Scarring & Disfigurement

Scarring and Disfigurement Injury Law Firm in Hamilton, Ontario

By Matt Lalande, Esq

Serious injuries can often result in permanent scarring and disfigurement which, at times, go far beyond physical impairment.  These types of injuries are often a devastating events with long-term physical and psychosocial effects. Permanent damage to a victim’s appearance can have brutal life-long effects on a emotional health, well being and quality of life.

Have you or a loved one suffered serious scarring or disfigurement injuries in an accident?

Visible scarring is often seen as a daily reminder of the trauma caused by the accident. Victims are forced to deal with an alteration in body appearance – which if caused by someone else that was negligent – is simply unfair.

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often become prevalent. In our practice, we have seen victims with visibly disturbed scarring develop social problems including difficulties in sexual life and social interactions. If the scarring is bad enough, problems in the mental area become more troublesome than physical problems.

Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Scarring

Scarring is the end point of the tissue repair. They typically arise after almost every skin injuries, lacerations and surgery. Scars are often considered trivial and something that people can live with, but other times they can be horribly disfiguring, aesthetically unpleasant, they can cause severe itching, tenderness, pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and total disruption of daily activities. Psycholgically, scars can be devastating. Scarring can lead to PTSD, self esteem issues,  stigmatisation, and a diminished quality of life. Physical deformity as a result of skin scar contractures can be brutally disabling.

Visible scarring is often seen as a daily reminder of the trauma caused by the accident. Victims are forced to deal with an alteration in body appearance – which if caused by someone else that was negligent – is simply unfair.

– Matt Lalande, Personal Injury & Disability Trial Lawyer

Accidents in Ontario can have unexpected and tragic outcomes, and among the worse of them are facial injuries that cause scarring and disfigurement. In many cases, serious car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents or slip and fall accidents may lead to serious scarring and disfigurement.

For example, in many head on-collisions, the force of impact may cause a major seat-belt injury which could in turn lead to chest and abdominal surgery. If a car accident victim’s stomach becomes bloated after impact, emergency surgery may be required to investigate the cause of injury. Such surgery on a man or woman can lead to major vertical scarring from the breast-bone past the belly button.

In other cases, orthopedic surgery may be required to insert plates or screws to repair the broken bones. An orthopedic injury is typically a traumatic event. The recovery can elicit many emotions – especially if the surgery produces visible scarring. Depending on the severity of the injuries, fractures and broken bones repaired, an accident victim could suffer major scarring in both visible and non-visible places.

In addition, despite what the media scarring is permanent. The use of topical agents and intralesional steroid injections can minimize early scar formation, but overall, there is be getting rid of permanent scarring.

Psychological Issues and Acquired Scarring Trauma

For many people, there can no doubt be a significant negative social and functional impact related to trauma and scarring.  Car accident victims with trauma related scarring are more likely to develop symptoms of depression and anxiety, sadness and grief over the losses they are experiencing. Depression and anxiety associated with trauma related scarring are often coupled with worries regarding recovery or post-operative rehabilitation.

For many people, scarring injuries to key areas of the body such as the face, forehead, breasts, head, eyes, ears and dental injuries often increase vulnerability to stress and impede proper emotional recovery.  Facial trauma that leads to scarring and disfigurement almost always affects the social image of the victim –which often tends to lead to social withdrawal and isolation.

Medical studies have shown that victims who suffer major facial scarring also have a higher tendency to suffer from substance abuse, PTSD, body image issues, stigmatization, lower overall satisfaction with their lives.

Accident victims that have particular predisposing personality traits (such as existing depression) may be at increased risk for compromised recovery and quality of life.

How to determine if you have a worthwhile scarring case.

For an accident victim, living with scars, both visible and non-visible can be particularly challenging. The disfigurement, deformity, or loss of function that can result from a severe scarring injury can lead to significant perceptual and subjective body image changes.

Visible scarring can no doubt lead to greater body image dissatisfaction in both women and men. Victims may uncomfortable with simple things like having a picture taken or looking at a reflection. When someone stares, the victim may feel like he or she is being ridiculed.

Body image, self-esteem and quality of life all become an issue. The accident victim may no longer wear dresses, bathing suits or shorts. Facial scarring may prevent a victim from going into the sun. Intimacy may be affected. Social interaction may be lessened. Teasing may be an issue if the child is younger.

You can be compensation in the form of non-economic damages for your scarring and disfigurement. If your scarring and disfigurement is very serious, it may also have economic effects. For example, it might affect your ability to get a job in certain fields or get a job at all. You may have issues with your scarring that affects your ability to advance in your job. The more that the scar affects your life, the greater the compensation that you may recover.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

If you are suffering from the emotional impact of scarring due to the fault of someone’s recklessness or carelessness, you may have the right to compensation. Please call our Hamilton Personal Injury Lawyers at 1-833-4-LAWFIRM or 905-333-8888, fill out a contact form or chat with our live operator 24/7 to set up a consultation appointment.

Our Hamilton Scarring and Disfigurement Lawyers have extensive experience with scarring related injury cases. We never charge upfront fees to our clients.