Burns Compensation Amounts
Burns are among the most painful and life-changing injuries that produce UK personal injury claims. From momentary thermal contact through to catastrophic burns covering substantial body area, the compensation framework recognises both the physical injury (pain, scarring, functional impairment) and the substantial psychological consequences that often follow. The Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition) provide specific brackets for burn injuries, with the eventual valuation depending on burn depth, area, location, the cosmetic outcome, and the psychiatric impact. For severe burns, settlements regularly exceed £200,000 even before considering substantial special damages.
In this guide
- How Burns Are Valued
- The JC Burns Brackets
- Facial Burns — Specific Considerations
- Burns to Hands and Functional Areas
- Specific Burn Type Considerations
- Special Damages in Burns Cases
- Children with Burns
- Common Burns Claim Scenarios
- Common Questions About Burns Compensation
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide explains the burns compensation framework in UK personal injury claims, the JC brackets, what affects valuation, and the special damages typically claimed alongside.
How Burns Are Valued
Burn cases involve multiple valuation considerations:
Burn Depth
- Superficial (first-degree) — outer skin only. Red, painful, no blistering. Heal in days. Modest compensation
- Superficial partial-thickness (second-degree) — into upper dermis. Blistering, severe pain. Heal in 2-3 weeks, usually without scarring
- Deep partial-thickness — deeper into dermis. May require skin grafting. Significant scarring risk
- Full-thickness (third-degree) — through entire skin. Require grafting. Permanent scarring
- Fourth-degree — through skin into muscle, bone, or tendon. Often require amputation
Burn Area (Total Body Surface Area — TBSA)
The “Rule of Nines” provides rough estimates: each arm 9 per cent, each leg 18 per cent, front torso 18 per cent, back 18 per cent, head 9 per cent, perineum 1 per cent. Burns above 15 per cent TBSA typically require specialist burn unit hospitalisation.
Burn Location
Location substantially affects valuation. Facial burns and burns to visible areas attract higher compensation due to cosmetic impact. Burns to functional areas (hands, joints) attract higher compensation due to functional impact.
Cosmetic Outcome
The eventual scarring outcome substantially affects valuation. Burns producing hypertrophic scars, contractures, or significant disfigurement attract substantially higher compensation than those producing fine, well-healed scars.
Psychiatric Impact
Burns survivors frequently develop PTSD, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, and social anxiety. Where psychiatric injury follows, it is valued separately and substantially increases the total. See our PTSD compensation amounts guide.
The JC Burns Brackets
The Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition) provide specific guidance for burns and significant scarring:
Most Severe Burns (40 per cent or more of body) — typically £107,000+
Where catastrophic burns produce permanent significant disability, the compensation moves into bracket figures comparable to severe injury cases generally. Combined with PTSD and psychological injury, total general damages can exceed £200,000-£300,000.
Less Extensive but Substantial Burns — typically £30,000 to £107,000
Significant burns affecting major body areas with substantial scarring. Often involve grafting, multiple surgeries, and lasting cosmetic impact.
Moderate Burns — typically £8,000 to £30,000
Burns producing some lasting scarring with moderate impact on appearance and function. Cases often involve partial-thickness burns over modest areas, or smaller full-thickness areas requiring grafting.
Minor Burns with Full Recovery — typically up to £8,000
Less serious burns with full recovery and minimal scarring. Compensation depends on healing time, treatment, and any temporary impact.
Facial Burns — Specific Considerations
Facial burns attract particularly substantial compensation given the cosmetic and psychological impact. Where facial burns produce visible disfigurement:
- Significant facial scarring — typically £30,000 to £100,000+
- Severe disfiguring facial burns — typically £100,000 to £300,000+
- Catastrophic facial burns with major reconstructive needs — substantially higher
See our scarring compensation amounts guide for the full scarring framework.
Burns to Hands and Functional Areas
Hand burns attract higher compensation because of the functional impact:
- Burns to one hand with full recovery — typically £8,000 to £20,000
- Burns to one hand with permanent restriction — typically £20,000 to £75,000
- Severe bilateral hand burns — typically £75,000 to £200,000+
- Catastrophic hand burns producing functional loss equivalent to amputation — values approaching amputation brackets
See our hand and wrist compensation amounts guide.
Specific Burn Type Considerations
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns often produce deeper tissue damage than thermal burns of similar appearance. Hydrofluoric acid burns are particularly serious. Where chemical burns produce systemic effects (organ damage from absorbed chemicals), valuation moves substantially higher.
Electrical Burns
Electrical burns often produce limited surface damage but extensive internal damage. Where electrical injury produces cardiac complications, neurological symptoms, or amputation, valuation reflects these additional consequences.
Steam and Hot Liquid Burns
Steam burns are particularly serious because steam carries far more thermal energy than water at the same temperature. Common in catering and industrial accidents.
