Toronto lawyers explain common causes and available compensation
Some of the most severe and common car accident injuries involve trauma to the face. One recent study found that 51 percent of people injured in a car crash sustain some facial injury.
The study was conducted by surgeons at a medical college and trauma center who regularly operate on people injured in car accidents. Facial trauma can cover a wide range, from a facial fracture or an open-face wound to a facial burn or a broken jaw.
Injury victims often need immediate medical care and follow-up treatments in each case. You might think that car insurance coverage and the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) will take care of all your injury-related expenses if your accident happened in Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario. But many car accident claims turn out to be very complicated legal cases. That’s why it’s essential to talk to an experienced Toronto car accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn more about your legal options.
What are common facial injuries?
The medical study identified the two most common types of facial injuries in car accidents — major soft tissue injuries and facial bone fractures. An estimated 78 percent of car accident facial injuries are soft tissue injuries. According to another medical study focusing on facial soft-tissue trauma, soft-tissue facial injuries are one of the most common injuries in general, accounting for 10 percent of all emergency room visits.
Such injuries include:
- Facial abrasions (scrapes to the face often due to the skin being rubbed or torn off)
- Facial lacerations (cuts to the front, many of which can be deep cuts that require extensive medical treatment)
- Facial burns (burn injuries affecting the face)
According to the medical study, the remaining 22 percent of facial injuries sustained in car accidents are classified as facial bone fractures.
Facial fractures include:
- Nasal fracture – Among the most common facial fractures, a broken nose can affect a person’s ability to breathe normally.
- Eye socket fracture – Also known as an orbital fracture, which affects the bones surrounding the eye.
- Broken cheekbone – Also known as a zygomaticomaxillary fracture, this type of broken bone injury often involves other bone damage to the face and skull.
- Broken jaw – These types of broken bone injuries are common in car accidents and blunt trauma injuries. Broken jaw fractures are commonly classified into two categories:
- Lower jaw fracture (fractured mandible)
- Upper jaw fracture (maxilla fracture)
These are just some of the most common facial injuries in auto accidents. Many other types of injuries affect the face. And each one needs to be treated immediately and thoroughly, especially if the facial injury is life-threatening and affects a person’s ability to breathe.
Facial injuries in car accidents
Facial injuries often occur in car accidents because someone’s face comes into contact with part of the car during a collision. Sometimes, this involves a person’s face hitting the windshield, dashboard, steering wheel, or another part of the vehicle. Other times, shattered glass or debris hits the face, causing lacerations and deep cuts.
Another common cause of car accident facial injuries involves the occupants of the vehicle being ejected from the car, often resulting in facial fractures and facial abrasions. In addition, facial burns are expected if the car catches fire due to a collision.
In each case, such collisions often occur because another driver behaved recklessly or negligently. Sometimes, drivers speed. Other times, they’re texting while driving or driving drunk. Whatever the situation, the at-fault driver who caused your crash should be held accountable for their actions. That’s why it’s essential to talk to a lawyer right away.
How much is my accident claim worth?
There’s no set dollar amount for car accident claims involving facial fractures. Depending on the severity of your injuries and the length of your recovery, your claim could potentially be worth thousands of dollars or significantly more. The bottom line is you should not have to pay for any injury-related expenses associated with your accident.
What you might not realize is just how many expenses are covered. It’s not just short-term expenses immediately after your accident. Even if you have bills associated with your crash years after your accident, your settlement should take into account your long-term expenses. This may include follow-up surgery, including plastic surgery or facial reconstruction surgery.
In addition, you might also need additional money for lost income if you cannot work for several months or perhaps even longer due to your facial injury or other injuries sustained in a car crash. All of these expenses and financial considerations need to be taken into account. That’s why it’s essential to have an experienced lawyer advocating for the money you deserve.
Why should I hire an attorney?
When you have an experienced Toronto car accident lawyer on your side, you can take an aggressive approach right from the start. Instead of insurance companies pressuring you to accept a lowball settlement offer or denying your claim, your attorney can demand the compensation you deserve for all expenses related to your facial injury.
The experienced legal team in Toronto can help you every step of the way. We know what to do because we have been fighting for the rights of crash victims for years in the Greater Toronto Area and throughout Ontario. As your law firm, we can work with you and negotiate the best possible settlement offer on your behalf with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or fight for your rights in court.
