How Is Compensation For Scaring And Disfigurement Determined?

5 November 2015 by Jonathan Phillips

It's not unusual for a person to be disfigured or scarred in an accident. While a judge or jury will award people money for these types of injuries, the amount can vary depending on a number of factors. Here are three things that can impact the amount of money you receive for a scarring or disfiguring injury.

The Injury's Size and Location

Where the scar or disfigurement is located and how big it is will have a major impact on the size of your compensation award. All things being equal, a large scar in an obvious place such as the face or neck will likely result in a higher award than a small one in an area that's typically concealed by clothing (e.g. groin or hip area).

However, a scar that would normally be inconspicuous could still garner a high award if there are special circumstances where the scar would be exposed more than it normally would be. For instance, if you were a swimsuit model, you may be paid more for a scar on your stomach than someone who wasn't in that line of work, because it's exposed to the public eye more often than normal.

The Scar's Impact on Employment Prospects

You may also get more money if the scar negatively impacts your ability to maintain your current employment or secure jobs in the future. Going back to the swimsuit model example, this person may be awarded a higher judgment for a scar if it causes the person to become ineligible for modeling jobs.

The person may also be able to cover money for lost business prospects. For instance, the individual may receive the value of a modeling contract that was cancelled because the company that hired the person felt the scar is just too disfiguring to work around.

The Scar's Impact on Quality of Life

Lastly, if the scar has an impact on the quality of your life, you may be given cash to compensate for the pain and suffering or mental anguish the injury causes you. You become depressed or suffer anxiety attacks related because of the scar, for example. You could secure compensation for both the loss of quality of life and any medical treatment you may require to make you whole again (e.g. therapy).

Just like the initial injury can have a negative impact on a person's life, any resulting scars can result in long-lasting issues. For more information about recovering money for scarring or other injuries, contact a personal injury attorney in your area.

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