Facial Injuries Attorney in Washington State

In the blink of an eye, an accident can cause you serious injuries. When those injuries affect your face, it can be an even more traumatic occurrence.

Your face is what people notice first, and when you have endured permanent injuries that change your appearance, it can also cause emotional turmoil. If someone else’s careless actions caused this accident, you have the right to hold them accountable under personal injury law.

Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law is committed to compassionate client support and legal guidance for facial injury claims. In this blog post, we review facial injuries, how they happen, how they impact your life, and why you will want a facial accident lawyer in Washington to lead the way through the legal process.

Understanding Facial Injuries

Facial injuries are traumatizing for victims in personal injury accidents because they not only arise from a significant blow to the face but also leave lasting damage through scars and other deformities. Here is a look at the most common facial injuries that victims suffer in these accidents:

Facial Lacerations

Facial lacerations can be minor, such as small cuts that are easy to treat and will heal in time to significant gashes that run deep enough to sever nerves or tendons—broken glass and sharp objects commonly cause this type of injury.

Facial Abrasions

A facial abrasion occurs when the skin on the face contacts a rough surface. Some of the scarring may fade with time, while in other cases, it could be a permanent reminder of this traumatic event.

Dental and Oral Injuries

While mouth injuries may not be permanent, they can be costly and painful. In some cases, particularly with broken jaws, the healing process may not align correctly, giving the face a different look. Broken or damaged teeth may also require cosmetic dental procedures to recover the proper bite and smile.

Facial Burns

When a personal injury accident involves flames, chemical spills, or friction, it can cause facial burns. Burns are categorized by severity, and when a victim suffers first-degree burns, they will have the best chance of recovery with no scars. However, when the burns are third-degree, they can penetrate skin down to much deeper levels, even destroying bones, muscles, and tendons. It may require multiple skin grafts and still leave behind permanent disfigurement.

Facial Fractures

Facial fractures are severe, often leading to swelling and pain. Broken noses are a common occurrence and one that is relatively easy to treat. Other types of injuries, such as broken forehead bones, orbital fractures, or jaw fractures, may require reconstructive surgeries and still leave victims with a changed face that serves as a constant reminder of the accident.

Common Causes of Facial Injuries in WA

If you ask a facial attorney in WA what commonly causes these injuries, they will not hesitate to name car accidents. Motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents also top the list. Even in workplace accidents or slip-and-fall accidents, victims can be left with facial injuries.

The impact of facial injuries on life quality and financial stability is typically profound. When a victim suffers facial injuries, it is possible that their face may not be restored to the way it was before the accident. Scarring and deformities can destroy self-confidence, and in certain lines of work, they may make it impossible to continue in that former professional capacity.

If you or a loved one have facial injuries that were caused by the negligent actions of someone else, you should speak with a Washington State personal injury lawyer to learn more about your legal rights.

Legal Rights and Compensation for Victims with Facial Injuries in WA

In a split second, your life changed when an accident someone else caused resulted in your facial injuries. It can be hard to move forward, though you have rights that you can exercise under the law.

Washington State is an at-fault state for car accidents, allowing victims to hold the at-fault party responsible for their injuries. You should not be stuck with all of these medical bills and other financial losses when another person was driving while distracted or drunk, a property owner failed to keep the premises free of hazards, or you were hurt in another type of accident.

However, it is also essential to understand that Washington follows a pure comparative negligence model. This allows victims the right to seek compensation for their injuries, even if they were up to 99% at fault.

This can affect you in tremendous ways since the insurance company for the at-fault party will be doing all it can to reduce your settlement or even attempt to deny your claim. Many victims try to file their facial injury claims on their own and do not realize the check offered by the insurer is far below the amount they need to cover even a fraction of their medical bills.

Suppose someone else was negligent and left you suffering with injuries on your face that are a permanent reminder of this fateful day. In that case, you can seek compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. These include all of your medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earnings, property damage, mental anguish, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The Legal Process for Facial Injury Claims

After you seek medical treatment for your facial injuries, make sure you reach out to a facial accident lawyer in Washington who can provide the support you need. You should be focused on following your doctor’s orders for your health and recovery rather than trying to dive into the intricacies of personal injury law.

The process for seeking compensation for these types of injuries is as follows:

Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation

The first step to take once your condition has stabilized is to contact a Washington State personal injury lawyer who has experience in representing victims who have endured facial injuries. Most attorneys will provide a free initial consultation that allows you to determine if you have a valid case and learn more about your legal rights. No lawyer can guarantee an outcome, though they can evaluate the merits of your case, detail how they would approach things, and explain your options.

Filing a Claim and Gathering Documentation

If you have a valid legal claim for your facial injuries and want to proceed, the attorney will then take on your case. They will investigate and gather all documentation to support your claim and file all necessary paperwork.

When victims sustain facial injuries, they are most often transported from the accident scene to the hospital for immediate medical treatment. If you were hurt in this way, you were not thinking about getting evidence at the scene. With a facial injury attorney in WA, you will have someone who can go back and find evidence, such as traffic camera footage or surveillance footage in a business. They can also examine police reports to find witnesses as well as hire expert witnesses who can reconstruct the accident or testify about the impacts of your facial injuries.

Negotiating Your Fair Settlement

Armed with the evidence, your lawyer will file a complaint with the other party and seek proper compensation on your behalf. When the evidence is overwhelming, a settlement tends to come quickly. However, there are certainly cases where the defendant will refuse to provide a reasonable sum for your compensation. Many rounds of negotiations may take place until a sufficient amount is offered. If not, the case will move forward to the courtroom.

Heading to Trial

A facial accident lawyer in Washington is essential to have to advocate for you from the start. They will be ready to take your case to trial even if they are sure they will get a settlement. If the at-fault party refuses to provide complete and fair compensation, then a judge and jury will decide.

Why It Benefits You to Hire a Washington State Personal Injury Lawyer

The injuries you’ve experienced are painful, and even after months of treatment, they may still cause discomfort. They may also have permanent scars or disfigurement that will always remind you of the accident.

When another person behaves negligently and shirks their duty of care, you may have the right to recover compensation to make your life as whole again as possible. The insurer will likely try to throw some blame on you to lower the settlement payout. Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law sees cases like these often and knows how to fight these tactics.

We have a proven track record in representing facial injury victims and know how to advocate for your best interests. Our client-focused approach means that your needs are prioritized while we fight to get you the money you deserve. If you have been in an accident another person caused and were left with facial injuries, contact our legal team today to learn more about the following steps to take.