Facial Injuries After a Miami Car Accident

Car accidents are responsible for a high percentage of facial scarring injuries across the nation. Broken glass often leads to deep lacerations and the deployment of airbags can cause severe burns to the neck and face. These facial wounds are unique because not only do they generate a substantial amount of pain for the victim, but they might also lead to damaged self-esteem, shame, and embarrassment. Moreover, individuals suffering from a facial injury often have to adjust to a new sense of self due to the change in their appearance.

Cosmetic surgery might be able to improve the effects of scarring, but it requires extensive hospital visits and their associated cost. Therapy may also be necessary to cope with the psychological damage of facial disfigurement.

Compensation for Your Facial Injuries

Fortunately, there are ways to receive compensation for your facial injuries after an accident. Florida law requires your auto insurance provider to cover some of the expenses stemming from your accident and, depending on your situation you may be able to recover additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Insurance Claims in a No-Fault State

Florida is a No-Fault Insurance state, which means that after an accident you will file a claim with your auto insurance provider to receive payment for some of your accident-related expenses, regardless of which driver is liable for the crash. By law, drivers must be covered by full liability car insurance with a minimum of $10K in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). These PIP benefits are intended to cover a percentage of your medical bills and lost wages.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

However, there are two exceptions to Florida’s No-Fault insurance law, which allows certain individuals to recover additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. The first exception is if you have over $10K in medical bills and lost wages. In these cases, you could recover economic damages for any out-of-pocket expenses stemming from the accident including medical bills, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.

The second exception is for victims who have suffered permanent damage, which is defined as a permanent loss of a vital bodily function, a disability, significant scarring or disfigurement, and death. The compensation for these cases includes economic damages along with payment for intangible losses like your pain and suffering.

Many facial injuries qualify as permanent damage because even after the wound has healed, there is still significant scarring or disfigurement. Moreover, the soft tissue of the face can require years of reconstruction and physical therapy to correct damage including loss of sensation, difficulty breathing, dental injury, or loss of jaw mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Injuries After Miami Accidents

The following are just a few of the many questions that you are certain to have after being the victim of facial injuries in a car accident. The answers provided are intended to give you an idea of how these specific questions are answered as they pertain to your unique situation, but the only way for you to truly understand your rights and options is to start working with an attorney as soon as possible.