When most people think about car accident injuries, they think of the physical injury and the pain and suffering they might have to endure while that injury heals. But what happens if you sustain an injury that leaves behind a scar?
Though scars are a sign of an injury that has healed, the scar itself can also be a sort of injury that can affect a person’s life. Scars are often permanent and stay with you for the rest of your life, which can be emotionally traumatizing as it can be a constant reminder of what happened. Some people even suffer emotional distress because of how scarring has affected their appearance and their self-confidence. If scarring covers enough of the body, such as burn scars, it can also affect mobility and range of motion.
For these reasons, it is possible to recover compensation from a scar settlement. If you sustain permanent scarring after an accident and it is severe enough, this is considered a type of damage that you could be compensated for. However, the amount you can recover can vary and will depend on the severity of the scarring and the strength of your case.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the emotional and even physical effects permanent scarring can have on a person’s life. If you have questions about the average settlement for scarring you could receive or need help filing your claim, our California scarring and disfigurement lawyers are here to help.
Scarring After Car Accidents
Just as there are many ways to sustain an injury in a car accident, there are also many reasons why a person might end up with permanent scarring. Some of the most common things that can cause scars after an accident include:
- Large lacerations and puncture wounds from glass, flying debris, or other car parts that penetrate the body
- Road rash after being ejected from a vehicle
- Being thrown through the windshield
- Hitting the steering wheel or dashboard
- Burns from the vehicle catching on fire
You can also suffer from permanent scarring as a result of the treatments needed after the accident. For example, if you have to have surgery after an accident, the surgical procedure can leave behind permanent scarring.
No matter how the scarring occurs, permanent scars can be difficult for some people to deal with after an accident. Scars can cause deformities and can cause physical limitations, but they can also be emotionally and psychologically distressing, and affect a person’s mental health.
Some of the emotional and psychological effects of having permanent scarring can include:
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Lowered self-worth
- Reduced quality of life
- Sleep disturbances
- Decreased emotional well-being
- Impaired social functioning
Emotional distress and psychological symptoms can be very difficult to navigate and significantly affect a person’s quality and enjoyment of life. This is why it is possible to recover a settlement for scarring, even if there are no physical limitations. How much compensation for a scar you can recover, however, will depend on how much your life and emotional state are affected by the scarring.
Common Scars That Can Result From Car Accident Injuries
There are typically four main types of scars that can occur after a car accident injury, these include:
- Cicatrix scars: Also called flat scars, these scars tend to be slightly pink or reddish in color and are only slightly raised. They can be itchy and painful, and over time, they will flatten out and may fade to the color of your skin.
- Hypertrophic scars: These scars are more noticeable as they are more raised above the skin. They also tend to be firm and can feel painful. These scars tend to form most often on the chest, shoulders, and upper back.
- Keloid scars: These scars are raised and often grow much larger than the wound itself. It can take months or even years for keloid scars to appear after you have sustained an injury. When these scars grow, they can be itchy or painful and most often form over joints. Keloid scars do not go away or fade on their own without treatment.
- Contracture scars: This type of scarring refers to scars that cause the new skin that forms to be thicker and tighter than the original skin in that area. They can be rough or smooth, but typically the tightening of the skin causes movement to be limited. Burn injuries are the most common cause of contracture scars.
What is the Average Settlement for Scarring After a Car Accident?
The average settlement for scarring can vary from case to case, and as such, there isn’t an average amount that is most often awarded. Instead, each case is carefully reviewed to determine how the person’s life is affected by the scarring. Several factors can play a role in determining how much compensation a person should receive, which can include:
- The severity of the scar: The bigger the scar is and/or the more noticeable and disfiguring the scar is, the more likely you are to receive a higher settlement.
- The location of the scar: Where the scar is located can also affect the settlement. For example, facial scar compensation will likely be higher because a scar on the face is considered more disfiguring than a scar on the leg.
- The age of the victim: If the victim is younger, they are more likely to receive a higher payout because it is assumed that their life may be more heavily impacted by the scarring than someone older.
- Expected recovery or reduction time: How long the scar will take to fade or if it is possible to have the scar reduced will also impact settlement.
- If the scar causes any physical limitations: If the victim suffers from physical limitations, such as reduced range of motion due to scarring, they are likely to be more heavily compensated.
- The psychological impact: How much the person’s psychological state is affected by the scarring will also factor into how high their settlement payout is.
California Personal Injury Lawyers: We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life
The average settlement for scarring can also be impacted by the strength of the case itself. If you can build a strong case with sufficient supporting evidence, for example, then you will also have a better chance of receiving a higher settlement.
At Sally Morin, our California car accident lawyers are dedicated to helping each of our clients recover the full settlement they deserve. We have experience handling scarring cases and know what it takes to help you build a strong case to win a fair settlement.
If you’ve suffered permanent scarring after a car accident, call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
