Getting a body piercing can be a big decision for some people, but for others it may be a snap decision which is taken on a whim. Whatever thought process goes into deciding to get a piercing, you should still expect to see fantastic results. However, body piercing can, and do, go wrong on occasions.

There are a number of risks associated with having any type of piercing done on your body. Commercial piercers should take every step possible to mitigate these risks, to help to protect their clients. If you have suffered any adverse consequences because a piercing has gone wrong, then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Making a claim will not only compensate you but can assist in preventing your body piercer from injuring others in the future.

Infections

The most common complication after any type of body piercing is infection of the piercing site. Although some infections are considered to be minor and can be treated easily, other infections require the infected person to take antibiotics or other strong medication. In extreme cases, infections from body piercings can cause blood poisoning, paralysis or even death.

Most infections develop because of poor hygiene practices by the body piercer or poor aftercare by the person who has been pierced. Failing to sterilise equipment is likely to spread infection and can result in the transmission of serious blood borne viruses such as HIV or Hepatitis. A person may be eligible to make a claim if they can prove that they contracted an infection because the piercer did not take adequate hygiene steps.

Alternatively, a person may be able to launch a claim if they can show that they were not given adequate aftercare instructions to allow them to reduce infection risks during the healing phase.

Bleeding

Excessive bleeding is another risk that is associated with certain types of body piercing. When piercing places such the tongue, it is essential that the body piercer is extremely precise because there are a lot of blood vessels in the area. Pushing the needle through the tongue in the wrong area can lead to uncontrolled bleeding which may have serious medical consequences.

Skills

Another risk that clients face is the possibility that the body piercer will not have the skills that are required to perform the task adequately. Although there are no formal qualifications required of body piercers in the United Kingdom, it is still possible for a person to make a claim for compensation if they are able to show that poor workmanship has affected them in some way. For example, if the piercer performed a highly unsymmetrical piercing on a person’s earlobes, the person may not be able to rectify this situation easily.

Alternatively, if an unskilled piercer made a mess of their first attempt at piercing and then tried to pierce the site again, it could cause problems for the client.

Seek medical attention

If something goes wrong with your body piercing you are advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Receiving medical attention early on can help to prevent the problem from becoming more serious. Your medical records can also be used as evidence if you choose to make a claim for compensation. These medical records will help to support your claim that the body piercing has caused you some form of disadvantage (medical or otherwise).

Legal assistance

If you decide to pursue a claim against the person or company which performed the piercing, then you should get in contact with a qualified injury lawyer who has experience of dealing with this sort of cosmetic injury claim. They will be able to advise you as to whether or not you may have a valid claim for compensation. They should also be able to tell you how much your claim may be worth.

If you do decide to move forward with your claim, your lawyer will help you to collect evidence to support the case. This may include medical records, receipts, reports from the local licensing authorities, financial records, employment records to show any lost wages relating to your piercing, and any other type of document.

Once they have helped you to build a strong case, they will notify the defendant of the claim and how much compensation you are seeking. If the defendant has adequate insurance cover, your lawyer may end up dealing with their insurer instead. The defendant may offer you the full claim value or they may seek to negotiate a settlement. They may also reject the claim in the first instance.

If you cannot reach a settlement with the defendant, you may choose to take the claim to court. If the claim does go to court, a judge will assess the evidence and decide whether the defendant is responsible for the disadvantages which you faced. The judge will then decide whether or not compensation should be awarded.