Representing Accident Victims with Scars, Amputations, or Other Disfigurements
While Hollywood movies and television have exemplified scars as some type of badge of honor or a symbol of courage, many come with an enormous amount of physical and psychological trauma. Disfiguring injuries are a permanent visible reminder of a traumatic event, especially if a victim cannot easily hide it. In many cases, a disfigurement can go beyond scar tissue and entail a type of amputation. Victims of amputations and disfigurements face overwhelming, unanticipated physical and emotional hardships as they try to move on after an accident.
It is highly unjust that they should also have to bear financial or mental burdens created by an accident that was not their fault. Insurance companies like to downplay disfiguring injuries, ignoring the mental trauma a victim has suffered and offering low ball settlements, even in cases that involve an amputation. If you or a member of your family suffered a disfiguring injury or amputation because of someone else’s recklessness or carelessness, then you need to secure the aid of the Tenge Law Firm, LLC. Our lead attorney J. Todd Tenge has provided vital legal advice to numerous clients after traumatic accidents and helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation from at-fault insurance companies. Do not go it alone. Call us at (303) 502-5587 to learn how our firm can represent you.
Types of Disfiguring Injuries
Traumatic events, such as auto accidents, apartment fires, or dog attacks, can all leave some type of scar. While some of us can dismiss a minor scar, disfigurements to our faces are a constant reminder of the tragic events that we lived through. Even the toughest among us may be scared to wear a swimsuit or loose clothing, even in the heat of a Colorado summer, if it means revealing an extensive scar.
Scar tissue develops as a result of significant lacerations or damage to the skin. Deep cuts, broken bones, and serious burns can all leave a distinguishing mark on our bodies. If an injury becomes infected, these cuts, puncture wounds, and burns can easily turn deadly, and a scar may be a constant reminder of that close call with death. In some cases, you can also suffer a disfigurement due to intense pressure. Skull fractures can damage the eye socket, leading to vision loss and facial scarring. Lacerations and burns can also damage your mouth, nose, and ears, and decrease your quality of life by damaging one of your senses.
One of the most catastrophic injuries you can suffer is an amputation or the loss of a limb. Amputations can range from the loss of a finger or toe to the partial or complete loss of a hand, foot, arm, or leg. These injuries come with long-lasting physical and mental trauma, including phantom limb syndrome, prosthetics.
Not only do disfiguring injuries radically affect one’s appearance and inflict physical pain, but they can cause psychological damage that affects a victim for the rest of his or her life. Visible scarring can impact your self-esteem and confidence, especially if they develop on your face, leading to anxiety. Damage to your eyes, ears, mouth, or nose can also impact your quality of life and contribute to depression. Bottom line, disfigurements are more than skin deep and can lead to serious financial and emotional damages. If your injuries were caused by a negligent individual, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim for proper compensation.
Case We Handle
As mentioned, serious trauma is one of the major causes of disfiguring injuries. Sadly, many victims do not realize they have a case for compensation and will accept a low settlement offer from an at-fault insurance company to deal with their immediate medical costs. But if a negligent individual caused your injuries, then our lead attorney J. Todd Tenge can provide legal representation through a personal injury claim.
Accidents that can contribute to a disfiguring accident or amputation include:
- Violent car accidents that involve a large amount of shrapnel and glass or crushed limbs
- Truck accidents and mass transit accidents that occur at high speeds
- Motorcycle accidents that lead to serious road rash or crushed limbs
- Construction accidents, such as crush injuries or in-between accidents that severely damage a limb
- Dangerous products that cause serious lacerations or burns
- Dog bites, especially if the wound becomes infected, or a child is attacked
- Burn injuries, including fires and chemicals that lead to third-degree burns
It is important to understand that not every individual who suffers a tragic event is eligible for compensation. To be eligible for a personal injury claim, your injuries must have been caused by another individual who was required to provide a “duty of care.” Legally speaking, a duty of care can mean providing a safe work environment, removing hazards in an apartment building, providing proper security in a building, or driving safely. If you were trespassing or acting negligently yourself, you may be limited in how much you can receive in a claim at all. At the end of the day, you will want to contact us to discuss your case to determine if negligence and what damages you are eligible to receive in a claim.
Costs of a Disfiguring Injury and Amputation
While insurance companies may be quick to dismiss a scar or disfigurement, the legal team at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC knows firsthand how damaging these injuries can be. We have worked with numerous clients after tragic accidents and advocate for fair treatment from insurance companies, in some cases winning our clients million-dollar settlements. The amount of compensation you can receive will depend on the insurance policy that applies, the amount of costs you have incurred, and the extent of your injuries.
An accident with an everyday driver will involve a smaller insurance policy than with a major trucking or rideshare company like Uber. In addition, you will only be able to pursue compensations for injuries related to the accident. This can vary depending on the circumstances of your injuries. Scars related to burns, lacerations, and broken bones can entail both costly tissue removal treatments and emotional trauma. If the accident results in psychological injuries that require psychiatric care or therapy, those costs could also be attributed to the accident.
Obviously, amputees may be able to recover compensation related to prosthetics, wheelchairs, and any assisted living devices, including improvements to their homes. You will also have to account for lost wages while you are focused on recovering or a diminished income if you are forced to change jobs.
Altogether, this would account for the financial losses you have suffered, but you can also seek non-economic damages in your claim. This can include pain and suffering, a diminished quality of life, and emotional trauma. These costs are much more fluid and harder to pin down, but with the right attorney, you may be able to pursue them.
Contact a Disfiguring Injury Attorney
To recover damages after a disfiguring injury, you’ll need to hire an experienced Denver personal injury attorney to represent you and fight on your behalf. The Tenge Law Firm, LLC consistently achieves high settlements and excellent verdicts for clients by utilizing a wealth of resources, expert witnesses, and a thorough knowledge of the applicable Colorado laws. Though a settlement or verdict will not erase the memory of an accident, it can be a helpful tool in erasing the physical signs of the injury and allow you to secure justice against the wrongdoer.
If you or a loved one has suffered a disfiguring injury in an accident, contact us at (303) 502-5587. Our lead attorney can explain your legal rights after an accident, investigate your case, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and negotiate for a proper settlement. In addition, our firm may be able to connect you with physicians and therapists so you can get proper treatment for your injuries. Contact us today to learn whether you have a claim for compensation and how to pursue damages.