. Photograph the injury regularly as it heals and keep the defective product if one caused the burn.
• Missing the deadline. Three years for civil claims (children: three years from their 18th birthday), but generally only two years for CICA applications.
• Not reporting workplace burns. An accident book entry and RIDDOR report create the paper trail your solicitor will rely on.

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation will I get for a burn injury?

It depends on the depth of the burn, how much of your body was affected and how visible any permanent scarring is. As broad estimates informed by the Judicial College Guidelines, minor fully-healing burns tend to fall in the low thousands, significant burns with lasting scarring commonly sit in the tens of thousands, and extensive full-thickness burns covering 40% or more of the body attract awards above roughly £100,000 – sometimes several times that. Financial losses are added on top. Every case differs – seek advice from a regulated solicitor.

What do first, second and third degree burns mean?

UK medicine describes burns by depth: superficial (first degree) affects only the outer skin and usually heals without scarring; partial thickness (second degree) reaches deeper layers, blisters and may scar; full thickness (third degree) destroys all skin layers, usually needs grafting and always scars. Deeper burns and larger areas push a claim into higher brackets.

Does scarring increase burn compensation?

Yes. Courts value permanent disfigurement separately, and visibility matters: facial scarring attracts the highest awards, followed by scarring on hands, arms and legs, with scarring usually hidden by clothing valued lower. The psychological impact of visible scarring is a recognised part of the assessment.

Can I claim for burns suffered at work?

Yes, if your employer failed in their duty to protect you – for example missing PPE, unguarded hot surfaces, unsafe chemicals handling contrary to COSHH, or inadequate training. Claims are brought against the employer's compulsory liability insurance, and you are legally protected from dismissal for making an honest claim.

What if I was burned in an assault?

If the attacker cannot realistically be sued, you can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). CICA pays fixed tariff amounts that are usually lower than civil court awards, the time limit is generally two years from the incident, and the crime must have been reported to the police.

What is the time limit for a burn injury claim?

Normally three years from the date of the injury. Children have until their 21st birthday – three years from turning 18. CICA applications for criminal injuries generally have a two-year limit. Missing the deadline usually ends the claim, so act early.

Are psychological effects included in a burn claim?

Yes. Burns frequently cause anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, and a diagnosed psychiatric injury is valued as a separate head of damages on top of the physical injury and scarring. A medico-legal psychiatric report is normally needed.

Sources: estimate bands informed by the Judicial College Guidelines brackets for burns, scarring and facial disfigurement; burn depth classification from the NHS – burns and scalds; criminal injury tariffs from GOV.UK – CICA. General information only, not legal advice – every case differs, so seek advice from a regulated solicitor.