Georgia Car Accident Disfigurement Attorneys

Car accidents result in a variety of devastating injuries that may include disfigurement of the face or body. Disfiguring injuries can have serious emotional as well as physical consequences.

Confidence regarding your physical appearance is important, and when you feel good about how you look, you’re more likely to have success in both the social and professional arenas. Disfigurement can take all of that away.

People who were disfigured in car accidents face extensive and expensive medical treatment associated with their physical injuries. Even with the best medical intervention and treatment, people who suffer disfiguring injuries in car accidents find their physical appearance changed forever.

If you have become disfigured as a result of a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the experienced Georgia car accident attorneys of Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. are here to help. Call us today at (770) 205-8827 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We will advise you about your legal options.

What Is Disfigurement?

“Disfigurement” occurs when a person’s physical appearance is altered in a negative way. Disfigurement may occur because of a traumatic event, such as a car accident. Examples of disfigurements that could result from car accidents include:

• Scarring of the face or body
• Burns
• Limb loss or severe damage
• Nerve damage leading to facial disfigurement
• Fractures that don’t heal properly
• Damage to the eyes or ears

The Physical and Emotional Impact of Disfiguring Injuries

Medical bills and costs resulting from the treatment of car accident injuries can be astronomical, especially when there is disfigurement. Those treatments can include reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and other serious medical treatments. Even with these medical interventions, the disfigurement may remain severe and become permanent.

When you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else, the injuries aren’t just physical. The emotional damage is even greater when you’re left with injuries than change your appearance in ways you don’t like. The emotional and psychological impact that permanent disfigurement can have on an injured person’s life is profound. Multiple studies have shown that these types of injuries can cause struggles with low self-esteem and difficulty navigating social situations and can leave the person with a reduced quality of life.

Why Should I Hire Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C.?

You’re likely already overwhelmed by dealing with treatment for your injuries and the disfigurement that will alter your life. You might also have mountains of medical bills jamming your mailbox, and if your injuries are so severe that you can’t work, you’re probably worried about money, too. The last thing you want to deal with is filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person who injured you.

That’s where we come in. Our experienced Georgia car accident disfigurement attorneys understand how to build a compelling insurance claim or lawsuit. It’s important to make a strong argument for maximum compensation for your losses.

When you hire us, we will:

• Investigate the circumstances of the accident
• Determine who was at fault
• Gather evidence
• Negotiate with the insurance company for an appropriate settlement
• If no satisfactory settlement can be reached, we will be prepared to take your case to trial

You won’t have to worry about any of the details. We’ll handle it all. And we’ll be in constant communication with you to make sure you know the status of your case. We’ll stand by you and argue for your rights and the compensation you deserve until your case is concluded.

Compensation for Disfigurement

Depending on the facts and circumstances of the car accident and resulting disfigurement, you might be entitled to compensation for your economic losses, such as medical treatment costs, and for the emotional issues that accompany the disfigurement, as well.

Economic Losses: Special Damages

People often suffer a range of economic losses after a car accident. These are losses that can easily be monetarily quantified. Compensation for these types of losses is called “special damages.”

Special damages can compensate you for a variety of expenses, including:

• Medical treatment costs, including hospital stays, medication, examinations, surgical treatment, and other medical treatment-related costs
• Lost wages, including employment-related bonuses and benefits, such as paid time off and medical insurance coverage
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Future lost wages
• Physical and mental health therapy, including both physical/occupational therapy, as well as mental health services like counseling
• Prosthetic devices
• Home modifications, if required because of an accident-related disability

Non-Economic Losses: General Damages

Car accidents and resulting disfigurement may cause severe injuries beyond just physical ones. These types of compensable losses commonly accompany disfigurement but may be difficult to quantify. The court might award general damages as compensation for these subjective losses.

You could be eligible for compensation for:

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

When your attorneys are working on your case, they’ll obtain evidence to show the extent and severity of your injuries so they can accurately determine the value of your non-economic losses. They will take these factors into consideration, and so will the court, if your case goes to trial:

• The duration of physical and emotional recovery
• The location and extent of the disfigurement
• Whether it is possible for you to return to work
• The pain associated with the injuries sustained
• The interference with your enjoyment of life, including hobbies and social relationships
• The emotional trauma caused by the disfigurement, such as fear, anxiety, stress, and depression

Punitive Damages

If you take your case to court, you may be eligible for another type of damages. Most car accidents are accidents. However, if the person responsible for the accident acted with malice or willful intent, they may be ordered to pay punitive damages on top of special and general damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for their egregious wrongdoing and act as a deterrent to prevent them from repeating similar actions in the future. In Georgia, punitive damages are capped at $250,000.

How Long Do you Have to File a Lawsuit After the Accident?

In most car accident cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Georgia’s statute of limitations allows a two-year period for filing a lawsuit against the party who caused your injuries. There are some exceptions to this deadline, but even missing it by a day can mean you are stripped of your right to pursue compensation through the court system.

Contact a Georgia Car Accident Disfigurement Attorney Today

Being disfigured in a car accident is devastating, and aside from the physical injury itself, may cause emotional injuries, as well. The Georgia car accident attorneys of Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. are here to help you.

Contact us today by calling (770) 205-8827. You’ll get a free consultation with one of our attorneys who’ll answer your questions and advise you about your legal options.