Throughout the pandemic, hair disasters have been a common theme. As hair salons have been closed, it’s very likely that you have tried to cut your own hair, making some very awkward styles in the process. It was a relief when hair salons re-opened around the UK and you were able to have your hair cut by a professional. However, despite the fact that restrictions have been eased, it’s important that you do your best to remain safe when you go to any type of salon. The salon should be enforcing safety policies to ensure their clients do not suffer from a personal injury. One of the most common hairdressing injuries that can occur is hair loss. The last person who should be causing this type of injury is your hairdresser. If they do cause an injury, you could make a hairdressing accidents claim.
Learn more about how Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your hairdressing accidents claim by contacting our law firm on 0800 041 8350 or by using our website below:
Personal Injury Claims: What do I need to know?
Before we jump into hair loss accidents, let’s take a moment to talk about personal injuries in general and what you should expect at a salon right now. Personal injury claims can protect you if you end up getting hurt in a public environment due to someone else’s negligence. Unfortunately, you can only make a personal injury claim if there was someone else to blame for the accident.
Most accidents in public environments occur in shops, salons, parks and even on pavements. The reason you can claim compensation for a personal injury is due to “duty of care.” When someone is in charge of a certain environment, be it a shop or restaurant, they owe their customers and clients this care. It means they have a legal duty to keep the customer safe and to ensure that the environment is secure enough to be visited. Unfortunately, even in the safest environment, mistakes can happen and these lead to injuries. That is why most businesses will require public liability insurance to help with a compensation pay-out.
Pay-outs and Compensation
Speaking of compensation, this is what you will receive to help you “recover” from your accident. Of course, this is not literally speaking. You will need rest and medication to do that. However, if you need to take time off your job or pay for recovery treatments, the compensation will be there to help. You can also use the compensation if you are experiencing financial difficulties, such as a lack of wage or paying rent or to buy groceries. As long as the compensation is helping you survive during this difficult time, you can use it any way that you like.
The amount of compensation you receive for any type of personal injury claim will depend on the extent of your injuries. Personal injuries are grouped into general damages, such as your physical injuries, and your special damages.
If you are going to make a personal injury, make sure to tell your solicitor if you suffer from any of the special damages below. This can influence the amount of compensation you could be owed.
Hairdressing Accidents & Covid-19: What is going to be different about my appointment?
In order to keep you safe during the pandemic, it is important to follow all of the safety regulations to make sure that you do not catch or transfer the virus. When you enter the salon, make sure to wear your mask at all times and have hand gel to ensure you are secure against potentially dirty surfaces. The hair salon may also have a bottle of hand sanitizer that you can use if you are worried about transferring germs.
Here are some additional ways your hairdresser will do their best to keep you safe during the pandemic:
One of the major questions you may be asking yourself is whether or not you could claim compensation for catching Covid-19 in a salon. This is where things can get a little complicated. Theoretically, you could make a compensation claim. But it would be extremely complicated. You would have to prove that the salon’s negligence was the main reason why you caught Covid-19 in the first place. For instance, if you worked in a salon and a fellow employee had Covid-19, it is likely that you will also catch Covid-19. You will need evidence to back up your claim. Honestly, we would not recommend making a personal injury claim for Covid-19 unless you are completely sure you can prove it. Speak a solicitor to find out more information.
How could my hairdresser act negligently and cause an accident?
Now that we have spoken about the basics of personal injury claims in general, let’s move on to hairdressing accidents. As we said before, no matter what type of public environment it is, the person in charge of it is responsible for your safe. This is the same for a hairdressing salon. The hairdressers and managers owe you a “duty of care.” That means they need to make sure they do not act negligently and cause you to get hurt.
Accidents can occur through a wide range of different acts of negligence. This can include:
- Letting an untrained hairdresser cut your hair
- Not providing information about the risks of your haircut
- Failing to provide an allergy test
- Leaving the floor or store messy or unclean
- Having an aggressive employee or client attack you
- Using faulty equipment during your appointment
Of course, these are only a few examples of how you could have got hurt due to the negligence of your hairdresser. Each of these acts can cause serious damages, including hair loss. However, you could also suffer from chemical burns, heat burns, allergic reactions and dye malfunctions or electrical shocks. Whether you have suffered from a life changing injury, or a smaller injury, a solicitor from Gowing Law can help you claim compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Why would I suffer from hair loss in a hairdresser’s salon?
