Pennsylvania Scar Compensation Attorneys

An injury that causes scarring and disfigurement can cause victims not only physical pain, but psychological suffering as well. Victims of scarring accidents must contend with the prospect of permanent physical deformity. This can cause depression, anxiety and a diminished sense of self-worth.

Scarring injuries not only affect the victim; these injuries can have a ripple effect on everyone in the household as well. Someone who is permanently disfigured often has physical limitations that could prevent them from going back to their previous job, and in the worst cases, they may not be able to participate in any gainful activity at all. An injury like this can affect a victim’s relationship with their spouse and children as well, and it can put a major strain on the household finances.

If you or someone close to you has suffered a scarring injury, the attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., are here to help. Since 1972, we have been standing up for personal injury victims in Pittsburgh and throughout Pennsylvania. We have extensive experience helping victims recover damages for their medical bills, lost wages, and physical and emotional suffering.

Whether your injury happened in the workplace or in another setting, we will work closely with you to examine the specific circumstances of the case and explore every potential legal avenue toward recovering maximum compensation. To get started, contact us today for a free consultation and case assessment.

Common Causes of Scarring Accidents

There are numerous types of accidents and events that can result in permanent scarring:

• Car and Truck Accidents: High-impact vehicle collisions can leave those involved with scars and permanent disfigurement. This is especially true in accidents involving large commercial trucks.

• Motorcycle Accidents: Unlike vehicle occupants who have a steel cage to protect them, motorcyclists have very little protection on the roadways, and when another vehicle collides with them, there is very little that separates their bodies from hitting the pavement.

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents: Like motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are vulnerable to scarring and disfigurement and other serious injuries from traffic-related accidents.

• Fires and Explosions: A fire or explosion resulting in a fire can cause those nearby to suffer severe burn injuries that leave permanent scarring. Fires and explosions can be caused by a vehicle crash, and they can also happen for a number of other reasons.

• Workplace Accidents: Some workplaces have especially hazardous conditions in which serious accidents can occur if proper safety procedures are not followed. For example, blast injuries have been known to happen at Pittsburgh area steel plants over the years, leaving some workers with severe and permanent injuries.

• Defective Product Accidents: Permanent scarring and disfigurement can happen because of a faulty product that malfunctions during the course of regular use. This has been known to happen with heavy machinery and equipment in manufacturing plants, construction sites, and other workplaces.

• Slip and Fall Accidents: A serious fall can cause permanent scarring. This is especially common when someone falls a significant distance. For example, a construction worker slips and falls off of the roof that he/she is working on.

• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Dogs may be “man’s best friend”, but some breeds can be especially vicious, particularly when they encounter strangers. Dog bites and other types of animal attacks can cause severe injuries, including scars and disfigurement.

• Medical Negligence: Scarring and disfigurement can be caused by various types of medical mistakes. For example, a plastic surgery gone wrong can leave the patient with extensive scarring, nerve damage, and permanent disfigurement in the affected area.

Have You Suffered A Scarring Injury?

While many permanent scars are relatively small and minor, some are large and visible. If an accident leaves you with a scar on your face or another prominent part of your body, it can affect the way you live your life. Your job, education, social life and other aspects of your life can be adversely affected as your self-image may be diminished and the way other people treat you might change.

Our attorneys understand the impact a scarring injury can have on your health and well-being, as well as your self-image. If you have suffered a scarring accident because of another person’s negligence, we can help you pursue full and fair compensation.

Compensation for Scarring and Disfigurement Injury Claims

There are a lot of costs involved when dealing with a scar injury. There are the initial medical expenses required to stitch or close the wound, the cost of additional procedures in an attempt to minimize or get rid of the scar, the risks involved with these types of procedures, and the permanent effects of the scarring injury if you are not able to successfully remove it.

As we have already talked about, a scarring victim will also have a lot of physical pain and emotional trauma as they may have to face life with permanent disfigurement. There will most likely be time missed from work as the victim tries to recover, and if the scarring and disfigurement effects various physical functions, they may not be able to go back to their old job.

Our attorneys will look at your case to determine how your injury happened, who was responsible, and the best route to recover the compensation you deserve. If this was a workplace injury, the first place you will usually go for compensation is your employer’s workers’ comp policy.

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault program, which means you should be able to recover benefits regardless of how your scarring injury occurred. The claims process can be complicated and confusing, however, and it can be difficult to obtain the level of benefits you are entitled to. We will work closely with you to make sure your workers’ comp claim goes smoothly and you get approved for benefits (if you are eligible).

If your scar injury happened outside of work or it happened at work but was caused by an outside party (such as a third-party subcontractor or a faulty product maker), then you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit directly against the responsible party (or parties).

Unlike a workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury claim requires you to prove negligence on the part of the at-fault party. This is a higher bar to clear, but it also comes with the potential to recover a wider range of damages.

With workers’ comp, you can only get reimbursed for direct monetary losses such as medical bills, a percentage of lost wages, and rehabilitation expenses. With a personal injury claim, you can recover compensation for noneconomic losses such as the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have endured because of your injury.

If your scarring and disfigurement is severe enough to cause functional limitations that prevent you from doing any type of gainful activity, you might also be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. But similarly to workers’ comp, the SSD program involves a complex claims process, and the majority of claimants are denied benefits after their initial application.

If you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, we will help make sure all of the steps are followed properly during the claims process, so you can get approved for benefits the first time and not have to go through a lengthy appeal.

Contact Our Pennsylvania Scarring Injury Attorneys

Have you or someone close to you suffered a scarring injury? Contact us today online or by telephone at 412-391-9860 or toll free at 866-466-5789 to speak with an experienced Pittsburgh scarring lawyer. Initial consultations are free and confidential.