Heavy scarring and disfigurement can have lifelong consequences for victims. These injuries can be quite painful to recover from and may cause lingering discomfort or disability. Victims of serious disfigurement may also cause a loss of quality of life, harm the individual’s self-esteem, result in psychological and emotional damage, and prevent the person from enjoying their ability to perform daily tasks. There also can be a number of social and relationship complications, as well.
Almost any accident can cause scarring or disfigurement of any part of the body, but some common causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Construction accidents involving heavy equipment and machinery
- Falls
- Medical malpractice
- Animal bites, including dog bites
- Explosions
- Fires
- Defective products
What Damages Can I Recover?
Because of the lasting impacts of disfiguring injuries, it can be possible for victims to recover compensation for their injuries, which are known as damages.
These damages come in several forms:
Special Damages
Sometimes called economic damages, these damages are intended to reimburse calculable losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, lost future income and earning capacity, career diminishment, and other such costs. Often, disfigured individuals can have a harder time maintaining or securing meaningful employment and maintaining a career, so it’s important that these losses are fairly calculated and considered for their personal injury claim.
General Damages
These damages may also be called non-economic damages because they are meant to address losses that a disfigured individual has sustained beyond monetary losses. These damages are more difficult to calculate, but they still are considered in a personal injury claim. Some general damages include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of companionship of a loved one, loss of consortium, and a loss of enjoyment of life. It’s hard to attach a dollar value to these losses, so juries will typically multiply the total of the special damages by a multiplier between 1 and 5, depending on the severity of the injuries and the losses the plaintiff has sustained.
Punitive Damages
If the defendant, or liable party, has been found guilty of gross negligence, punitive damages may also be awarded. These are rare damages, reserved for cases in which the defendant knowingly allowed the victim to come to harm, such as a manufacturer who sold a product they were aware was defective and dangerous. Punitive damages are meant to punish the liable party for any harm caused by their negligence.
Millions Recovered for Our Valued Clients
Belushin Law Firm, P.C. has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have been injured in a wide range of accidents. Disfigurement can occur after a car accident, construction accident, bus accident, and more. Our team has handled all of these types of cases and settled them successfully so our clients have a brighter future to look forward to.
When you’ve been injured, you deserve to be represented by a firm that always puts your needs first and is available around-the-clock to answer your questions. Our lawyers offer 24/7 service for our clients and have been recognized among our peers in organizations like The National Trial Lawyers, the American Association for Justice, and more.
Call Belushin Law Firm, P.C. at (888) 918-9890, or contact us online if you have been seriously injured in an accident. Our personal injury lawyers have served our community faithfully since 2002.