Some injuries heal with the passage of time, but this is not a guarantee. In some cases, victims suffer injuries that will last the rest of their life. These individuals must then struggle to adapt to a new way of life in some cases.
Two common kinds of permanent injuries are amputation and disfigurement. In either case, a victim has had a part or parts of their body damaged beyond repair and the individual could face tremendous difficulties being able to return to work, operate a motor vehicle, or perform any number of other basic daily functions. Additionally, victims face significant pain and emotional anguish related to an amputation, permanent injury, or disfiguring injury.
Did you or your loved one suffer an amputation, disfigurement, or some other kind of permanent injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence in the greater Huntsville area? Do not wait to talk to a lawyer for help seeking compensation for your losses.
Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., represents clients on a contingency fee basis, so you have nothing to risk by contacting our firm. Call us or contact us online to set up a free consultation.
Types of Permanent Injuries and Disfigurement
Permanent injuries usually involve a full lifetime or symptoms and complications for victims. Some of the most common kinds of permanent injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Paralysis
- Blindness
- Severe burns
Disfigurement can affect virtually any part of a person’s body, most often the face or some visible extremity. Burn injuries are one of the most common causes of disfigurement, although other causes can include struck-by incidents, caught-in-between accidents, and other forms of trauma.
An amputation is the removal of a limb or extremity. Amputations can be portions of hands or feet such as fingers or toes, and they can also be entire limbs.
Permanent injuries are not always physical conditions. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for example, can be a permanent mental disorder some people can suffer as the result of some accidents.
What Makes Amputation or Disfigurement Cases Different?
Some common injuries like broken bones heal over time. People may be temporarily unable to go back to work or do certain things, but they will ultimately be restored to their original health and be able to lead their normal lives.
When a person undergoes an amputation or is the victim of disfigurement or another permanent injury, recovery does not have the same timetable. For most victims, there is no hope of a complete recovery and there is instead the prospect of a life of regular challenges, limitations, and difficulties.
Many amputation and disfigurement victims will require several years of rehabilitation programs that can be very costly. Some victims may also require assistance with a variety of daily household activities, some for the rest of their lives.
Compensation for Permanent Injuries
While many insurance companies eventually agree to settlements to avoid the costs of taking a case to trial, some cases do ultimately end up going to court. When this happens, a victim will need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant caused their injuries.
A jury can award a successful plaintiff compensatory damages, which are usually a combination of economic damages and noneconomic damages. Economic damages refer to the monetary losses a victim has incurred or will incur, while noneconomic damages are much more subjective.
Common kinds of economic damages include medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. Noneconomic damages often include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium, for example.
In a limited number of cases, a victim could also be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are usually awarded only in cases in which the court wishes to punish a defendant for particularly reckless misconduct and send a message to other people not to behave similarly.
What to Do If You’ve Suffered an Amputation or Disfigurement
When you have suffered an amputation or disfiguring injury, you cannot afford to delay in seeking medical care. If your injury was the result of a motor vehicle accident, make sure the local law enforcement agency is contacted so a police report can be completed. Try to take pictures of everything involved in the scene of your accident before the evidence disappears.
You should also ask any people who saw your accident for their names and phone numbers in case they are needed as possible witnesses. When you cannot take these steps yourself, try to ask a friend or family member to do this for you.
As soon as you can, make sure that you contact a personal injury lawyer. Do this before you say anything to any insurance company about your accident.
How We Can Help Accident Victims with Permanent or Disfiguring Injury Claims
If you or your loved one sustained disfigurement, an amputation, or another kind of permanent injury as the result of another party’s negligence in Huntsville or a surrounding area of Alabama, you are likely facing a number of challenges that you should not have to deal with on your own. Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., will work tirelessly to help you seek justice.
Harvey B. Morris was named Lawyer of the Year in the 2016 edition of Best Lawyers in America, Joe A. King, Jr. was named Best Attorney by Best Attorneys in America in 2016, and David J. Hodge has been listed twice as one of the top 50 lawyers in Alabama by Super Lawyers magazine. They can help you understand all of your legal options as soon as you call us or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