Unfortunately, hair loss does tend to be one of the most common accidents that happens within a salon. Even if it was just an accident, the consequences can lead to you feeling embarrassed and may even force you to trim more of your hair to deal with the effects of the negligence.
You could end up experiencing hair loss if your hairdresser:
- Uses bleach that causes your hair to dry out, knot or fall out
- Causes irritation with hair dye or products that forces them to cut your hair
- Cuts your hair too short or incorrectly so that you are forced to cut it later
- Burns your hair with the straighteners or hair dryer
- Uses perming products incorrectly
Using an electric razor to cut your hair too short
Of course, there are other ways that you could suffer from hair loss due to the negligence of your hairdresser. No matter what sort of injury you have suffered from, it’s important that you speak to your solicitor about your damages as quickly as possible. The sooner you receive help, the more likely it is that you will receive support to help you claim compensation.
The impact of hair loss
Hair loss can affect people in different ways. Some people may not mind if their hair looks a bit odd for a while, but others may feel embarrassed about their hair style. You may feel worried about what other people will think of your hair, and whether or not they will take you seriously. In some cases, there are times when people use wigs, hats or scarves to disguise the damage when they are out in public.
Whether you feel angry or sad, these can be classified as emotional damages. Your appearance can affect your mental health and you may find that you stay home more often to avoid public gaze. Additional emotional damages can include anxiety and depression. Your solicitor can put you in contact with mental health specialists if you have suffered from trauma due to your injury. Feel free to ask them anything about any types of damages you have suffered. They would be more than happy to help.
What should I do if I am hurt in a hair salon?
When you are involved in any type of hairdressing accident, try not to panic. Your first thought should be to alert a member of staff in the salon that you have been hurt. They can write down the accident in the work accident book. This can be used as evidence later on for your claim. You should then seek out medical aid as quickly as possible. There may be a staff member who knows first aid or they can phone an ambulance for you. In the meantime, if you are able to collect evidence, we would highly recommend that you do so. This can be used to build up your case. You evidence can include the following:
Once you have collected your evidence and have seen a medical specialist about your injury, you need to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible about hairdressing accidents claims. They can help you organize your evidence and speak to the responsible party on your behalf. This includes negotiating a settlement agreement and making sure that you get the compensation that you deserve. In most cases, the responsible party will be happy to accept the settlement agreement. Just keep in mind, if things do end up getting complicated, you may find that your case may have to go to court. However, in the grand scheme of things, this tends to be very unlikely.
Having a lawyer on your side is the perfect way to ensure that your case is handled swiftly and effectively. They can sort out any complicated paperwork and ensure that your claim remains on track. If there are any delays, they will let you know as quickly as possible. This includes any problems that happen due to the pandemic or delays within the UK court system.
Speak to Gowing Law Solicitors about hairdressing accidents claims
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help our clients with their hairdressing accidents claims. We understand that it can be traumatic to experience a problem with your hair. Your looks are important to you and you may feel embarrassed to go out if you feel unhappy about your appearance. That’s why our solicitors will be there to support you throughout your case. They can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your case, our solicitors will be here to support you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top. This is due to the fact that you will never need to pay any hidden fees.
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then be in touch to speak to you about your claim. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have.
Want to read more about hairdressing accidents claims?
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then be in touch to speak to you about your claim. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have.
Don’t forget that if you want to read more about hairdressing accidents claims, the best place to go is Gowing Law’s blog. We update our blog every week with brand new content for you to enjoy. You can suggest blog topics to us by emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk. However, you can also enjoy a range of blogs about UK law claims, updates for our law firm, seasonal events and the occasional giveaway/competition. Feel free to also sign up to our newsletter below to see further updates:
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