Many different types of accidents can result in permanent injuries that forever change the lives of the victim(s) and their families. Depending on the type of injury, victims may experience job loss, strained relationships, difficulty with socialization, and more.
Here’s what you should know about seeking the full and fair compensation you and your family deserve after someone is permanently injured in an accident caused by negligence.
Examples of Permanent Injuries
A permanent injury can be classified as any injury or damage to the body that results in a long-lasting or permanent effect. In every case, a permanent injury is life-altering and often leaves a family scrambling to make ends meet at the same time they’re recovering. The following are some examples of permanent injuries.
Disfigurement and Scarring
One of the most common permanent and life-changing injuries after an accident is facial scarring or disfigurement. This tends to happen most often during dog attacks when a dog bites the victim’s face and hands and in car accidents when debris from the accident, such as broken glass, comes into contact with the victim.
Disfigurement is always taken seriously by courts due to the far-reaching consequences it has for the victim. Not only will they face astronomical medical bills for their ongoing medical treatments, but their social and emotional lives will also never be the same. They may no longer be able to work in the same job, or they may lose friendships or romantic relationships due to their disfigurement. Additionally, the significant blow to the victim’s self-esteem must also be counted among the damages.
Limb Amputations
Several types of accidents can result in loss of limb or limb amputation, including dog bites, car accidents, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, and more. When someone suffers a loss of limb in an accident, they often face extreme difficulty going forward.
Even after getting through the difficult recovery period, an accident victim who has lost a limb may no longer be able to work the same job or even at all. They’ll need to relearn how to do basic tasks like bathing and getting dressed and may need special accommodations to help them during and after the recovery process. Psychological distress is also a factor with limb amputations much in the same way it is for disfigurement. Essentially, losing a limb is a major disfigurement in addition to changing the way the body ultimately functions on a daily basis.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage is a type of injury that can be permanent if enough of the nerve tissue is damaged and symptoms are ongoing. Nerves do not have the ability to regenerate, so once damaged, there is no way for the tissue to grow back. This often results in extreme pain that medications do little to relieve, including burning, itching, numbness, and the sensation of pins and needles. This can range from mild to severe and can be ongoing, lasting for years or even a lifetime following an accident.
Paralyzation
Car accidents and work injuries are among the most common causes of paralyzation. Instead of losing a limb, a victim becomes unable to use them. Typically, this occurs bilaterally, meaning that the loss of sensation and ability to move occurs with both right and left sides versus a loss of movement and sensation only on one side.
Because paralyzation is caused by damage to the delicate nerves in the spinal column, only so much recovery can occur depending on how the person was injured, where on the spinal cord they were injured, and how severe the injury was.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a common but serious consequence of accidents that result in permanent injury. This condition is a series of disrupting symptoms like panic attacks, nightmares, and flashbacks. PTSD can occur from even minor incidents, but after accidents where injuries are permanent, psychological distress is much more likely.
Treating post-traumatic stress disorder is possible but is often difficult and requires lifelong medication, therapy, and other forms of symptom management. Many accident victims continue to struggle with PTSD and psychological distress for years or even decades following an accident that resulted in permanent injuries.
Contact the Experienced & Compassionate Injury Lawyers At Mazow | McCullough, PC
At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we understand how difficult it is for families to overcome the many impossible obstacles created by an accident that causes a permanent injury. Reaching out for professional guidance is often your best course of action. Call us today to book your free initial consultation by dialing (978) 744-8000 or toll-free at (855) 693-9084.
