Dealing With Facial Injuries After an Accident

While a facial injury may not seem as serious as a spinal injury or other types of traumatic injury, it can nevertheless change your life forever. A severe facial injury can require extensive medical treatment and require weeks or months of recovery. Many victims will be permanently disfigured. If you have suffered a facial injury caused by someone else’s negligence, a personal injury attorney can help you obtain the compensation you need to put your accident behind you. 

Types of Accidents That Can Result in Facial Injuries

While facial injuries are possible in almost any type of accident, they are more common in some accidents than others. For example: 

• Car and truck accidents easily result in facial injuries due to exploding glass or the driver’s face coming into contact with the steering wheel or other parts of the car during a high-speed collision. Car accidents may be the leading cause of facial injuries. 
• Boating accidents because the occupants are typically unrestrained. In the event of a collision, facial injuries occur when the occupants slam into the sides of the boat or other hard surfaces. 
• Bicycle and scooter accidents can result in facial injuries when the rider is forcefully thrown to the ground. This can also be an issue for motorcycle riders who do not wear a full-face helmet.

Regardless of where or how your facial injury happened, you may be entitled to compensation if your accident could have been prevented. A personal injury attorney can assess your case and determine whether you might have a claim. 

Common Types of Facial injuries

There are many different types of facial injuries that victims can suffer in an accident that can be categorized into three main groups. 

Facial fractures

The bones of the face are especially vulnerable in certain types of accidents. Some of the common types of fractures that accident victims experience include the following: 

• Nasal bone fracture (broken nose)
• Zygomatic complex fracture (broken cheekbone)
• Orbital blowout fracture (broken eye socket)
• Maxilla fracture (broken upper jaw)
• Mandibular fracture (broken lower jaw)
• Frontal bone fracture (broken forehead)
• Skull fractures

Facial fractures can require extensive medical treatment to properly heal. In some cases, a full recovery may not be possible, resulting in permanent disability or disfigurement. 

Burns

Facial burns are more common in accidents such as motor vehicle accidents where there is a risk of fire or explosions. However, friction burns are also a possibility in other types of accidents. Regardless, facial burns can be very serious and require skin grafts and other types of treatment. Burn victims typically experience permanent disfigurement to some degree. 

Severe Lacerations

Severe lacerations (cuts) may be the most common type of facial injury. While many lacerations will fully heal over time, some can cause permanent scarring, disfigurement, or nerve damage. The lips, nose, ears, and eyes are particularly vulnerable to laceration injuries. Eye lacerations can result in blindness or other types of visual impairment. 

Facial Injuries Require Expensive Medical Treatment

Facial injuries may require expensive medical treatment in order to properly heal, even if a full recovery is not possible. If you have suffered a facial injury, some of the medical procedures you may be facing include the following: 

• Stitches and bandaging to close or cover open lacerations
• Plastic surgery to repair deep tissue damage and other severe injuries to prevent or limit disfigurement
• Reconstructive surgery in order to set bones that have been fractured 
• Skin grafts to repair damage caused by burns
• Emergency surgery to stop profuse bleeding or to protect airways

Multiple surgeries may be required. In addition, there may be considerable aftercare required such as the frequent changing of bandages, application of ointments to aid in healing, and follow-up appointments to ensure that the wounds are healing properly. People who suffer severe facial injuries may be unable to work or leave their homes for the duration of their recovery. 

Even if you have health insurance, your facial injuries could result in considerable out-of-pocket expenses in the form of deductibles and copays. And if you don’t have health insurance, the medical expenses associated with your injuries could be financially devastating. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses and move forward with your life.  

The Long-Term Consequences of Facial Injuries

Depending on the severity of the injury, many victims face a lifetime of complications. Some of the long-term consequences of facial injuries include the following: 

• Permanent scarring or other types of disfigurement
• Loss of sensation and nerve damage
• Visual impairment
• Speech impairment
• Inability to properly chew
• Dental issues

It is not uncommon for people who suffer serious facial injuries to also experience intense emotional and psychological difficulties in the form of depression and anxiety. While emotional trauma can be difficult to quantify, these issues are no less real than physical injuries. As a result, victims may also require extensive counseling or therapy to help them to adjust to new challenges. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you obtain the compensation you need to cover both your medical bills and other economic losses as well as compensation for your emotional distress. 

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney at Martin & Jones if You Have Suffered a Facial Injury

Facial injuries are often complex and a full recovery is rarely guaranteed. Unfortunately, many people assume that they don’t need a lawyer and sign away their rights, only to later risk complications and other setbacks that leave them with bills they cannot pay. Before making any decisions about your personal injury claim, talk to a personal injury attorney at Martin & Jones. We can assess your case and explain your options so that you can make an informed decision. Call us today at 800-662-1234 or send us an email to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and how we can help.