Can I Claim Compensation For A Jagged Object Wound?
By Marlon Madison. Last Updated 27th October 2022. Have you suffered a jagged object wound? Was it the result of someone else’s negligence? Did the negligent party owe you a duty of care? If so, you may be entitled to compensation.
Injuries caused by a jagged object can be quite severe and cause damage to almost any part of the body. Furthermore, they can cause scarring which can impact the injured person mentally. The compensation you could receive can acknowledge both physical injuries and any psychiatric damage caused.
Jagged object wound
If you still have questions after reading this guide then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Our advisors are standing by and ready to help you. They will ask you some questions to help them come up with a more accurate valuation of what you may be owed. If they feel your claim has a good chance of success, they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel.
Our panel of lawyers work with their clients on a No Win No Fee basis. If this is an arrangement you feel will benefit you, then reach out to us for more information. The more we know about the circumstances surrounding your case, the more accurately we’ll be able to help you.
Get In Touch With Our Team
There are a number of ways you can get in touch with us.
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Chat to our team using the pop-up window in the bottom right
- Fill out our online form to see if you could have a claim
Services And Information
- Everything You Need To Know About Jagged Object Wound Claims
- What Is A Jagged Object Wound?
- Types Of Jagged Object Wounds
- Cuts, Puncture Wounds And Lacerations
- Scarring Injuries
- Types Of Open Wounds Caused By Jagged Objects
- Compensation For Personal Injury – Jagged Object Injury Claim
- What Could Cause A Jagged Object Injury?
- Treating Jagged Object Wounds
- Dealing With Infected Wounds
- Limitation Periods For Jagged Wound Injury Claims
- I Suffered A Jagged Object Wound, What Should I Do?
- Claim For A Jagged Object Wound On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Related Services
- FAQs About Jagged Object Wound Claims
Everything You Need To Know About Jagged Object Wound Claims
This guide will examine the process of claiming compensation for an injury caused by a jagged object. We will begin by looking at what a jagged object wound is, and the characteristics that distinguish it from other kinds of wounds. We’ll look at the different kinds of jagged object wounds and the impact that these can have.
To continue, we will examine how compensation for an injury of this nature might be calculated. We’ll look at general and special damages and the kinds of things that each of these might cover.
In addition, we will also look at how a jagged object wound might be treated and the kind of recovery you could expect from an injury of this nature. We will advise you of the best steps to take after sustaining a jagged object wound.
Finally, we will examine the time limits that apply to personal injury claims and how a No Win No Fee agreement might help you fund legal representation for your claim. In addition to this, we will answer some questions that we’re commonly asked about this kind of injury.
What Is A Jagged Object Wound?
A jagged object is one with a sharp, uneven edge, like a broken piece of glass or the unfinished edge of a metal piece of furniture. You may also suffer a jagged object injury if you’re cut by a piece of equipment like a saw.
Wounds caused by jagged objects can negatively affect your quality of life as they can be painful and restrictive. For instance, if you suffer a cut from a piece of jagged metal that is on your knee or elbow, you may find it painful to move the joint as the injury heals.
Furthermore, a jagged object wound poses a risk of infection. The cut may be infected at the time of injury because dirt or debris from the jagged object was transferred into the wound. However, it could also become infected if it is not dressed soon enough after happening.
A jagged object wound can also leave scarring to varying degrees. These scars can have a severe and detrimental psychological impact on the injured person. There are some treatments available for scarring; however, these just lessen the appearance of the scar and will not remove it completely.
Types Of Jagged Object Wounds
There are a number of different kinds of injuries that a jagged object could cause. If you have sustained a wound caused by an object with a jagged edge, you should seek medical attention. This is so that the full extent of your injuries can be determined and the right course of action can be taken to treat you.
Different types of jagged object wounds can have different risks. As well as the pain caused by the cut itself, you are also at risk of scarring, blood loss and infection. For instance, tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria that, when it enters your body, can cause spasms and muscle stiffness. This is because it releases a toxin that affects the nervous system.
Read on for more information about the different kinds of jagged object injuries that you might sustain.
Cuts, Puncture Wounds And Lacerations
A laceration is a deep cut in the kin. They are wounds that happen when the soft tissue of the body is torn. Lacerations are often irregular, meaning that the tear in the skin is jagged and uneven at the edge.
A puncture wound is where a sharp object is pushed downwards into the skin. They can also pose a risk of infection if the object that caused the puncture wound was dirty or rusted. Sometimes, puncture wounds can penetrate deep within the body and affect major internal organs. You should always seek medical attention for any object that has broken the skin, needs stitching and may be at risk of suffering from an infection.
