Common Causes of Scarring and Disfigurement

Wounds that develop prominent or highly visible scars can result from work-related accidents, motor vehicle collisions, dog bites and attacks, and other accidents. Also, criminal activity like assaults and the violent use of weapons can cause permanent reminders of the attack in the form of scars or disfigurement.

An incident that involves chemical or thermal burns can give the skin a “melted” appearance. In addition, some medical treatments can cause scars, such as surgical incisions and skin grafts. Finally, in an accident, a person who loses a body part like a hand, foot, finger, or leg will experience disfigurement. Our Lake Charles personal injury lawyers have handled a wide range of cases and can easily adapt the legal strategy to your unique situation.

Recoverable Damages for Scarring and Disfigurement in Lake Charles, LA

A person who got injured due to someone else’s negligence and then developed disfigurement or scars in addition to the initial wounds will have a claim for their losses for both the first injury and the disfigurement. Some of the common categories of monetary damages in these cases include:

  • The cost of medical treatment for the initial wound. This category could include the ambulance, emergency room, doctors, hospital, surgery, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and pain management.
  • The cost of medical treatment for the scars or disfigurement. This item could include scar revision surgery, plastic surgery, prosthetic devices, physical therapy to increase function and range of motion, and other related expenses.
  • Lost income. You might experience financial hardship if you miss work while undergoing the initial medical procedures or treatment of the scars or disfigurement.
  • Lost future income. Your injuries, scars, or disfigurement could decrease the amount of income you could earn if you have an impairment.
  • Pain and suffering. This means the physical discomfort of the wounds and medical treatment, the inconvenience, and the emotional distress of the accident or intentional act.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people develop PTSD after witnessing or experiencing an accident with debilitating or fatal injuries.
  • Scars or disfigurement. Having to go through the rest of your life with marks on your body from a traumatic injury can be devastating. In addition, people with extensive scars or disfigurement often develop emotional and psychological conditions like depression, negative body image, or suicidal ideation.

After suffering an injury severe enough to cause disfigurement or scarring, you want a law firm with a track record of getting significant client wins. Here are a few examples of verdicts and settlements we have won for our clients:

  • $5,250,000.00 – Auto accident resulting in brain injury
  • $5,000,000.00 – Judgment for a paralyzed driver
  • $2,000,000.00 – Auto accident resulting in spinal cord injuries
  • $1,200,000.00 – Trial verdict for a motorcycle accident victim

A disfigurement lawyer in Lake Charles, LA, can talk to you about your disfigurement case and evaluate your claim. Whether your injuries were caused by an explosion, truck wreck, motorcycle accident, or any other incident, our compassionate lawyers want to hear the details of the case.

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Factors We Have to Prove to Establish Liability in Disfigurement Cases

Lawyers have to prove four separate elements for the judge to hold the at-fault party accountable for your losses in your disfigurement case.

  • The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care under the law. Let’s walk through a scenario involving a car accident. Everyone who drives a car in Louisiana has the legal duty to obey traffic laws.
  • The defendant violated their duty of care. Let’s say that the defendant drove while intoxicated by alcohol. Violating traffic laws is negligence. Negligence alone, however, is not enough to establish liability.
  • The negligence of the defendant caused the accident that injured the plaintiff. The alcohol impairment caused the defendant to lose consciousness at the wheel and crash into the side of a car at an intersection.
  • The fourth element is quantifiable losses. Physical injuries satisfy this requirement. For example, the driver of the car struck by the drunk driver suffered extensive, severe injuries, including the amputation of a leg. Amputation is a type of disfigurement.

This scenario demonstrates how to prove the required factors to establish liability in a disfigurement injury case. While the main elements apply to all situations, the details can change. That is why you should work with a lawyer who has experience handling similar types of cases. If you were injured in an explosion at work, talk to our Lake Charles plant and refinery explosion lawyers to get tailored legal advice.