Friction Burns
Less common but significant. Often involve secondary injury from the contact event itself.
Radiation Burns
Including welding arc eye, X-ray exposure, and microwave injuries. Specific framework applies depending on exposure.
Special Damages in Burns Cases
Reconstructive Surgery
Often the dominant special damage. Burns survivors typically require:
- Skin graft procedures
- Multiple revision surgeries over years
- Z-plasty and other scar revision techniques
- Tissue expansion procedures
- Free flap reconstruction for complex cases
- Laser scar treatment
For severe burns, lifetime surgical costs can exceed £100,000.
Pressure Garments and Burns-Specific Care
- Custom pressure garments (replaced every 3-6 months for months or years)
- Silicone gel sheeting
- Specialist skin care products
- Massage therapy
Camouflage and Cosmetic Products
Cosmetic camouflage products and specialist make-up are recoverable for cases with visible scarring. Some claimants use lifetime camouflage products costing £1,000-£3,000 per year.
Psychological Treatment
Burns survivors frequently require:
- PTSD treatment (EMDR, CBT)
- Body image therapy
- Group therapy with other burns survivors
- Family therapy
- Long-term psychiatric support
Lost Earnings
Burns produce substantial work absences:
- Initial hospital stay (often weeks)
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Reconstructive surgeries (months of recovery between procedures)
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Psychological recovery time
For severe burns, total absence from work can be 1-3 years. Where career change is forced, future loss of earnings can be very substantial.
Care and Assistance
Particularly during the acute phase and surgery recovery periods. Family-provided care is recoverable at non-commercial rates.
Children with Burns
Children’s burn cases involve specific considerations:
- Scars grow with the child — requiring revision surgery throughout development
- Psychological impact during identity formation years
- Educational impact
- Future cosmetic needs through adolescence and adulthood
- Reproductive concerns for very severe cases
Settlements for child burn cases often substantially exceed those for adult cases of similar severity, reflecting the lifetime impact.
Common Burns Claim Scenarios
- Workplace burns — see our burn injury at work claims guide
- Domestic burns from defective products — see our defective product injury claims guide
- Carbon monoxide burns — see our carbon monoxide poisoning claims guide
- Restaurant burns — hot drinks and hot food incidents
- Chemical burns from beauty treatments — hair dye, perming, depilatory products
- Vehicle fire burns
- Assault-related burns — see our CICA claims hub
Common Questions About Burns Compensation
I have permanent scarring from a burn. What is that worth?
Highly variable depending on the area, severity, and cosmetic outcome. Modest scarring on hidden body areas with full functional recovery typically attracts £5,000 to £15,000. Significant visible scarring with substantial cosmetic impact typically attracts £30,000 to £100,000+. Severe facial scarring can attract £100,000 to £300,000+. The psychological impact substantially adds to valuation. See our scarring compensation amounts guide.
I have PTSD after my burn injury. Is that compensable?
Yes, and substantially. PTSD following burns is well-recognised and valued separately from the physical injury. Moderate PTSD typically attracts £7,150 to £23,270; severe PTSD attracts £23,270 to £141,240+. Combined with the burns valuation, total general damages can be substantial. See our PTSD compensation amounts guide.
I need ongoing reconstructive surgery. Is that paid for?
Yes, where reasonably needed. Private surgical treatment costs are recoverable as special damages. For severe burns, lifetime reconstructive surgery costs can exceed £100,000 — all included in the compensation. The medical expert produces detailed projections of future surgical needs.
My child was burned. Will the compensation cover their future needs?
Yes — settlements for children include detailed provision for future needs. As children’s scars grow with them, revision surgery is typically needed at puberty and in adulthood. Settlements include future surgical costs, lifetime cosmetic camouflage products, and any psychological treatment needs. Settlements above £5,000 require court approval and are typically held in trust until the child turns 18.
I lost the use of my hand from burns. What is that worth?
Substantial compensation. Severe hand burns producing functional loss are valued similarly to amputation cases. Where the hand is essentially functionally useless from burns and scarring, general damages can attract £108,000 to £123,000 (the amputation bracket). Special damages for prosthetics, retraining, lost earnings, and adapted equipment add substantially. See our amputation compensation amounts guide.
How long do burns claims take?
Burns cases typically take 18 months to 4 years. The duration reflects the time needed for: surgical outcomes to be established (often years of revision surgery), scarring to mature (typically 18-24 months), psychiatric position to stabilise, and full impact to be quantified. Interim payments support claimants throughout. See our how long does a claim take guide.
Related Guides
Compensation by Injury Type | UK Payout Amounts
Burn Injury at Work Compensation Claims
Defective Product Injury Claims
Amputation Compensation Amounts
How Much Compensation for Personal Injury?
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