The short answer: North Carolina workers’ compensation pays separate money for permanent scarring and disfigurement from a work injury, on top of your medical care and lost-wage benefits. The Industrial Commission can award up to $20,000 for serious facial or head disfigurement and up to $10,000 for serious disfigurement to other parts of your body. Those caps rise to $40,000 for claims arising on or after July 1, 2027 (and to $20,000 for other body parts). The exact figure is whatever the Commission deems “proper and equitable,” based on how serious, visible, and permanent your scar is.
A deep laceration, a bad burn, or a surgical scar from a workplace injury doesn’t just heal and disappear. You see it in the mirror every morning, and maybe you catch yourself covering it up around coworkers. That takes a real emotional toll on top of the physical pain, and it’s fair to wonder whether North Carolina’s system accounts for it. It does. If a job injury left you with permanent scarring, you may be owed a disfigurement workers’ comp settlement that’s separate from every other benefit in your claim. Talking to us costs nothing, and you don’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.
In this article, our experienced Gastonia workers’ compensation lawyers discuss:
– What qualifies as disfigurement under North Carolina workers’ comp
– How much workers’ comp pays for scarring in North Carolina
– How facial scar settlement amounts are decided
– How insurance companies try to minimize your award
– What evidence strengthens a permanent disfigurement settlement
– Frequently asked questions
What Qualifies As Disfigurement Under North Carolina Workers’ Comp?
Disfigurement means permanent scarring or a lasting change to your appearance caused by a work injury, and North Carolina law treats scars on your face and head differently from scars elsewhere on your body. The rules come from the schedule of injuries in the state Workers’ Compensation Act, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-31.
Common qualifying injuries include burns, deep cuts that need stitches, scars left by surgery to repair a work injury, and marks from crush injuries. To be compensable, the scar generally has to be serious and permanent, and it has to trace back to your on-the-job injury. And because workers’ comp is a no-fault system, you can qualify even if the accident was partly your own doing.
North Carolina sorts disfigurement into two buckets. Scars to the face and head fall into the higher-value category. Scars to the neck, arms, hands, legs, torso, and other areas fall under “serious bodily disfigurement.” One important limit: you cannot collect a separate scar award for a body part where you’re already being paid for loss of use of that same part. No compensation is allowed for scars where the employee is paid for loss or partial loss of use of the same part of the body.
How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay For Scarring In North Carolina?
North Carolina caps disfigurement awards based on the scar’s location. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-31, the Industrial Commission shall award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for serious facial or head disfigurement. For serious bodily disfigurement to other parts of the body, the Industrial Commission may award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
That difference between “shall” and “may” matters. For a serious face or head scar, the Commission is required to award something. For scarring elsewhere, an award is allowed but not guaranteed, so the strength of your evidence carries even more weight.
These caps are also about to change. For facial or head disfigurement, the employee may be awarded additional compensation not to exceed $20,000.00 for claims arising before July 1, 2027 and $40,000.00 for claims arising on or after July 1, 2027. Likewise, the maximum compensation payable for serious bodily disfigurement to body parts other than the face or head rises from ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for claims arising on or after July 1, 2027. In other words, the date of your injury can directly affect the value of your scar.
Remember, these are maximums, not automatic payouts. Most awards fall below the cap, and the amount is paid in addition to your other benefits, such as medical treatment and wage-loss checks.
Not sure whether your scar counts or what it’s worth? Call 910-405-7751 for a free consultation. We know their playbook.
How Are Facial Scar Settlement Amounts Decided?
Facial scar settlement amounts are left to the Industrial Commission’s judgment, because the law only requires it to award a “proper and equitable” amount up to the cap. There’s no fixed formula, which is why two people with scars in the same spot can receive very different awards.
Several practical factors tend to move the number up or down:
- Location and visibility: a scar across your cheek or forehead usually carries more weight than one hidden by hair or clothing.
- Size and shape: longer, wider, or irregular scars generally warrant more.
- Severity: raised, discolored, or keloid scarring that contrasts sharply with your skin stands out more than a thin, faded line.
