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Car accidents can leave physical scars that last long after the crash. Scarring can affect you psychologically and socially. Insurance companies often see treatment as cosmetic and refuse to pay. Contact the car accident attorneys at Wilshire Law Firm. We’ll fight for your justice and compensation. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for clients. Call us 24/7 at (800) 501-3011.

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Filing a Lawsuit for Car Accident Scars

Treatment for scarring of the face and other body areas is recoverable in a personal injury lawsuit, provided the accident occurred due to another’s negligence. The cost of scar removal varies from one case to another based on the location and the victim’s age.[1] For instance, a lesion on an older person’s leg, as opposed to a young woman’s face, will have a different value.

There are other considerations as well. If facial scars from a car accident occur on a model who uses her appearance as part of her job, the value of surgical intervention and trauma will be higher. Permanent scars may affect a person’s quality of life and their ability to work. 

Finally, other factors include the visibility of the scar and its size and whether it affects eating, using a limb, or speaking. Scars can also impact one’s self-esteem and cause emotional turmoil.

Lawyers for Car Accident Scars - Wilshire Law Firm

How an Attorney Can Help with Scars From a Car Accident

The personal injury lawyers at Wilshire Law Firm will be able to tabulate the cost of scar treatment and the pain and suffering it causes. We will evaluate the car accident to prove negligence on the other motorist’s part via driver reconstruction techniques, surveillance camera footage, and other methods. Our investigative team will also interview witnesses, review police reports for inaccuracies, and will talk to medical experts about the scar revision.

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Definition of a Scar Associated with a Car Accident

A scar or cicatrix results from the body’s healing after an injury. Cuts, burns, surgery, and trauma can cause such lesions. Injuries sustained in car accidents often result in a scar due to the high impact experienced during a crash. Depending on the severity of the injury, these disfiguring marks can result from minor cuts and bruises to deeper wounds.

Types of Scars

Scaring may take many forms. Some of the most common types of scars include the following:

  • Fine-line: This type of scar is common with minor injuries. It forms a raised area over the healed wound. Within 24 months, the cicatrix will flatten and start to fade. However, the lesion will not completely disappear and forms a fine line. These lesions are not painful but may itch for a while. [2]
  • Keloid: These form when excessive collagen is present at the injury site. A keloid scar will also grow after healing and is red, pink, or skin-colored. Keloids may feel tight and sometimes restrict movement and be itchy.[3]
  • Hypertrophic: This lesion is similar to a keloid scar in that excess collagen exists at the injury site. They become thick but begin to disappear with time.
  • Contractures: If a car accident causes burns, contractures can occur. In these cases, the skin will shrink.

Types of Treatment for Scars After a Traffic Accident

Many treatments can help improve the appearance of the lesion and make it less noticeable. These treatments vary according to scar type and severity.

In case scarring is unsightly, irritating, or constricting, treatment options may include: [4]

  • Silicone for topical application helps keep the scar moist and supple and minimizes redness in keloid lesions.
  • Compression dressings help prevent scar growth.
  • Using makeup to camouflage the skin is helpful, depending on the scar.
  • Surgical intervention on keloids might help if other methods do not. The surgeon removes the scar, closes the skin, and uses grafts. Recurrence can occur after surgery on keloids.
  • Laser surgery: This type of surgical intervention can help flatten, smooth, or change the color of a scar. A pulse dye laser helps treat keloid lesions.
  • Steroid injections: These help reduce itching and redness.
  • Combination therapy: A combination of the above treatments can be effective.
  • Radiation: This might help if other treatment modalities fail.

Scar Minimizers

There are ways to improve the scar’s appearance until it fades or improves on its own. The following can treat minor lesions.

  • Dermabrasion: Some scars may benefit from this dermatological procedure. It removes the outer skin layer, which heals, leaving a smoother appearance.
  • Injections of collagen: Cow collagen injections replace the lost collagen under the scar.
  • Chemical peels: Used to remove minor scarring lesions. With the removal of the skin’s top layer, the epithelium will regenerate and look better.
  • Cryosurgery: This improves the look of the scar by reducing its size.

Cost of Scar Treatments

Since scar treatment is elective and defined as cosmetic in most cases, the cost is usually not picked up by insurance. This denial poses a problem for many people. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the cost factors in the physician’s experience, geographic location, and the complexity of the procedure. [5] The expense breakdown includes the following:

  • Hospital or surgical suite costs
  • Tests
  • Surgeon’s fee
  • Anesthesia
  • Medication
  • Complexity of the procedure
  • Post-surgical care 

Free Case Review with a Law Firm for Car Accident Scars

Car accident scars can be more than just physical reminders of a traumatic event. In some cases, even the emotional distress caused by car accident scars is enough to warrant legal action.

Wilshire Law Firm is available to help you when the unthinkable happens. Our experienced, award-winning lawyers have helped numerous clients, including those left scarred after a car accident. Accident victims deserve justice that makes them whole again in the eyes of the law. We’ll put the full force of our law firm to work in order to obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Call (800) 501- 3011 to schedule a free case review. We can answer your questions and provide you with your options moving forward. You can also reach out to us online if that is more convenient for you. We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay no fees unless you win.  

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Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Scars

Can scars be treated?

Yes, most can. A medical professional will either minimize the lesion, remove it or use other techniques to lessen its visibility.

Can you collect compensation for a scar due to a car accident?

If the insurance company refuses to pay for treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering, the car accident attorneys at Wilshire Law firm can file a lawsuit against the negligent driver or entity. If negotiations with the insurer are not fruitful, the at-fault party can face civil court proceedings.

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