Can I Sue for a Facial Scar?
September 25, 2019 | Catastrophic Injuries
Scarring and disfigurement caused by another person are grounds enough for filing a personal injury claim in Missouri. Permanent scars are not only painful at the time of injury, but can leave behind emotional and mental damages long after a wound heals. Suing for a facial scar caused in a car accident, workplace accident, or due to a defective product can recover partial, if not full, compensation for damages caused as a result of the traumatic incident.
Facial Scar Claims in Missouri
Chances are, if a person suffers a facial injury in an accident, it’ll likely leave a scar. Scars can be caused in many different accidents, but typically, are caused in accidents in the home (defective products, housefires – 75%), car accidents(5%), and recreational accidents (5%). Facial scar claims in Missouri generally involve the following types of scars:
- Keloid Scars – bumpy, raised scars caused by burns or lacerations that can extend past the original wound
- Contracture Scars – thick, yet even, scars caused by burning (chemical burns, car accident injuries, etc.)
- Hypertrophic Scars – like Keloids, hypertrophic scars are bumpy and raised, but do not extend past the wound
- Burn Scars – first, second, and third-degree burns caused in housefires, defective product accidents, and other incidents, can be severe and result in debilitating scarring and facial nerve damage that could cause loss of feeling, coordination, and other issues
While the appearance of scars can be minimized with topical medication and surgery, the aftermath of a traumatic accident can cause some victims to suffer body dysmorphia in regards to their scars, PTSD, and other lifelong side effects.
Who Can I Sue for a Facial Scar?
Chemical burns, car accident lacerations, and other severe injuries can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement in more severe cases. Scarring and chronic injuries can greatly affect a person’s overall life satisfaction, confidence in their appearance, and other areas of their life. In most situations, if an employee suffers injuries on the clock, damages caused during the incident are covered under Missouri’s workers’ compensation laws and compensated for by worker’s compensation benefits through their employer. However, if the victim’s employer doesn’t provide the employee with the proper paperwork to file a claim, or attempts to deny their claim, the employee could be eligible to sue their employer directly with a personal injury claim in Missouri.
In other severe accidents, such as car crashes, if a victim suffers a facial injury, the negligent driver is required to compensate the victim for damages commiserates to the degree of the injury under the law of Pure Comparative Negligence. If the at-fault party attempts to deny the victim’s claim, the injured party can sue by bringing a Car Accident Claim in Missouri. Generally, by providing adequate evidence of the accident (police report), proof of injuries (photos, medical report), and in situations that involve permanent scarring, making sure that a facial scar claim falls under Missouri’s Statute of Limitations.
Speak with a St. Louis Facial Scar Lawyer Today
If you are struggling with medical expenses, mental or physical distress, loss of income, or other damages from an accident caused by another’s negligence, you deserve justice, and compensation, for your harm and losses. The Dixon Injury Firm’s Missouri Facial Scar Lawyers are dedicated to making sure that you have access to the resources you need during this difficult time, and that your case has the best odds of recovering the maximum settlement for damages.
As a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer,” recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Association, Christopher Dixon is an attorney that you can count on. Chris Dixon has your St. Louis facial scar claims’ best interests in mind during every move involved with your claim and can make sure that you are well-informed throughout the process of negotiating a settlement.
For more information on how the Dixon Injury Firm can help you sue for a facial scar in Missouri, call (314) 208-2808 or contact the Dixon Injury Firm now.