Scarring Injuries
Even after they have healed, some jagged object injuries will leave scarring. Scars may fade over time, but their presence can cause severe psychological distress to the affected person. This may particularly be the case if the scar is in a very visible area, like on the face.
There are a number of different kinds of scars. For example, keloid scars are the result of the overproduction of collagen in the skin. These scars are more raised, much redder, and can continue to grow beyond the size of the original wound. Hypertrophic scars are similar to keloid scars, except that they don’t continue to grow beyond the original wound’s boundaries.
Around 18% of people in the UK self-identify as having a visible physical difference according to the charity Changing Faces. This includes scars, but other conditions and marks as well.
As well as being physically apparent, which can cause psychiatric harm, scarring can also be painful. The skin around a scar may be tight, meaning that it’s difficult or painful for you to move, particularly if the scar is near a joint like the elbow or knee.
There are a number of different kinds of treatment that can be available for scarring, which include things like steroids, laser therapy or dermal fillers. However, these will often not make a scar disappear completely.
Types Of Open Wounds Caused By Jagged Objects
Along with cuts, puncture wounds and lacerations, there are some other injuries that can be caused by a jagged object. One of these is called abrasion. This is when the skin is dragged along a rough surface, like the road. Bleeding can be minimal in injuries such as this, but they still need to be cleaned and treated to reduce the risk of infection.
One of the more severe jagged object injuries is known as an avulsion. This is when soft tissue is forcibly torn away from the body. These tears can be partial or complete. Sometimes, avulsion injuries are very painful. In other cases, however, the nerves are damaged meaning that the injured person feels no pain at all.
Immediately after sustaining a jagged object wound, you should get medical treatment. You may need stitches to hold the wound together. This could aid in the healing process and reduce scarring.
Compensation For Personal Injury – Jagged Object Injury Claim
Compensation in a personal injury claim will depend on a number of factors, including:
- Physical pain
- Mental distress
- Surgery requirements
- How your quality of life is affected
- Related financial loss
A successful claim could include two heads of claim. The first is general damages which is the head of claim that focuses on the pain, suffering and distress that an injury may have caused.
The table below uses figures from the Judicial College Guidelines, which is used by legal professionals in England and Wales to help value general damages. However, the figures shown are not guaranteed.
| Injury | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Severe – Such cases will involve permanent effects which prevent the injured person from functioning at the level they did pre-trauma. All aspects of the injured person’s life will be badly affected | £59,860 to £100,670 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Moderate – in these cases the injured person will have made a recovery. Although there may be some continuing effects, these will not be grossly disabling. | £8,180 to £23,150 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Less severe – in these cases the injured person will have virtually recovered, and only minor symptoms will persist | £3,950 to £8,180 |
| Chest | Traumatic injury to chest, lung(s), and/or heart which reduces life expectancy and causes permanent damage | £65,740 to £100,670 |
| Bowels | Penetrating injuries causing some damage of a permanent nature, but where the injured person will eventually regain normal function and control | £12,590 to £24,480 |
| Achilles tendon | Serious – where the tendon has been completely severed. The injury will have been successfully repaired but leaving residual weakness, limited ankle movements, a limp, residual scarring and where further recovery is unlikely | £24,990 to £30,090 |
| Great toe | Amputation of the great toe | In the region of £31,310 |
| Facial disfigurement | Very severe scarring – in a relatively young claimant where the cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and causes a severe psychological reaction | £29,780 to £97,330 |
| Facial disfigurement | Less severe scarring – where the disfigurement is still substantial, and the psychological reaction is significant | £17,960 to £48,420 |
You could also be eligible to claim special damages. Through special damages you could request compensation for financial needs and losses such as:
- Affected income
- The cost of any medicine or surgery you require
- Materials to help you cope with the cosmetic effects of your scarring
For any further questions about compensation, such as how much compensation per stitch you could receive, please reach out to our advisors.
What Could Cause A Jagged Object Injury?
There are many scenarios that could result in a jagged object wound. For instance, you may be injured at work because of a piece of equipment like a saw. If this injury occurred because your employer breached the duty of care that is set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, you may be able to claim.
For instance, your employer is required to provide you with safe and well-maintained equipment as part of their duty of care to you. If you were using an electric saw and the emergency stop button didn’t work, causing a workplace accident that resulted in a jagged object wound, this would be an example of employer negligence.
