Loss of smell and senses of taste can profoundly impact someone’s quality of life. Loss of any of your senses can cause distress, especially if these changes have occurred due to an accident that was not your fault or someone else’s negligence. In such circumstances, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Our panel of specialist personal injury lawyers at Major Trauma Group are on-hand to assist you with your personal injury claim for long term or permanent loss of taste and smell compensation. We offer our services on a no win no fee basis, meaning you do not have to worry about the costs of making a claim.
We understand the lasting effect that traumatic injuries and negligence can have on a person, and we endeavour to provide a stress-free service to our clients, persistently advocating for your individual needs. Please get in touch today to find out more.
What is loss of smell?
Loss of smell, or anosmia, occurs when the olfactory system, which is responsible for detecting and processing smells, is impaired in some way. The sense of smell is closely linked to the sense of taste, and the two work together to contribute to our overall perception of flavour.
Odour molecules are inhaled through the nasal passage, binding to receptors on sensory neurons in the nose. These neurons transmit signals through olfactory nerves to the brain, where scents are processed and recognised.
Anosmia can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. It can affect the ability to detect dangers like gas leaks or smoke from fires, impact the enjoyment of eating, and even influence emotional experiences tied to specific scents and memories.
When the olfactory system functions correctly it enables us to perceive and differentiate between various scents. However, if there is damage or impairment at any stage of this process, it can lead to a loss of smell. This impairment can result from factors such as head trauma, infections, nasal congestion, neurological disorders, or exposure to toxins.
What causes loss of smell and taste?
Head trauma is one of the more common causes of anosmia. The sense of smell is closely linked to the olfactory nerve cells and regions of the brain responsible for processing odour information. When the head sustains trauma or a brain injury, it can lead to damage resulting in a loss or alteration of the sense of smell and, subsequently, impairment of taste. Head trauma can be sustained in accidents such as road traffic accidents, falls from height or being struck on the head by an object.
Chemical injuries and toxic fumes can also cause loss of smell. Such instances can occur in the workplace if you work with hazardous materials or use chemicals daily, such as in cleaning products, and constantly inhale toxic substances that can eventually damage the olfactory system.
Medical negligence, which can also lead to a loss of smell, can occur if a healthcare provider fails to provide proper care, treatment, or advice, which directly results in damage to the patient’s olfactory system. This could involve errors made during surgery, improper administration of medication, or failure to diagnose and treat conditions that eventually lead to anosmia.
Making a compensation claim for loss of smell
Claiming compensation for long term or permanent loss of smell is something our expert serious injury lawyers can assist with, offering specialist advice and support throughout the process of your injury compensation claim.
Gathering evidence of the incident or negligence that caused your injuries is essential, as witness statements, photographs and CCTV can be highly beneficial during the claims process to prove fault.
Reports of the accident, if it happened at work, plus medical records detailing your medical history and subsequent medical reports, can also be helpful for your lawyer to assess the extent of your injuries and calculate the subsequent value of your claim.
The first step a specialist lawyer will take is to assess the eligibility of your claim and the likely prospects of success. In doing so, they will consider whether each of the following factors apply:
- That the defendant in your claim owed a duty of care to you;
- The defendant was negligent and as a result of this negligence you suffered an injury or accident; and
- Your loss of smell and taste is a result of the injury or accident.
It will be essential to prove negligence when making a claim for compensation and this is something your lawyer can assist you with and advise you accordingly.
It is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible as you have a three-year time limit to make a claim for compensation for loss of smell and/or taste. This clock starts ticking on the day of the accident or the day your condition was first diagnosed by your doctor.
How much compensation for loss of smell could you receive?
Compensation amounts for long term or permanent loss of smell can vary in value depending on the circumstances of your accident or negligence and the extent of your injuries. Generally, the more severe an injury and the effect it has on your quality of life, the higher the amount of compensation awarded.
Lawyers usually break down compensation into two categories, general damages, and special damages. General damages refer to the pain and suffering directly caused by the injury you have sustained. Special damages refer to any additional financial losses you have incurred as a result of your injury; this could include loss of earnings, travel expenses and NHS prescription costs among many other things.
At Major Trauma Group, our panel of legal professionals take on serious and life changing injury compensation claims on a conditional fee agreement (CFA), meaning you will not have to pay legal fees for their services unless the claim is successful.
Additional Support
In addition to bringing a legal claim for compensation, you can also seek assistance from external bodies who specialise in offering advice and assistance to those suffering with smell and taste disorders.
Fifth Sense is a UK based charity who support people who are affected by smell and taste disorders all over the world by providing direct support, advice and guidance on diagnosis and treatment to those who suffer from such conditions.
Fifth Sense offer a wide range of resources from research, information sheets and guidance to online and in person support hubs. Further information can be found on their website here: https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/.
How can Major Trauma Group assist?
If you have lost your sense of smell or taste as a result of an accident that was not your fault and this loss is long term or permanent, then you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation with our expert personal injury lawyers here at Major Trauma Group.
Our panel of lawyers are based all across the UK, and all are experts in the field of serious injury. They offer their services on a no win no fee agreement, which means you will only pay a fee if your claim for compensation is successful. For a free, no-obligation discussion surrounding making a claim for compensation for long term or permanent loss of smell or taste, please do not hesitate to contact us today. You can contact us via telephone at 0330 311 2578, email hello@majortraumagroup.co.uk or access live chat on our website during office hours.