- Permanence: if the scar cannot be meaningfully reduced by reasonable treatment, that supports a higher award.
Because appearance is central, the Commission usually wants to see the disfigurement in person before making a decision. That in-person look is your chance to show how the scar actually affects you, which is one reason preparation matters so much.
How Do Insurance Companies Try To Minimize Your Disfigurement Award?
Insurers routinely work to keep disfigurement awards as low as possible, and they have a familiar set of moves. The most common is simply arguing your scar isn’t “serious” enough to qualify. Close behind is the claim that your scar will fade over time or can be erased with a minor procedure, so it shouldn’t count as permanent.
Adjusters also like to dispute the connection between the scar and your work injury, suggesting the mark was already there. And in plenty of cases, they’ll push a quick lump-sum settlement that quietly leaves disfigurement out entirely, betting you don’t realize it’s a separate benefit you’re owed.
Here’s where we’re different. Our managing partners are former insurance defense lawyers who once handled these exact claims from the other side of the table. They know how carriers value a scar, which arguments they lead with and where they cut corners. We use that inside knowledge to anticipate the tactics and counter them, so your disfigurement isn’t quietly omitted from your claim.
Don’t let an adjuster decide what your scar is worth. Call 910-405-7751 for a free consultation. We know their playbook.
What Evidence Strengthens A Permanent Disfigurement Settlement?
The strongest permanent disfigurement settlement is built on clear proof that the scar is serious, lasting, and tied to your work injury. Since so much rides on the Commission’s impression, documentation is everything.
Focus on gathering:
Clear, well-lit photographs of the scar, ideally taken over time as it heals and settles.
Complete medical records connecting the injury to the scar, including the emergency room, surgical, and follow-up notes.
Your treating physician’s opinion on whether the scar is permanent and whether further treatment would realistically improve it.
You should also keep the scar visible for the Commission’s in-person review rather than hiding it, and hold off on signing anything until your attorney confirms disfigurement is included. We handle the gathering and presentation for you, so you can focus on healing while we build the record.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disfigurement Workers’ Comp Settlements
Is a disfigurement award separate from my other workers’ comp benefits?
Yes. Disfigurement compensation is paid in addition to your medical care and wage-loss benefits. The one exception is that no compensation is allowed for scars where the employee is paid for loss or partial loss of use of the same part of the body.
How much does workers’ comp pay for a facial scar in North Carolina?
For a serious facial or head scar, the Industrial Commission shall award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). That maximum rises to $40,000.00 for claims arising on or after July 1, 2027. The actual amount depends on how serious and visible your scar is.
Do I have to appear in person for my scar to be evaluated?
Usually, yes. Because a disfigurement award turns on appearance, the Industrial Commission typically evaluates the scar by direct observation. Your lawyer can prepare you for that and make sure the scar’s impact is presented clearly.
What if the insurance company already offered me a settlement?
Have it reviewed before you sign. Insurers often leave disfigurement out of a lump-sum offer or undervalue it, and once you sign, it’s very hard to reopen. A free review costs you nothing and can tell you whether the offer reflects everything you’re owed.
How much does it cost to hire a workers’ comp lawyer?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there is no fee unless we win, and your consultation is completely free. You only pay if we recover for you.
Talk To A Gastonia Workers’ Comp Team That Knows The Other Side
A permanent scar changes how you move through the world, and North Carolina law recognizes that with real compensation. The catch is that the value of your disfigurement isn’t automatic. It depends on how well your claim is documented and how effectively it’s presented to the Industrial Commission, which is exactly where the right team pays off.
At Horton & Mendez, our managing partners have spent years defending insurance companies, so we know how the other side values scarring and where they try to cut costs. Now we put that knowledge to work for injured individuals across North Carolina, including from our Gastonia office at 1900 South New Hope Road, Suite 102. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. The figures above are statutory maximums set by law, not typical or expected awards.
You’ve already been through enough. Let us handle the fight over what your injury is worth. Call 910-405-7751 for a free consultation. We know their playbook.