A road traffic accident could also result in a jagged object wound. Shards of glass from the windows or windscreen could pierce the skin on impact. Twisted or damaged metal also becomes a risk in car accidents. You may be owed compensation for your injuries if the accident happened because another driver failed to follow the guidance set out in the Highway Code.
You may cut yourself on a jagged object in a public place. It’s the responsibility of the person in control of this space (the “occupier”) to make sure it’s safe for the public to use. For instance, you may sit on a park bench and get cut by a jagged metal edge of the armrest. This could be an example of the occupier of the park, possibly the council, potentially breaching the duty of care outlined in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
Treating Jagged Object Wounds
If you suffer a wound caused by a jagged object, you should seek medical attention. This is because there is a risk of blood loss and infection. It may also be difficult for you to assess the severity of the wound yourself.
You may be given a tetanus injection if you haven’t already been vaccinated against it, or if you’re not sure whether or not you have. Some cuts may be treated using stitches or wound glue after being cleaned. These hold the edges of the cut together as they heal.
Dealing With Infected Wounds
In cases where the wound is not properly cleaned or kept away from bacterial risks, it could become infected. If this is the case, it may appear red and be sensitive to the touch. Infected wounds may also produce pus. You will usually be given a course of antibiotics to treat an infected wound.
Gangrene is just one type of infection that could occur. It can cause the tissue at the infected site to die and could lead to even further complications. If you feel you could have an infection then it’s important to have it looked at by a doctor or other medical professional. Infections left untreated could result in severe health complications.
Limitation Periods For Jagged Wound Injury Claims
Personal injury claims will generally have a 3-year time limit on them. This is stated in the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit will usually begin on the date your injury was sustained. In some cases, it can run from the date that you became aware that your injuries were related to negligence. The latter is referred to as the date of knowledge.
However, there are some exceptions to this time limit. We have included some below.
Child Accident Claims
Claimants under 18 are not legally permitted to pursue their own claim. They must wait until they become an adult. Because of this, their time limit is suspended until their 18th birthday.
Their claims can be pursued prior to this date, but it must be done through a litigation friend. A litigation friend must be an adult themselves and have the child’s best interests in mind. They can take the form of a parent, guardian, friend, or even a legal professional.
Claiming on Behalf of Those With a Reduced Mental Capacity
The claimant may suffer from a reduced mental capacity. In these cases, a litigation friend will be able to make a claim on behalf of them.
If their mental capacity returns (recovery from brain damage etc) then the 3-year time limit will begin from the date it returns. If it never returns then their time limit will be suspended indefinitely.
I Suffered A Jagged Object Wound, What Should I Do?
If you’ve sustained a wound due to a jagged object then you should seek medical attention. This is important in ensuring that the risk of infection is reduced. Treatment from a doctor could also reduce the risk of scarring as the injury heals.
A hospital visit will also generate helpful evidence in the form of medical records. Other forms of evidence could include photographs, witness details or CCTV footage.
Seeking specialist legal advice may also aid you in your claim for compensation. Not only could it help the claims process run more smoothly, but it could also help you get more money from your claim. Our specialist advisors are waiting to answer your questions. Get in touch today for information and guidance.
Claim For A Jagged Object Wound On A No Win No Fee Basis
A No Win No Fee arrangement means that you won’t be responsible for covering your solicitor’s legal costs unless your case is successful. You also won’t be asked to pay them anything in order for them to start work on your claim or while it’s ongoing.
If you lose, you won’t owe them anything. If your case is successful then your solicitor will be paid via a small, legally capped percentage from your payout.
Our panel of personal injury lawyers offer representation on a No Win No Fee basis. If this is an arrangement that you feel could benefit you then get in touch with our team today.
There are a number of ways you can get in touch with us.
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Chat to our team using the pop-up window in the bottom right
- Fill out our online form to see if you could have a claim
Related Services
Here are some additional links to additional information you may find helpful.
- Claiming for an accident caused by inadequate training at work.
- Our general guide to personal injury claims.
- Find out how to report a car accident.
- NHS advice regarding cuts and grazes.
- More information on litigation friends.
- How to request CCTV footage of yourself.
FAQs About Jagged Object Wound Claims
We’ve included some answers to some of the most common questions that we are asked.
How are open wounds treated?
A doctor or nurse could clean it to reduce the risk of infections. Some severe cases may need stitches following arrival at the hospital.
What are the possible complications of an open wound?
The immediate dangers regarding an open wound by a jagged object are blood loss and the risk of infection. Both have the potential to cause serious health implications. You may also be left with residual scarring.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to claim for a jagged object wound.
Guide by IB
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