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Three Things to Do After Suffering Disfiguring Wounds in Louisiana

Here are three steps you might want to consider taking after suffering disfiguring injuries that were not your fault:

  1. If appropriate, call the police to get an official investigation and report of what happened and an assessment of causation. For example, if your injuries occurred in a motor vehicle accident, you will want a police report that documents the parties involved and their injuries and assesses fault.
  2. You will want to get medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible. However, you do not want to give the defendant an argument that your scars would have been less severe with prompt medical treatment.
  3. Talk to a disfigurement attorney in Lake Charles, LA, right away. You do not have long in our state to take legal action in these cases. CC 3493.1 sets the filing deadline for personal injury claims at two years. The wrongful death statute of limitations is also two years, according to CC Art. 2315.2. After the deadline passes, the law can prevent you from seeking compensation.

We can provide much more guidance after we talk to you about your case and you become a client. We tailor our legal services to the needs of our clients and their unique circumstances.

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Working with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers was an incredible experience from beginning to end. Jeanne and Kaitlyn were absolutely amazing - profession...

Working with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers was an incredible experience from beginning to end. Jeanne and Kaitlyn were absolutely amazing - professional and always on top of everything. They kept me informed throughout the entire process and made sure I understood every step along the way. My case was resolved better than expected. I can’t thank them enough.

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Each time I interact with a member of the Laborde Earls team I am always extremely satisfied with the service provided. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Marsh today. She was extremely knowledgeable in addition to being patient and empathetic. She was able to provide me with the necessary resources and provided me with encouragement throughout the process. I definitely recommend Laborde Earls! Ask for Courtney!

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I highly recommend Alexis Davis and this lawfirm. She is the true definition of professionalism, respect, understanding, patient, and many other thing...

I highly recommend Alexis Davis and this lawfirm. She is the true definition of professionalism, respect, understanding, patient, and many other things. Her detailed skills are very delightful. She goes out of her way to check on us, make sure we don't have any questions, and she is always on point. She moves very quick and always goes above and beyond for us to make sure we understand the process. I am so glad I ran into Laborde Earles and Alexis. Everyone will know about this company for sure and Alexis

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Lafayette

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I’m so grateful for the help I received from Renee McCaslin. From start to finish, they were kind, professional, and truly cared about my situation. They made everything easy to understand and handled every detail with care. I felt supported the whole way through. I highly recommend Renee McCaslin to anyone looking for a paralegal who goes above and beyond.

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Lake Charles

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I am very impressed with Jillie Boone’s professionalism and dedication. She demonstrates excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail, and a high level of reliability. Jillie consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that everything is handled efficiently and with care. Her knowledge and work ethic make her an outstanding professional, and I would highly recommend her!

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The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs...

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs. Courtney. I spoke with her multiple times, and each time she was patient and answered every question I had. She made me feel like I was the only client. Grateful for her and Laborde Earls!

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Alexandria

I had the pleasure of working with Erica Ducote, and I cannot say enough about the excellent job she did on my case. From the very beginning, Erica wa...

I had the pleasure of working with Erica Ducote, and I cannot say enough about the excellent job she did on my case. From the very beginning, Erica was professional, knowledgeable, and attentive to every detail. She took the time to explain each step of the process, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and made sure I always felt supported and informed.
Her dedication and attention to detail were clear throughout, and it was evident she genuinely cared about achieving the best possible outcome. Thanks to Erica’s hard work and expertise, my case went smoothly and successfully.
I highly recommend Erica Ducote to anyone in need of a skilled, reliable, and compassionate paralegal. She truly goes above and beyond!

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maddie jo

Marksville

Stephanie Brooks was wonderful to work with! She was very professional during our interaction and extremely pleasant throughout the entire process. He...

Stephanie Brooks was wonderful to work with! She was very professional during our interaction and extremely pleasant throughout the entire process. Her kindness and clear communication made everything smooth and easy. Highly recommend working with her and the Laborde Earles Law Firm!

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Lafayette

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Contact a Lake Charles Scarring & Disfigurement Attorney to Get Started Today

After going through a traumatic experience like an accident that injured you and left you with scars or disfigurement, the last thing you need is to fight a billion-dollar insurance corporation for the compensation you deserve. When someone else injures you through carelessness, you should not have to bear the financial and physical costs.

For a free consultation, you can contact a Lake Charles scarring and disfigurement lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today. If we take your disfigurement and scar case, you will not have to pay upfront legal fees. Instead, we will handle the claim on a contingency-fee-basis, which means that we wait until the end of the matter and then receive a portion of the settlement or court award. Therefore, you do not owe us any legal fees until you win.

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