Negligence at the Hair Salon Led to a Fight for Justice

A 14-year-old girl received damaging burns during a common hair treatment. Attorney Steven McNeel at Buzzell, Welsh & Hill fought to secure compensation for her and her family to cover her medical bills.

It Happened at the Salon

In the summer of 2023, a teenager and her mother visited a salon in Warner Robins, GA, so that the teen could receive a standard treatment for highlights. Instead, she received significant burns that required emergency medical attention. The hairdresser mixed the chemicals incorrectly, leading to pain and permanent scalp damage for the 14-year-old.

The results of the treatment left the girl with a lasting silver-dollar-sized bald spot at the top of her scalp, as well as excruciating burns that needed quick care to avoid infection and extensive time to heal. For the entirety of that summer, while she underwent treatment, she was unable to swim, shower, be in the sun, or participate in other essential or recreational activities.

Part of her treatment plan included scalp reduction surgery to minimize the size of the bald spot, which only added to her growing medical expenses.

Steven Sought and Won Compensation for the Family

The family turned to Steven at Buzzell, Welsh & Hill to fight for the compensation needed to cover the teen’s medical bills. Steven and his team got to work investigating the case and contacting the hairdresser’s insurance company to settle the case.

Ultimately, the insurance company settled with the family for a total of $80,000—enough to cover the medical expenses that had accumulated to that point, as well as future treatments the girl will eventually need to fully correct her scalp issues.

Thanks to Steven’s concern for his client and his skills in negotiating with insurance companies, the teen and her family are now able to breathe easier knowing they can afford whatever treatment she will need to recover and move on from this physically and emotionally damaging experience.

And that’s the BWH way: staying dedicated to our clients and fighting till the end to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.

Additional Success Stories

• BWH’s Fight for Justice After a Child’s Catastrophic Injury
• BWH Got a Nurse the Workers’ Comp Benefits She Deserved
• How BWH Fought on Behalf of a Teen in a Work-Related Accident
• A Dog Bite in Irwin County Turned into a Fight for Justice