Your Face is Precious: Don’t Let Injuries Go Unnoticed
The face defines us, gives us confidence, and connects us to others. Having a face injury can be painful physically and emotionally. The pain, disfigurement, and daily life impact can be overwhelming.
But you’re not alone in this challenge. A trusted Louisiana face injury attorney can save you. Their legal experience can help you get compensated and justice for the unforeseen facial injury.
Quick Summary
Below is an overview of the key points of this article.
- Facial injuries encompass various issues like cuts, wounds, nosebleeds, broken noses, and eye and air passage injuries. Some can be treated at home, while others need immediate medical attention.
- Types of facial injuries include disfigurement, lacerations, scarring, soft tissue injuries, facial burns, corneal abrasion, and jaw dislocation, each with distinct characteristics and potential long-term effects.
- Serious facial injuries can result from motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, trip and fall accidents, airbag injuries, workplace accidents, defective products, and medical malpractice.
- Symptoms of face injuries include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, difficulty in breathing or vision, speech challenges, and more, which require timely medical attention.
- Following a face injury in Louisiana, you should seek immediate medical care, document the scene and your injury, report the incident, gather witness information, consult with a legal professional, keep records, follow medical advice, and be cautious on social media.
- Long-term effects of facial injuries can include vision or hearing impairment, breathing difficulties, loss of smell, eating or speaking challenges, disfigurement, and financial strain.
- Diagnosing facial injuries involves physical examinations, X-rays, and CT scans, which are more precise but less accessible.
- Parties potentially liable for face injuries include negligent drivers, property owners, employers, assault perpetrators, product manufacturers, healthcare providers, and government entities.
- Louisiana’s statute of limitations for face injury claims is one year, but for medical malpractice, it’s one year from the injury or discovery and an ultimate deadline of three years.
- You can file a face injury claim even if you share some fault, because of Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence system.
- Face injury compensation claims can include economic damages like medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and compensation for scarring and disfigurement.
What is Facial Injury?
Face injuries include cuts, wounds, nosebleeds, broken noses, eye, and airway injuries that occur in the face. Some small injuries can be treated at home, but others need medical attention.
What Are the Types of Facial Injuries?
The most common types of facial injuries include:
Disfigurement
Disfigurement refers to a severe alteration in the appearance of a person’s face due to injury. Burns, serious trauma, and surgery can cause it, which can be emotionally distressing. Disfigurement can severely impair self-esteem and quality of life, needing substantial medical and psychological treatment.
Lacerations
Face lacerations are deep cuts or tears in the skin, muscles, or underlying structures. This can happen in accidents, falls, or assaults. Medical treatment is needed to clean, stitch, or suture the wound to reduce scarring and infection.
Plastic surgery may be needed for optimal healing and cosmetic results depending on the location and severity of the laceration.
Scarring
Scarring is normal following facial traumas such as lacerations, burns, and surgeries. Face scars vary in size, texture, and visibility, which may cause concern. Scar revision surgery, laser therapy, and topical treatments can improve scars and self-confidence.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries harm muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other non-bony structures. Trauma like sports or falls can cause these injuries. Preventing long-term pain, discomfort, and functioning difficulties requires proper diagnosis and treatment. Restoring facial muscle function and mobility may require physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Facial Burns
Extreme heat, chemicals, or fire cause facial burns. They can cause terrible agony, scarring, and ugliness. The degree of the burn and proper therapy, including wound cleansing, skin grafts, and ongoing care to reduce scarring and maintain functionality, must be assessed immediately.
Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion damages the eye’s clear front surface. Though not apparent, it can cause eye pain, redness, and light sensitivity. Eye drops, antibiotics, and protective measures may support healing and reduce discomfort after prompt medical examination.
Jaw Dislocation
Dislocation of the lower jaw (mandible) often results from trauma or excessive force. Pain, difficulties opening or closing the mouth, and biting alignment can result. To properly realign the jaw, manage discomfort, and treat injuries, seek medical assistance immediately. Restoring jaw function may require follow-up care and rehabilitation.
What Are the Different Causes of Facial Injury?
Serious facial injuries can occur due to a range of accidents, including:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car and motorcycle accidents cause many facial injuries. These accidents can cause facial fractures, wounds, and bruises that require rapid medical attention. Severe injuries can cause permanent disfigurement and emotional suffering.
Dog Bites
Face injuries can result from dog bites, especially from larger or more aggressive canines. Puncture wounds to deep lacerations can cause scarring and nerve damage. Dog bites require immediate medical attention and police reporting.
Trip and Fall Accidents
Falling face-first in a trip and fall accident, caused by walkway or premises hazards, can cause facial injuries. Impact can cause facial fractures, contusions, and lacerations. Identifying and fixing dangerous public locations and properties helps avert these accidents.
Workplace Accidents
Accidents involving heavy machinery or construction can cause facial injuries from falls, equipment faults, or falling objects. Employers must provide safe working conditions and protective gear to prevent such injuries.
