Vehicle accidents in Brookhaven routinely result in serious contusions and lacerations. If you have suffered these injuries in a crash through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to a monetary award. This award could compensate you for not only your medical bills but your other accident-related losses as well.
In many cases, contusions or lacerations can be considered some of the less severe consequences of a motor vehicle accident. The reality is that even relatively minor injuries like these can have lasting consequences.
If you sustained lacerations or contusions in a motor vehicle accident, we can help you understand your rights and weigh your legal options moving forward.
The Impact of Lacerations and Contusions
Lacerations and contusions are typically referred to by their more commonly used names: cuts and bruises. However, these common names can give an inaccurate picture of the severity of these injuries. While the term “cuts and bruises” is frequently used to describe insignificant injuries, these wounds can be devastating in some cases.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the location of a laceration will play an important role in determining how severe the injury is. A small cut on the hand or foot might not require much more medical intervention than some minor first aid. However, cuts to the face or near major arteries could result in significant scarring or life-threatening blood loss.
These Injuries Can Be Very Severe
While lacerations are typically more serious than contusions, bruising could be a sign of other, more severe injuries beneath the skin. Bruising could be an indicator of potentially fatal conditions like internal bleeding.
Serious lacerations and contusions are common in motor vehicle accidents. The tremendous impact that can come with these collisions is enough to cut or bruise the skin, especially when the collision results in breaking auto glass.
The cost of treating these injuries can vary. In cases where lacerations have led to scarring or disfigurement, you could face thousands of dollars in medical bills. The good news is that a civil lawsuit could help you recoup the cost of this medical care.
Recovering Compensation for Your Injuries
The ultimate goal of any personal injury case is to recover monetary compensation. This compensation can pay your medical bills and make you whole based on your emotional or financial damages.
In general, there are two different forms of compensation available through a personal injury lawsuit. These are typically known as economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic compensation refers to easily measurable losses that come with lacerations or contusions. There is nothing subjective about these damages, given that the specific amount of compensation you are owed can be confirmed through documentary evidence. This evidence could include paid invoices or receipts showing your medical care costs.
Some examples of economic damages include:
- Medical expenses. The medical bills associated with serious lacerations and contusions could be extensive. If your injury claim is successful, you could recover a monetary award that pays for the cost of any surgeries, physical therapy, hospital visits, and medication required by your injury.
- Lost wages. If an injury is so severe that it prevents you from immediately returning to work, you might be entitled to monetary compensation. You could seek damages not only for your past lost wages but also for your future diminished earning power as well.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic losses are not so easy to measure. These damages are intended to cover the subjective losses that cannot easily be assigned a monetary value. These losses can differ from person to person or simply be difficult to quantify. Some of the most common types of compensation available in these cases can include:
- Disfigurement. It is not uncommon for deep lacerations to result in scarring or disfigurement. This scarring can have a harmful emotional effect that could lead to depression. Recovering non-economic damages for your disfigurement could be possible through a personal injury lawsuit.
- Pain and suffering. In addition to disfigurement, another prominent type of non-economic compensation covers physical pain and suffering. Bruising and lacerations are typically painful, meaning these damages could be significant.
Without discussing your case with an attorney on our team, you might not become aware of the types of compensation your injury claim could recover. By working with our Brookhaven contusions and lacerations lawyer, you can go after compensation while affording yourself the time to rest and heal from your injuries.
The Deadline to File a Lawsuit
If you are considering a personal injury lawsuit due to the cuts and bruises you suffered in a car accident, it is vital that you abide by the state’s statute of limitations. Every plaintiff must file their lawsuit within a specified amount of time or risk having the court dismiss their case entirely.
Typically, the statute of limitations for an injury lawsuit is two years under OCGA §9-3-33. This two-year window begins to expire on the date the accident occurs. If you file your lawsuit after the two-year period is over, the court is empowered to dismiss it with prejudice. This will prevent you from pursuing your claim again in the future.
Monetary Awards for Your Lacerations and Contusions
If you have suffered contusions and lacerations in a motor vehicle accident, you should not assume these injuries are minor. In many cases, cuts and bruises can require medical care and have a lasting impact on your health.
If you are considering legal action following an accident, a Brookhaven contusions and lacerations lawyer could help. The team at Bader Law Injury Lawyers is ready to help you pursue your case. Call (404) 888-8888 for a free consultation right away.
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