Beauty Treatments: the good, the bad and the negligent

A trip to the salon for a beauty treatment should be a relaxing affair but, the beauty industry is highly unregulated and this can lead to difficulties with the outcome of certain treatments which may in fact be negligent.

There are many instances where a beauty therapist maybe liable for their negligent actions taken during your treatment.

Some instances where you maybe able to claim compensation for injuries caused during a beauty treatment include.

• An aesthetician failing to follow correct procedure resulting in injury.
• Lash extensions which were applied with poor hygiene standards or faulty equipment resulting in injury.
• Where a member of staff was not properly trained to provide a treatment you received and subsequently performed the treatment negligently causing injury.
• Where potential risks where not discussed with you prior to the treatment and those risks came to fruition causing injury.
• Where a hairdresser filed to perform a patch test to check for allergies before dying your hair and you then suffered an allergic reaction.

What if I signed a waiver or disclaimer?

The purpose of waiver or disclaimer forms is to inform you about the treatment you are going to receive, as well any associated risk with the procedure to allow you to make an informed decision.

Waivers cannot however stop you from being able to bring a personal injury claim for any injuries suffered arising from the negligence of the individual who performed that treatment.

The compensation from a successful personal injury claim could cover the costs for:

• The pain, suffering and loss of amenity, including stress and embarrassment caused by the procedure.
• Medical expenses for any private remedial treatment.
• Loss of income currently or in the future.
• Mobility aids or adaptations.

Evidencing the negligence which occurred during your beauty treatment:

Its always helpful to be able to evidence the treatment you received and any injuries sustained. You may wish to think about the following:

• Seeking medical attention, this will allow for a medical professional to assess your injuries and make a note about the incident on your medical record.
• Take photographs throughout the full recovery process.
• Make a list of the individuals, businesses involved as well as the times and dates.
• Retain any invoice messages or documents.