When you visit a nail salon or beauty parlor, it is important to remember that the professionals there are working with chemicals and tools that can be extremely dangerous, often near sensitive parts of the body, such as your face and hands. You have a reasonable right to expect that the person providing the cosmetic services is doing so safely and in compliance with any applicable regulations. Certain risks in the cosmetic industry are accepted by customers, but they still do not expect to suffer chemical burns, cuts, or other complications or injuries that can arise from negligence when using personal care products.
The risks of unsafe cosmetic products and personal care services to human health
Some of the most common causes of salon injuries include:
- Lack of training: In most states, nail technicians, cosmetologists, and other professionals working in salons and spas are required to possess certain licenses or certifications. This is because they are expected to have certain training in sanitation, cosmetic safety, disease prevention, and chemical safety. If a business’s employees don’t have valid credentials, the business could be held liable for any damages the unlicensed employee causes. Businesses could also be held liable for using cosmetic products that contain toxic chemicals or other contaminants that pose a health hazard.
- Inadequate sanitation/cleaning: One of the most common reasons a customer is injured or made ill after receiving service at a salon or spa is inadequate sanitation and cleaning. This can expose customers to any number of bacterial, fungal, or viral infections that could cause serious health consequences. If poor cleaning procedures caused harm to a customer, the business could be held liable.
- General negligence: Other instances in which a salon business might be held liable include chemical burns, wet floor conditions without proper signage that can cause a slip-and-fall, broken equipment presenting a hazard to customers, or other risks associated with using cosmetic ingredients poorly. These are all cases of negligence that can fall under premises or product liability.
The consequences of being injured while receiving cosmetic services can be profound, not only costing thousands of dollars but also potentially having significant effects on a person’s physical and mental health.
The most common damages associated with cosmetic injury claims include:
- Medical bills: As with many personal injury claims, the meat of a claim arising from a cosmetic services-related injury is medical bills. Treatment for infections and scarring can cost thousands of dollars, and victims should not be on the hook for those costs if they were caused by someone else’s negligence.
- Pain and suffering: When you are dealing with the aftermath of an injury sustained at a salon or beauty parlor, you not only deal with the physical pain of the injury, which can have long-term health effects, but also the mental anguish that comes with it. These types of accidents often affect one’s physical appearance, which can be detrimental to their self-esteem — one of the biggest hidden risks posed by the unsafe use of cosmetics.
- Permanent disfigurement: One of the worst consequences that can arise from a salon injury is permanent disfigurement. Cuts and chemical burns can leave permanent scars that can have mental health effects for the rest of their life. In severe cases, complications from an infection could even lead to amputations, which could result in permanent disability.
Understanding the regulation of cosmetics is important to winning product safety and personal injury cases in the cosmetic industry
When you are dealing with an injury that happened after a cosmetic service, it is important to hire an experienced trial attorney. You want someone on your side who knows how to argue your case in court with a track record of handling and winning these complex cases. You need to work with someone who has an intimate understanding of the intricacies of the laws and regulations governing cosmetic products and services.
A personal injury attorney handling your case will attempt to recover damages to compensate you for the tangible costs and pain and suffering you have experienced after your injury. They will first attempt to negotiate with the insurance adjusters to get a settlement that offers you fair compensation for your injuries.
However, the truth is that these cases are rarely resolved through a settlement. It is often more difficult to prove negligence in personal injury cases that involve cosmetic acts and cosmetic companies, meaning that insurance companies might be willing to take more of a chance at trial, hoping they don’t have to pay anything. Many insurance policies also contain exclusions for common lawsuit causes like bacterial infections, which could cause insurance adjusters to refuse to pay out in the first place.
If you have experienced an injury in a salon due to the negligence of the business or its employees, you should contact a specialized personal injury law firm like Burnett & Williams. Their attorneys, like equity partner Kim Raab, will stand up for your rights and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
“If you or a loved one has been injured after receiving cosmetic services, contact us today for a free consultation,” says Raab. “We will review your case and determine if we can help you get compensation for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering you have experienced.”
