Sustaining a serious injury can lead to profound and enduring physical and emotional consequences. Among the most impactful outcomes are permanent scarring and disfigurement. These injuries not only alter one’s appearance but can also restrict certain functionalities, in addition to their long-term psychological effects. If you have suffered scarring or disfigurement as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your damages. Fr more information and expert legal advocacy, contact a skilled Prince George’s County Personal Injury Attorney today.
What’s the Difference Between Scarring and Disfigurement?
First and foremost, while scarring and disfigurement both describe noticeable alterations to a person’s external appearance, resulting from injury, surgery, or trauma, there are key distinctions. Scarring is the body’s natural way of healing. The body essentially mends a wound by generating new collagen fibers. After the injury has healed, it can leave a visible mark that may appear flat, raised, lumpy, or discolored compared to the surrounding skin.
Disfigurement is a broader term that can encompass a wider array of permanent changes to appearance, including scarring. It often extends to other permanent changes such as burns, skin texture abnormalities, missing limbs, or differently shaped body parts. Disfigurement can cause significant psychological and emotional impacts. Unfortunately, it can also lead to loss of function or mobility apart from physical abnormality that mars one’s appearance.
Can You Recover Compensation for Scarring or Disfigurement?
When pursuing compensation after an injury caused by another’s negligence, individuals often overlook the impact of scarring. However, severe scarring, especially in visible areas, can significantly diminish a victim’s quality of life. Permanent scarring and disfigurement can result in lifelong pain, necessitating extensive corrective surgeries. This type of injury can also profoundly affect a person’s mental health, often linked to their self-perception and how they are perceived by others.
Due to the permanent nature of severe facial scarring and disfigurement, victims are typically able to secure greater compensation than they would for other injuries. This compensation may encompass, but is not limited to:
- Medical expenses for the initial incident and any required corrective procedures
- Coverage for counseling (due to the permanent alteration of their appearance)
- Lost wages if the victim is unable to work due to their injuries
- Lost earning capacity if the permanent scarring or disfigurement impairs their ability to pursue a career
- Damages for pain and suffering
- Damages for loss of enjoyment of life
It’s important to note that disfigurement is considered a non-economic damage, meaning that it is an intangible loss that has no monetary value, making it more difficult to quantify. When determining the appropriate amount of compensation you are entitled to for your damages, several factors will be taken into account. The following will be assessed:
- The severity and permanence
- The location
- The impact on daily life and activities
- The psychological and emotional impact
- Your age
- The impact on employment
- Any disabling effects
- Any other factors deemed relevant
At McCarthy, Winkelman, & Mester, L.L.P., we understand that a permanent reminder of your injury can have a lasting impact on your mental and physical well-being. Contact our firm today to learn how we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
