Some St. Louis car accidents can lead to disfigurements, such as large burns, scars, broken noses, lacerations to the face, and other issues.
A serious car accident in St. Louis can result in permanent disabilities and life-changing injuries. But beyond this, some accidents can also lead to disfigurements, such as large burns and scars, broken noses, lacerations to the face, and other issues.
These conditions may require reconstructive cosmetic surgery to restore your appearance. However, can you pursue damages for these surgeries when filing a personal injury lawsuit? Here are a few important things to understand.
Disfigurements Caused by a Car Accident Generally Qualify for Compensation
Under Missouri law, victims of car accidents are allowed to file suits to obtain compensation for a wide variety of damages. This does not just include medical bills and lost wages, but also “pain and suffering.”
Because of this, Missouri courts generally allow you to recover compensation for the cost of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery due to a car accident.
This is because disfigurement and changes to your appearance can negatively affect your self-esteem. If you become disfigured due to a St. Louis car accident, you may feel bad about how you look, avoid social situations, suffer a lower quality of life, and experience depression, anxiety, or PTSD, to name just a few issues.
These disfiguring injuries may also cause serious physical pain – losing part of an ear, for example, or suffering a large cut to your face may cause a lot of physical pain and suffering, along with emotional pain and suffering.
With the help of an experienced car accident attorney in St. Louis, you may even be able to recover damages for the cost of reconstructive surgery.
For example, if you are in an accident and the steering wheel smashes your nose, this is a direct injury caused by the accident, resulting in disfigurement. Even if you can still breathe normally, you may still be able to get compensation for reconstructive surgery to restore the appearance of your nose, such as rhinoplasty.
Work With An Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Even though disfigurement and/or reconstructive surgery typically qualify you for damages after a car accident, some insurers may try to deny this claim or say that you are not eligible for compensation since reconstructive surgery is not a “life-saving” procedure.
This is why working with a lawyer in St. Louis is so important. An experienced car accident attorney can negotiate with insurance companies, help you document your injuries and medical costs, and get you the full amount of compensation you are legally entitled to.
If you have been disfigured and required cosmetic surgery to restore your appearance after an accident, we’re ready to help you get the compensation you deserve for your physical and emotional pain and suffering. Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. 24/7 to schedule a free, no-commitment consultation.