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Serious injuries can often result in permanent scarring and disfigurement, which, at times, go far beyond physical impairment. These types of injuries are often devastating events with long-term physical and psychosocial effects. Permanent damage to a victim’s appearance can have a brutal life-long impact on 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 who 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 tissue repair. They typically arise after almost every skin injury, laceration and surgery. Scars are often considered trivial and something that people can live with, but at other times, they can be horribly disfiguring and aesthetically unpleasant; they can cause severe itching, tenderness, pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and total disruption of daily activities. Psychologically, scars can be devastating. Scarring can lead to PTSD, self-esteem issues, stigmatization, 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 worst 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 breastbone 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, although media scarring is permanent, Topical agents and intralesional steroid injections can minimize early scar formation, but overall, they eliminate 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, and lower overall satisfaction with their lives. Accident victims who 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 resulting 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 be 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 issues. 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 compensated in the form of non-economic damages for your scarring and disfigurement. If your scarring and disfigurement is severe, 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 affect your ability to advance in your career. The more the scar affects your life, the greater the compensation you may recover.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, we take pride in being trusted Hamilton personal injury lawyers since 2003. Over the years, we’ve helped our clients recover more than $45 Million in settlements and verdicts in personal injury, disability, and employment law cases. Whether you’re dealing with a life-changing injury, a denied disability claim, wrongful death, a hurt child or employment termination, we are here to provide compassionate and experienced legal representation. If you believe you have a case, call us today—we’re ready to help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Call Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers today, no matter where you are in Ontario at 905-333-8888 for your free consultation. Alternatively, you can contact us online, confidentially, by filling out a contact form.