Scarring and disfigurement usually occur during devastating accidents. While they take place in a split second, they can have a long-lasting effect on one's life. The emotional impact on the victim can make it more difficult for them to enjoy life and even find work.

If there is a negligent party in the accident that caused your disfigurement or the disfigurement of a loved one, you can file a NJ personal injury claim to recover damages, which may include compensatory damages and punitive damages if they engaged in egregious misconduct that led to the accident.

One important question we are asked a lot is: What is considered disfigurement in New Jersey? We will answer this question, as well as provide further information about NJ disfigurement claims in the following blog.

One of the most important steps to take if you have suffered a disfigurement is to consult with an experienced NJ personal injury attorney. The team of attorneys at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney At Law have extensive experience and understanding of personal injury cases, especially in New Jersey. We are prepared to provide you with the support you need.

Disfigurement and Scarring In Personal Injury Cases

While suffering an injury might result in immediate and severe bodily harm, many people fail to consider the potential long-term effects of a traumatic injury. Many injury victims are left with lifelong scars or other disfigurements, which not only act as a physical reminder of the stress they experienced, but may also worsen their emotional state.

Disfigurement

A person is considered disfigured if they have a burn, scar, uneven skin tone or texture, a missing limb, or abnormally formed body part that impacts their appearance. A disfigurement, whether severe or minor, can have a heavy emotional impact on someone's life. They may suffer from depression, anxiety over other people's reactions to the disfigurement, negative body image, and other issues.

A person can become disfigured in a variety of accidents, such as those involving heavy machinery, cars, animals, burns, amputations, and more. Disfigurement can also result from violent crimes such as assault. Having a physical reminder of your trauma can cause emotional and psychological stress that can lead to other serious problems, such depression or suicidal thoughts, in addition to a daily reminder about the original injury, which is stressful in and of itself.

Those who wish to improve their appearance may undergo reconstructive or plastic surgery to lessen their deformity. Sometimes surgery is the only way to resolve the problem. These procedures are costly and can be dangerous. A person's capacity to recover physically from an injury and any long-term physical consequences, like scars or disfigurement, may require financial compensation.

This speaks to the importance of experienced legal aid, in the form of a personal injury attorney.

Scarring

After you have been injured, the imperfections on the skin is what's left over. New skin forms over the wound after it closes, but is either a different color, texture or both. There's a number of variables that affect how a scar will eventually look like, such as the type of scar, the location, the size of the injury and how serious it was, as well as genetics.

Every time the skin is damaged or opened as a result of an accident or surgical operation, scars are the result. Even minor injuries that result in small scratches and cuts can leave scars behind. Scars can be the end result of injuries suffered in a car crash, dog bite or other accidents.

You may not know that there are different types of scars. Most eventually heal and fade, though some may appear red or heavy in the beginning. Hypertrophic scars, which cause a red, elevated bump to form above the initial scar site, are more common in some individuals. Some people get keloids, which are excessive collagen growths that can enlarge the initial wound.

In addition to being a reminder of an accident, scars can have a negative impact on a person's quality of life, particularly if they are present on a section of the body that is highly visible, like the face, chest, or limbs.

If You Are Left With A Disfigurement, Contact Brandon J. Broderick For Legal Help

You need an experienced NJ personal injury attorney that will move quickly to gather evidence and take the necessary steps to win your case if you were in an accident and sustained serious injuries that resulted in scarring or disfigurement.

Each and every one of our clients is a priority. Our personal injury lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law will fight for justice. We have offices across the state of New Jersey.

Give us a call and make an appointment now for a free case evaluation.