A Simple Guide to Smell Impairment Injury Compensation

Our sense of smell is one of the most important ways in which we can interact with our environment. Specific smells can affect our mood, evoke memories and help us to detect danger such as smoke, gas and rotten food or drink. As our sense of smell plays a key role in our health, a smell impairment can be extremely debilitating and can have an affect on your diet as well as well as your safety.

Over 75% of our ability to taste is based on smell, therefore if you suffer a smell impairment there is a high chance that your taste may be affected too. For those who have been able to smell and taste their entire lives, losing one or more senses can be difficult to adjust to and in some cases sufferers develop serious mental health disorders like depression, alongside their smell impairment.   

A smell impairment is caused by damage to the olfactory system which is used to detect different scents. If the nerve cells within the mouth, nose, throat or nasal cavity are damaged, it is likely that the sense of smell will be impacted. These nerve cells are often harmed through infections, however it’s possible to also sustain a smell impairment as a result of a high impact collision like a fall from height, a sports injury or a road traffic accident.

You may suffer a smell impairment from the overexposure to harsh chemicals and toxic fumes, this type of injury is typically reported by people who have worked with and around chemicals in enclosed spaces over prolonged periods of time. If your employer has not provided you with the correct personal protective gear and equipment to undertake your role safely and you develop a smell impairment because of it, you may be entitled to compensation.

We are unfortunately very aware of the impact that a smell impairment can have on someone’s personal and professional life. Thankfully, with the years of knowledge and expertise our team have in handling this type of claim, we have already been able to help many clients obtain the compensation they deserve.

How much is your smell impairment injury claim worth? 

The figures shown below are provided as guidelines. In order to determine a more accurate valuation of your potential injury claim, it is recommended that you speak with one of our solicitors.

• up to £31,000 – Highest Award Where there is Total Loss of Smell

What are General and Special Damages? 

The compensation calculator can help you estimate the out of compensation you might receive for your injury claim. This part of your compensation is known as General Damages, as it relates to the pain, suffering and loss of amenity that you have suffered as a result of your accident.

• Pain: refers to the initial pain you suffered when your accident occurred.
• Suffering: refers to the ongoing pain that you have endured since the accident.
• Loss of amenity: refers to the fact that you could either for a period, or permanently no longer do something that you could do prior to the accident, for example play a sport.

The compensation calculator does not include other losses that you might have incurred as a result of your accident. Such as, loss of earnings, cost of care or damage to property. These items are known as Special Damages and can be claimed in addition to the General Damages mentioned above. The amount of compensation you receive will ultimately be made up of General and Special Damages, that is your injury claim and financial losses.

How Can Stonehewer Moss help you on a ‘No-Win, No-Fee’ basis?

‘No-Win, No-Fee’ is a way of funding your personal injury claim without having to pay solicitors fees up front. If your claim is successful, then your legal costs will usually be deducted from your compensation leaving you with a minimum of 75% of your compensation claim. To make sure ‘No-Win, No-Fee’ is the right way to fund your personal injury claim, you can contact us at Stonehewer Moss solicitors for a free no obligation assessment of your claim, guaranteed to provide you with the best advice on how to progress with your claim.