Sample Demand Letter for Compensation After Beauty Salon Injury

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Tina Brogan
523 Red Brick Rd.
San Francisco, CA 32520

September 4, 2020

Traditional Insurance Company
1001 High Street
Boston, MA 02108
Attn: Ann Smith

Your Insured: Radiant Beauty Salon

Re: Injury on July 10, 2020

Claim Number:  PL003488

FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES ONLY

Dear Ms. Smith:

As you know, I was seriously injured on July 10, 2020, at the Radiant Beauty Salon when I suffered excruciating burns to my entire scalp because of a negligent hairdresser.

I had to have emergency treatment for the extensive chemical burns to my scalp, and was forced to miss ten days of work.

I arrived at the Radiant Beauty Salon for my scheduled appointment to have my hair colored and cut. I chose to have my hair professionally colored because I expected the job to be done carefully and correctly.

My hair had never been colored before, and I came to the salon with clean hair and no other products on my hair or scalp.

I could not have anticipated that a licensed hairdresser would not only leave me with grotesque, unnaturally colored hair but would inflict horrifically painful burns to my entire scalp.

As a result of your insured’s negligence, I sustained damages including medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

On July 10, 2020, I visited your insured’s beauty salon located on Apple Street in San Francisco. This was the first time I visited your insured’s salon. I booked my appointment with Radiant Beauty Salon based on favorable online reviews from other customers. I was scheduled to have my hair done by a stylist named Tiffany.

Tiffany spent several minutes discussing the cut and color I wanted for my hair. She showed me swatches of hair samples and explained she’d use “permanent” hair dye. I told her I’d never had any coloring or chemical treatments to my hair before.

Tiffany did not suggest a patch test to check for reactions to the proposed dye. I have since learned that all hair-dye manufacturers recommend a patch test before using their products. It would only have taken an additional fifteen minutes, but Tiffany didn’t bother.

I was draped in a cape and Tiffany began applying the color, section by section. I could hear her cell phone repeatedly vibrating.

Tiffany had applied dye to about half my hair when she began to put down the applicator brush and text on her phone between sections. It took her another half hour to finish applying dye to the rest of my hair, while the first half of my hair was already processing.

When she finally finished adding the dye to my hair, she set a timer for 30 minutes and said she’d be back to check how the color was developing.

When the timer went off, I was already starting to feel some irritation on the side of my scalp, where the dye had been applied first. I waited and waited, but Tiffany was nowhere to be seen.

I didn’t know what was normal, and I trusted the stylist to know how long to leave the dye on my head. But after another 30 minutes, I couldn’t take it anymore. I begged another employee to help me get the dye off because my head was burning so bad.

My entire head felt like it was on fire. By this time, the dye had been on half of my scalp for 90 minutes and on the other half for a full hour.

I later learned that the standard processing time for permanent hair color is 30 minutes, with a maximum of 45 minutes in special circumstances. I’ve enclosed copies of industry standards I found online.

The person I’d asked to help me, whose name was Lulu, asked how long my hair had been processing. I told her it had been an hour since Tiffany set the timer and left. Lulu was so shocked she blurted out, “Oh, crap!”

Lulu immediately took me to the shampoo bowl and began rinsing and washing the dye from my hair. My scalp was so inflamed it hurt for her to touch me.

She tried to be gentle and kept saying, “I’m sorry, Baby, but we got to get this out of your hair.” I was in tears and so was Lulu, because she knew she was hurting me.

After the dye had been rinsed from my hair, Lulu carefully wrapped my wet hair in a towel. At this point, I was sobbing. Lulu went to get the manager, Kevin Sinclair.

That’s when Tiffany came rushing back. She was angry that the manager had been called over and informed everyone that she had been taking care of a problem at home. Like that was a good excuse!

Mr. Sinclair apologized profusely and asked what I wanted to do. I was beside myself. My scalp hurt so bad there was no way I could tolerate having my hair combed and cut, much less endure the heat of a blow dryer.

He could see how upset I was. He offered me a coupon for a free pedicure. Distraught, I gathered my things and walked out of the salon with my hair still wrapped in a towel. I was in tears.

When I got home, I carefully removed the towel and looked in the mirror. Half of my hair was a ghastly, brassy color, all my hair looked damaged, and my head was still on fire.

INJURIES AND TREATMENT

I asked my roommate to drive me to the General Hospital emergency department. I was examined and treated by Doctor Avery Allen.

After a thorough examination, Dr. Allen told me I had chemical burns over 90 percent of my scalp, including significant second-degree chemical burns over 60 percent of my scalp. The burns were a direct result of the application and duration of the hair dye to my hair and scalp.

Dr. Allen applied a medicated gel to my scalp to soothe the burn and prevent infection. I was ordered to reapply the gel three times a day for five days. The doctor prescribed acetaminophen with codeine to help with pain for the first few days.

After six days, the pain had diminished, but the burned areas were covered in itchy scabs. It was miserable and disgusting.

The doctor had warned me this would happen and told me to take Benadryl to cope with the itching. At that point, I was allowed to wash my hair with mild baby shampoo carefully. The Benadryl made me sleepy but was the only way I could tolerate the maddening itching.

Between the pain, itching, and the fact that my hair looked nasty and unkempt, I missed ten days of work because of your insured’s negligence. Copies of the doctor’s notes, including the order to excuse me from work, are enclosed.

WORK HISTORY

I have been employed as a receptionist for the accounting firm of Smith and Jones, L.L.P., for five years. Before your insured’s negligence chemically scalded me, I had an excellent attendance record.

As a receptionist for a prestigious firm, I’m often the first person to greet our clients. I need to maintain a neat, clean, and professional appearance.

Because of your insured, I was in no condition to perform my duties. The pain and itching from horrible chemical burns made it impossible for me to concentrate, much less smile and make small talk with clients.

The ten days I was off from work were pure torture. I looked and felt so bad; I couldn’t wash my hands in the bathroom without bursting into tears at the sight in the mirror. I went several days without much sleep because it hurt to lay my head on a pillow. Losing a third of my pay for the month only added insult to injury.

I went to the Radiant Beauty Salon to update my appearance with a fresh, sophisticated style and color for my healthy shoulder-length hair. Instead, I was left with damaged, bedraggled hair with large sections of brassy, uneven, orange streaks. I was too mortified to face my family, friends, or co-workers.

When the pain and itching had subsided enough to stand combing my hair, I went to a different hairstylist. I was terrified of another attempt at hair color, and my hair was so damaged, the only option was to have my hair cut short. I hate it. However, it was the only way to restore a professional appearance.

If not for the negligence of Radiant Beauty Salon, I would not have suffered days of terrible pain and itching, ten days of lost wages, and endured the humiliation of a significantly altered appearance.

DAMAGES

The following is a list of my medical bills and other out-of-pocket costs related to my injuries. I have attached copies of the bills and receipts, along with a letter from my employer confirming my lost wages.

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To compensate me for the physical pain, emotional distress, and financial costs I suffered because of the negligence of your insured, I demand the total amount of $7,170 to resolve my personal injury claim.

Please respond within fifteen (15) business days. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Tina Brogan
555-325-2501
tina@example.com

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