A bicycle accident can result in a variety of injuries, including catastrophic injuries like spinal and brain injuries. While these are the most serious injuries, there are other types of injuries in a Tacoma bicycle accident that can cause a person pain, mental trauma and anguish. Those who suffer serious road rash may be scarred and disfigured after the bicycle accident.
What is road rash?
In a typical bicycle accident, a bicyclist is thrown off his bicycle and falls on a hard surface like concrete or asphalt. He may be skid several feet down the concrete or asphalt. The asphalt has a rough surface, and when the bicyclist skids across it in this manner, it can abrade the skin’s layers.
Add to this that many bicyclists may not be wearing protection on much of their body, and you understand why there is such a high risk of:
- facial injuries;
- lacerations;
- cuts; and
- open wounds all over the body.
Some are so severe that the patient requires skin grafts. When these abrasions begin to heal, there is a risk of scarring. Scars may be raised, rough to the touch, shiny and can last for a very long time.
When scars appear on a person’s face, or other visible areas like the arms and legs, the scarring or disfigurement can cause mental anguish, stress and agony. Apart from being disfigured after the bicycle accident, road rash is also very painful.
Other Types of Disfigurement in a Bicycle Accident
Other serious and disfiguring injuries in a bicycle crash include facial injuries. Nose and jaw fractures can leave a person disfigured, and alter his or her facial symmetry and overall appearance. Orbital fractures or fractures of the bones around the eye can lead to disfigurement as well. Some may suffer mouth injuries that can be disfiguring as well.
Additionally, when a person has suffered facial fractures or severe facial injuries, there may be nerve damage that can cause semi-paralysis conditions. The mouth may droop, and facial muscles may become lax and loose, possibly affecting speech. These injuries can also lead to mental anguish and other emotional symptoms similar to road rash.
Damages if Disfigured after a Bicycle Accident
If you have suffered severe scarring or disfigurement after a bicycle accident, you may require cosmetic surgery or skin grafts to fix the damage. Reconstructive surgery can be expensive, and may never be completely successful in restoring the appearance of the skin or other structures.
Any claim for damages must include not just medical expenses and the cost of future surgeries, but also may include lost income while undergoing treatment and recovering from the injuries. Talk to an attorney about if damages related to future earning capacity may be recoverable after disfiguring injuries. This may depend on a number of factors like severity of injuries and type of employment.
There are other consequences related to facial disfigurement that may not be so easy to quantify. For instance, facial scarring may affect your personal or social relationships. If your case goes to trial, a jury or judge may consider such noneconomic damages in addition to the other, more easily calculable economic damages.
A claim can help recover damages to pay for the damages related to disfigurement in a bicycle accident. Speak with a lawyer at Max Meyers Law about filing a claim in Tacoma to help recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at 425-399-7000 or contact us online.