Defective Products
When they break, defective products, equipment, or consumer goods can cause facial injuries. Legal action against manufacturers or distributors may be needed to recover defective product injuries.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice including surgical blunders or incorrect treatment can cause facial damage in rare cases. Facial injuries caused by medical negligence may be covered by a medical malpractice claim.
What Are the Symptoms of a Face Injury?
Face injuries, from slight to severe, can be painful and unpleasant. Recognizing face injury symptoms is vital for prompt medical treatment and legal action if the injury was caused by negligence or intentional harm.
Facial Pain and Swelling
Pain and edema are acute face injury signs. A bruised cheekbone from a fall or a broken nose from a car accident can cause discomfort and swelling. This pain might vary from minor to severe depending on the injury. Pain and swelling can make it hard to move facial muscles and speak, eat, or breathe.
Bruising and Discoloration
Another indicator of a face injury is bruising. After the injury, these bruises may spread or change hue. Bruises show blood vessel injury beneath the skin. Medical and legal professionals can use bruising severity and location to assess injury severity and causes.
Facial Deformity or Misalignment
Deformities or misalignments from face injuries might make it hard to see your reflection. Face shapes can be altered by fractured bones, dislocated joints, or severe wounds. Changes can be physically and emotionally stressful, hurting self-esteem and well-being. Facial abnormalities and misalignments require immediate medical treatment.
Difficulty in Breathing or Vision
Face injuries can impair breathing or vision. A broken nose can block nasal passageways, making breathing difficult. Eye injuries can cause blurred vision, pain, or loss of vision. Breathing or eye problems might have long-term repercussions if not treated immediately.
Speech and Communication Challenges
Facial injuries can impair speech and communication. Slurred speech, difficulty pronouncing words, and persistent speech impairment can develop from lip, tongue, or vocal cord damage. Communication problems can affect your daily life, social life, and career.
What to Do Following a Face Injury in Louisiana?
Facial injuries in Louisiana can be upsetting. Knowing what to do is vital after an injury from a vehicle accident, workplace mishap, or other terrible event. Below are the essential actions to consider after a face injury in Louisiana.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
The most important step is immediate medical assistance. Your health depends on quick medical treatment, regardless of severity. Medical professionals can evaluate the injuries, treat it, and document your condition for legal claims.
Document the Scene and Your Injury
If possible, document the scene and your injury. Photograph risks, risky conditions, and objects that may have caused your injuries. Take clean images from different angles to document your injuries. Visual recordings can be useful evidence if you file a lawsuit.
Report the Incident
The occurrence may require reporting to authorities. If an automobile collision caused your face injuries, notify the police and your insurer. Report job injuries to your employer.
Gather Witness Information
Find witnesses and their contact information. Witness testimonies can help establish case facts. The things they observed or heard can support your narrative.
Consult With a Legal Professional
Consult a trusted Louisiana attorney about your face injury’s legal ramifications. They can evaluate your injury, establish if someone else was negligent, and advise you on the next steps.
Keep Detailed Records
Keep detailed records of medical care, and expenses, and face injury-related charges. Calculating damages and collecting compensation will require these records.
Follow Medical Advice and Treatment
Follow medical advice and treatment recommendations. Following your treatment plan consistently encourages recovery and shows devotion to your health and well-being, which can help your legal case.
What is the Long-Term Impact of Face Injuries?
Even after healing, accident victims with catastrophic face injuries may feel pain and emotional discomfort. Such accidents might cause permanent disabilities or disfigurements that affect self-confidence and relationships.
In addition to the initial pain and suffering, accident survivors may encounter the following enduring repercussions:
- Vision impairment resulting from eye trauma or fractures
- Hearing loss caused by ear injuries
- Breathing difficulties stemming from nose injuries or jaw fractures
- Impaired sense of smell due to nose injuries
- Challenges with eating due to jaw fractures, tongue injuries, or dental damage
- Speech difficulties arising from jaw fractures, tongue injuries, or dental issues
- Potential disfigurement, often as a result of severe scarring
There’s also a big financial burden. Medical care is expensive and may need unpleasant surgery. If someone is blind or needs long-term burn therapy, they may be unable to work.
How is Facial Injury Diagnosed?
A face injury is usually diagnosed by its extent rather than its appearance. Facial injuries include cuts, burns, and fractures, thus several diagnostic tests may be used to offer specifics. Usually, the healthcare provider starts with a routine physical examination. Using contrast dye, X-rays can identify face fractures and pinpoint hemorrhage.
However, the delicate facial bones and tissues can make X-ray interpretation problematic. However, CT scans can detect fractures and examine soft tissues, determining the need for surgery. However, only well-equipped hospitals have CT scan equipment, making them more expensive and less accessible.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Face Injury?
Getting a face injury from someone else’s negligence might be difficult. It’s crucial to know who’s responsible for your facial injury.
When claiming damages, identifying the liable parties is vital. The following parties may be accountable for your face injuries.
