Making a facial injury claim
Your face was injured in the crash and you are unsure how that is valued in a claim.
A facial injury claim covers fractures, cuts and nerve damage to the face, often from hitting a steering wheel, dashboard or windscreen. It sits within a wider road accident claim.
It is treated separately from facial scarring, which covers the visible mark left behind rather than the underlying injury.
What a facial injury covers
Common injuries include a fractured cheekbone, jaw, nose or eye socket. Cuts that need stitches are also common.
Some facial injuries damage a nerve, which can cause numbness or altered sensation. A jaw or eye socket fracture is generally treated as more serious than a nasal fracture, because it can affect eating or the position of the eye.
How it affects daily life and work
Eating, speaking and even smiling can be uncomfortable while a facial fracture heals. Jaw injuries sometimes need the mouth to be wired or restricted for a period.
Nerve damage can leave numbness long after the bone has healed. Public-facing or physical work may need to be paused until swelling and pain settle.
The evidence this claim needs
A CT scan or X-ray showing the fracture forms the core evidence. It is joined by a specialist medical report from a maxillofacial or ear, nose and throat surgeon.
Where a nerve is affected, the report should record where the numbness sits and whether it is expected to improve. Dental injury from the same impact is generally assessed as part of a dental injury claim.
How the injury factors into your claim
General damages are assessed against a published compendium of injury awards, together with the medical evidence.[1] A fracture affecting the jaw or eye socket is generally valued higher than a simple nasal fracture.
Where nerve damage leaves a lasting numbness, that is reflected in the general damages rather than treated as a separate head of loss. Surgery, follow-up scans, and any further procedure to correct the bone are claimed as treatment costs and future medical needs.
Recovery and outlook
Straightforward fractures generally heal over some weeks with rest. Some also need a period of wiring or bracing.
Nerve-related numbness can take much longer to improve, and in some cases does not fully resolve.
What to do next
Follow up with the treating surgeon until they confirm the bone has healed correctly. Follow-up scans feed into the medical report.
The general deadline to bring this claim is six years from the accident in Peninsular Malaysia.[2] Eye injury covers the separate assessment where the eye or eye socket itself was affected.
An independent lawyer can take on your claim and obtain the specialist report. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Is facial scarring included in a facial injury claim?
Facial scarring is generally assessed separately, since it focuses on the visible, permanent mark left behind rather than the underlying fracture or cut. Both can arise from the same accident and may be claimed together, based on the full medical picture.
Can nerve damage to the face be claimed even without a visible scar?
Yes. Numbness or altered sensation from nerve damage is a real injury even where the skin looks normal, and should be recorded by the treating doctor. It is reflected in the general damages for the injury rather than needing a visible mark.
Are dental injuries part of a facial injury claim?
They are usually assessed and claimed separately, even where the same impact caused both. A dentist's or oral surgeon's report covers the teeth, while a maxillofacial or ear, nose and throat specialist covers the bone and soft tissue of the face.
How is a jaw fracture different from a nasal fracture in a claim?
A jaw fracture generally involves more treatment, sometimes including wiring the jaw and a longer recovery affecting eating and speech. It is usually valued higher than a straightforward nasal fracture, based on the medical evidence of treatment and recovery.
Sources
- Malaysian Bar Circular No. 255/2018 (Revised Compendium of Personal Injury Awards 2018) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Limitation Act 1953, s.6(1)(a) (Government of Malaysia) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.