By Megan Black. Last Updated 3rd July 2024. Have you been cut on barbed wire or razor wire in an accident that was caused by the negligence of another? If so, you may be wondering if you can claim compensation for such an injury. If you have suffered a cut by barbed wire because another party used this type of fencing irresponsibly, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
If you have a concern along the lines of ‘I cut myself on barbed wire due to someone else’s negligence, Legal Expert can advise and potentially support you in regards claiming for your injuries. Our personal injury solicitors have a lot of experience in handling different types of claims including barbed wire cut claims. If one of our solicitors does support your claim, they will push to win you the maximum amount of compensation you could be owed for your barbed wire laceration or razor wire injury. The solicitor will also work on a No Win No Fee basis.
Barbed Wire Cut
To speak to our advisors, you can call 0800 073 8804 or use our online claims form to reach us. Our online live chat service is also available 24/7. If we see that you have a strong case to claim for a barbed wire injury, rusty barbed wire injury or razor wire injury, we may be able to connect you with one of our solicitors to support you.
Select A Section
- Barbed Wire Injury Claims Payouts
- More Compensation Payouts For a Barbed Wire Cut
- When Could I Claim For A Barbed Wire Cut?
- Legality Of Using Barbed Wire Or Razor Fencing
- What Evidence Do I Need To Make A Claim?
- No Win No Fee Claims For Cutting Yourself On Razor Wire
- Essential References
Barbed Wire Injury Claim Payouts
If you make a successful personal injury compensation claim for your barbed wire cuts, your compensation will include general damages. This compensates you for the pain and suffering your barbed wire injury has caused you.
When valuing claims for general damages, many legal professionals may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them. This document provides guideline compensation brackets for a variety of injuries. We have included some of the entries found in the 16th edition of this document that could be relevant to barbed wire injury claims.
Please only refer to this table as a guide.
Compensation Table
| Type or form of injury | Severity of this injury | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries and Special Damages | Very Serious | Up to £50,000+ |
| Scarring to Other Part of the Body | Multiple Noticeable Lacerations or Single Disfiguring Scar | £9,560 to £27,740 |
| Single Noticeable Scar or Several Superficial Scars | £2,890 to £9,560 | |
| Foot injuries | Modest (g) | Up to £16,770 |
| Knee injury | Moderate (b)(ii) | Up to £16,770 |
| Hand injury | Moderate (h) | £6,910 to £16,200 |
| Elbow injuries | Moderate or Minor (c)(iii) | Up to £15,370 |
| Leg injuries | Less Serious (c)(iii) | Up to £14,450 |
| Toe injuries | Moderate (e) | Up to £11,720 |
To check your eligibility and receive a free valuation of your personal injury claim, you can contact our advisors.
More Compensation Payouts For a Barbed Wire Cut
Some claims can also include a sum called special damages. This is when any relevant financial losses may be reimbursed to you.
For example:
- Loss of earnings – A barbed wire cut can result in varying issues and symptoms. In some circumstances, your ability to continue working may be affected. If so, your income may suffer as a result. If you can provide evidence such as payslips regarding how much you could have earned during your recovery period, this amount could be included in a special damages payment.
- Damage to property – During the incident, personal items such as your clothes or phone may be damaged. If so, special damages may be able to cover the cost of repairs or replacements.
- Medical costs – You may need treatment that requires paying for prescription medications to aid in your recovery. These costs may also be considered eligible for reimbursement.
For more examples of special damages and how this portion of your settlement is calculated, reach out to our advisors today.
When Could I Claim For A Barbed Wire Cut?
If you have suffered a barbed wire injury, then the circumstances of how this occurred will determine whether you are eligible to claim personal injury compensation.
If you are in a public place, then the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 establishes that the person in control of the space owes you a duty of care. This means that they need to take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of visitors. If they fail to do so, and you suffer barbed wire cuts as a result, then you may be able to make a personal injury claim for a public place accident.
Please read on or contact our advisors for free for further advice on how to claim for an injury caused by barbed wire or razor wire.
Time Limits For Claiming When Cut By Barbed Or Razor Wire
The Limitation Act 1980 sets out the time limit for starting a personal injury claim. Generally, this limitation period is three years, starting on the date of your razor wire fence accident. However, there are some exceptions.
For example, the time limit is frozen for claimants under the age of eighteen. During this time, a litigation friend can be appointed by the courts to start the claim on their behalf. On the claimant’s eighteenth birthday, the time limit reinstates, and they will have three years to claim for themselves, provided no claim has already been made for them.
If the claimant lacks the mental capacity to make a claim for themselves, then the time limit is suspended indefinitely. An appointed litigation friend can start a claim on their behalf at any time while the time limit is frozen. But, if they recover the capacity to claim, then the time limit will reinstate on the date of their recovery.
To find out if you could be eligible to claim compensation for injuries caused by a barbed wire fence and how long you have to do so, contact our team today.
Legality Of Using Barbed Wire Or Razor Fencing
Using barbed or razor wire in the UK is not inherently illegal. Both are freely available for purchase and have a variety of uses. People with animals or industrial areas often use such wire to protect their premises, however, there are some laws that restrict wire placement including:
- Section 164 of the Highways Act 1980: barbed wire placed adjacent to a public highway must not cause a nuisance or present a danger to humans or animals using that highway.
So, if the wire has been placed too close to a public highway, you could make a barbed wire injury claim if you cut yourself on the fencing.
Contact our team today using the contact information given above to learn more about when you can claim for a barbed wire cut and to discuss legal duties when it comes to fencing.
What Evidence Do I Need To Make A Claim?
If you have suffered a barb wire cut due to negligence, you may be eligible to put forward a claim.
However, you’ll need to provide evidence of the negligence and also prove the extent of any injuries or harm resulting from the accident.
Below are some examples of evidence you can use to support your personal injury claim after being cut by razor wires:
- Photographs of any cuts or laceration scarrings that can prove your barbed wire injury
- Medical records from a hospital or your doctor can prove the extent of your injuries
- The contact details of anyone who witnessed the incident
- CCTV footage if you were injured in a public place
There are further types of evidence you can collect. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to give you some guidance free of charge. We could also connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor to help you gather evidence.
No Win No Fee Claims For Cutting Yourself On Razor Wire
If you have valid grounds to claim personal injury compensation for a barbed wire injury, then we recommend working with a solicitor who can support your case.
One of our No Win No Fee solicitors may offer to support your claim under what’s called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under such an agreement, you won’t need to pay any upfront or ongoing fees to your solicitor for their services. You also won’t be required to pay your solicitor for their work if your claim is unsuccessful.
However, if your barbed wire cut claim is successful, your solicitor will take a success fee from the compensation awarded to you. The amount that can be deducted is a percentage that is limited by the law.
To learn more about how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help with claiming for injuries such as barbed wire cuts, contact our advisors. They can offer more information surrounding the personal injury claims process, and can evaluate your claim for free. If they find it to be valid, they may connect you with one of our solicitors. Get started by:
- Calling on 0800 073 8804
- Using our contact form to write to us
- Or by using our 24/7 live chat
Essential References
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Slip, Trip And Fall Claim
- Hospital Negligence Claims
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim Against The Council Or A Local Authority?
- Accidents At Home Injury Claims
- How Much Compensation For Slipping On Wet Floor Claim?
- Learn if a whiplash claim can be refused through our helpful whiplash injury claim guide.
External Guides
Cuts And Grazes On NHS Guides – A guide from the NHS about this type of injury.
Would you like to speak to an advisor about queries such as ‘I cut myself on barbed wire, can I claim compensation?’ If so, you can contact Legal Expert online or by phone using the contact details within this guide.