Negligent Drivers
In Louisiana, a negligent driver can be held liable for face injuries. This includes irresponsible, distracted, drunk, or other traffic law infractions by the driver.
Property Owners
If the property owner or occupant fails to maintain a safe environment or warn of known dangers, they may be liable for your slip and fall injuries.
Employers
You may be eligible for workers’ compensation if your face injury occurred at work. Third-party liability claims may be considered if your employer’s negligence caused the injury.
Assault Perpetrators
The perpetrator of an assault might be held criminally and civilly liable for your face injury.
Product Manufacturers
Those who made or sold a product with a design flaw or manufacturing error may be accountable for your face damage.
Healthcare Providers
The healthcare professional or facility that caused facial damage due to medical negligence or misconduct may be liable.
Government Entities
You may have a claim against a government agency or employee if a public transit accident or slip-and-fall on government property caused your injuries.
What is Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations for Facial Injury Claims?
The statute of limitations in Louisiana Civil Code Section 3492 governs when you can sue for personal injury. It says, “Actions based on wrongful conduct are subject to a prescriptive period of one year, starting from the date of the injury or damage.”
This one-year limit applies to “negligence” (vehicle accidents, slip-and-falls, and other mishaps) and intentional torts (assault lawsuits).
If your facial injury is caused by medical negligence, Louisiana law limits medical malpractice lawsuits to one year after either:
- The day when the supposed negligence occurred
- The moment when the injured patient became aware of the negligence or should have reasonably become aware of it
Louisiana has a “statute of repose.” for medical malpractice lawsuits. That deadline is three years after the claimed negligence, regardless of when it was discovered.
Even if you were unaware of a healthcare provider’s negligence and had no reasonable way of knowing, you lose your right to suit if you wait longer than three years.
Louisiana does not postpone the statute of limitations for minors or mentally disabled patients, unlike some states.
Can I File a Face Injury Claim?
Establishing that someone else caused your accident is vital in any personal injury case. Despite your role in a personal injury accident, you can claim compensation.
Louisiana uses “pure comparative negligence,” where a jury assigns your fault proportion. Your compensation award is adjusted according to that percentage.
If you are 20% at fault for your losses and the jury awards you $200,000, your final compensation would be $160,000. You must show the following to have a successful claim:
- The traumatic facial injury was a result of another party’s negligence or recklessness
- The responsible party had a duty of care towards you
- This duty was violated through negligent or reckless actions
- You are experiencing financial losses as a direct consequence of the incident
Every driver must be careful and follow traffic laws to maintain safety. Drivers who speed, drive drunk, or text while driving violate this duty of care.
You can sue for facial injuries if such conduct causes an accident. A manufacturer might be held responsible for a car accident caused by faulty brakes.
You can sue for damages if someone else’s conduct or a defective product caused your accident.
What Damages Can I Receive From My Face Injury Compensation Claim?
Understanding your face injury compensation options is crucial. Economic and non-economic damages address distinct parts of your suffering.
Economic Damages
Economic damages, or “special damages,” have a monetary worth. They’re meant to cover face injury-related financial losses. The main economic damages you can claim in compensation are:
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Medical Expenses
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Lost Wages
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Property Damage
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, or “general damages,” are subjective and unquantifiable. They want to compensate you for your face injury’s intangible losses and inconveniences. The main non-economic damages are:
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Pain and Suffering
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Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
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Loss of Enjoyment of Life
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Loss of Consortium
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Scarring and Disfigurement
Why Do I Need a Face Injury Attorney in Louisiana?
Facial injuries might result in high medical costs. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your emotional hardship and pain, as well as funds for future reconstructive surgery to reduce scar visibility.
Insurance companies often try to settle you for less than you deserve. They know the system and may not behave in your best interests. This is why you need our dedicated New Orleans Louisiana face injury attorney.
The moment you engage our legal services, we vigorously safeguard your rights and champion your pursuit of fair compensation:
- We conduct a thorough examination of your accident and collect evidence to strengthen your case.
- When required, we enlist the expertise of specialists.
- We confront insurance companies that attempt to provide inadequate compensation.
- We assist you in navigating your medical bills and documentation.
- We provide swift responses to your inquiries and strive to provide you with a sense of reassurance.
Legal Rights and Seeking Fair Compensation Following a Face Injury in Louisiana
Facial injuries are upsetting and can affect your health, finances, and emotions. Finding those responsible for your harm is the first step to getting compensation.
For negligent drivers, property owners, healthcare providers, and product manufacturers knowing your legal rights is crucial to a fair settlement. Our New Orleans Louisiana face injury attorney at Hammond Law Firm LLC helps people like you handle Louisiana facial injury situations.
We provide high-quality legal services and carefully guide you through the legal procedure. If you’ve been hurt in the face, contact us for a free consultation. Let us fight for your rights, evaluate your case, and get you the money you need.
Your well-being is our priority, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our law firm can also assist you with Negligent Injury, Premises Liability, Product Liability, and Road Hazards. Contact Hammond Law Firm LLC today and let us help you seek justice and the compensation you deserve.
