When a person suffers a serious injury in an accident, there may be an extended period of recovery that includes surgery, treatments, and rehabilitation. This not only impacts the physical condition of the victim but can also impact the emotional condition. This can be even more of a factor if the victim has been left with scarring or disfigurement because of the injuries.
It is important for accident victims to be aware that any scarring or disfigurement they have suffered are also considered damages that they may be entitled to receive financial compensation for. This often occurs in vehicle accidents and dog bite accidents. A Virginia Beach car accident attorney can explain how.
Disfigurement and Scarring Injuries
There are a number of ways a victim can be left with permanent scarring or disfigurement in an accident:
- Lacerations caused by shattered glass in a vehicle accident, from the pavement if the victim was ejected from the vehicle, or from a dog’s teeth or claws in a dog attack.
- Eye injuries from any type of accident. This can leave the victim with vision impairment or even loss of the eye.
- Fractured and broken bones from any type of blunt force trauma. This often occurs in the facial and head areas.
- Burn injuries, which can leave permanent scarring or disfigurement of limbs.
- Loss of a limb.
When the accident that caused these injuries was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person, a victim can sue that person for damages. While every case is different, some of the more common damages include:
- Medical expenses for treatment of injuries for the scarring, including any cosmetic surgeries to improve the victim’s appearance.
- Lost income, particularly if the victim’s income was depending on physical appearance and the scarring or disfigurement affects their opportunity for work.
- Emotional trauma and pain and suffering the victim has endured as they deal with the changes the scarring or disfigurement has left on their physical appearance.
In order to obtain the full financial compensation a victim is entitled to for scarring and disfigurement injuries, an attorney will present evidence that demonstrates that not only were the injuries caused by the other party’s negligence but that the victim has suffered losses because of the accident. Evidence used in these cases include:
- Police report of the accident
- Witness statements
- Medical reports
- Video footage of the accident scene
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Before and after photographs of the area that has been left disfigured or scarred
- Testimony from the victim, family, and friends of how the victim’s life has been impacted by their injuries.
Contact Our Office Today
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another party, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney to find out what legal options you may have. The legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has almost 40 years of experience advocating for injured victims and their families and will help you get the financial compensation you deserve. Each attorney at our firm is a skilled negotiator, but each one also has extensive experience in litigation should the insurance company fail to negotiate in good faith. Call our office today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
RELATED CONTENT