A car crash can completely change your life and your appearance, especially when it leaves you with cuts, fractures, or scars on your face. Car accident facial injuries often require emergency treatment, reconstructive surgery, and months of recovery. Beyond the physical pain, many victims struggle with how their appearance has changed and how people react to it.
If you or someone you love has suffered facial trauma in a car crash in Greensboro or elsewhere in North Carolina, Ward Black Law wants you to know that you do not have to face the legal process on your own. Our personal injury attorneys have spent more than 30 years standing up for injured people in North Carolina. Our car accident lawyers want to fight for the compensation you need to heal and move on with your life.
Contact us today at (336) 333-2244 for a free consultation about your legal options after a car accident causing facial injuries.
Why Choose Ward Black Law for Your Car Accident Facial Injury Claim?
Facial trauma claims can be hard to resolve because insurance companies often try to downplay how visible facial scarring will affect you for the rest of your life. Our law firm has represented thousands of injured people in North Carolina, and we know how to build a strong claim.
Here are a few of the factors that make our Greensboro car accident attorneys great to work with:
- Decades of trial experience – Our attorneys have served North Carolina for more than 30 years and have helped clients recover more than $150 million in compensation. Although past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case, they do indicate our experience with complex personal injury claims.
- A faith-driven, family-focused approach – We treat every client the way we would want our own family treated.
- No fees unless you win – We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe us nothing for attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
- Recognition from our peers – Ward Black Law has been named to Best Law Firms in America by U.S. News and World Report for more than a decade.
Many of our past clients have left positive reviews about their experiences with our law firm. For example, one of our clients wrote this:
“Ward Black Law handled our case very professionally, yet they also treated it as part of their family. If you are looking for honest and professional attorneys, look no further than the Ward Black Law team. I highly recommend them! Great group of people!” – Dean
What to Do After Suffering Facial Injuries in a Greensboro Car Accident
The steps you take right after sustaining facial injuries in a crash can affect your health and your ability to recover compensation later. If you suffered an injured face in a car crash, consider these steps:
- Call 911 and get medical care right away. Facial wounds can hide deeper problems like fractures or brain injuries.
- Take photos of your injuries and the scene. Pictures can help your lawyer show what happened and how serious the harm was.
- Avoid posting about the crash on social media. Adjusters look for posts they can use to argue your injuries are not as bad as you say.
- Speak with our Greensboro personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. Our attorneys can start gathering evidence quickly, before it disappears or witnesses forget details.
Ward Black Law can guide you through each step and handle communication with the insurance company for you.
Common Types of Facial Injuries from Car Accidents
A car accident face injury can range from a small cut that heals in days to a complex fracture that requires multiple surgeries or a deep laceration or burn that leaves lasting scars. A study published in the Annals of Advances in Automotive Medicine found that wearing a seat belt lowered the risk of a facial fracture by 74 percent in frontal crashes, but severe injuries can occur even when vehicle occupants take all reasonable precautions.
Common facial injuries from car accidents include the following:
- Cuts and abrasions – Broken glass, torn metal, and airbag deployment can cause deep lacerations that require stitches and often leave permanent scars and facial disfigurement.
- Facial fractures – Motor vehicle accidents frequently break the nose, cheekbones, or jaw, or fracture the bones around the eyes, in addition to causing soft tissue injuries.
- Facial burns – Airbags or a post-crash fire can burn the skin and damage the tissue underneath.
- Dental injuries and jaw fractures – The force of a collision can knock out teeth, fracture the jaw, or damage the joints used for chewing and speaking.
- Eye injuries and orbital fractures – Damage to the bones around the eye can affect vision and sometimes requires a specialist to repair.
Even injuries that look minor at first can reveal severe damage to the face once swelling goes down, or an infection sets in.
Long-Term Effects of Facial Injuries
The long-term effects of facial injuries often go beyond the visible scar. The face heals differently from most other parts of the body, and scar tissue can pull at the skin or change how muscles move.
Many people who suffer severe facial injuries need more than one plastic surgery over several years. However, even the best reconstructive work cannot always undo the damage completely, leaving car accident victims with permanent disfigurement.
The emotional toll of car accident face injuries can be just as hard to carry as the physical one. Some people feel anxious about driving again due to the emotional trauma. Others struggle with how they look in the mirror, or how strangers react to their appearance due to permanent scarring. These feelings deserve to be part of the conversation about what your claim is worth. Our law firm will document not only your medical bills but also how your injury has changed your daily life.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Face Injuries from a Car Accident?
Several parties can share responsibility for face injuries from a car accident, and identifying all of them can increase the compensation available to you. Common causes of crashes include the following:
- Distracted driving – A driver who is texting or adjusting a GPS is not watching the road and can miss a stopped car or a red light.
- Speeding or reckless driving – Breaking the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions makes it harder to stop in time and increases impact force.
- Drunk or drugged driving – Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time and impair the judgment and coordination needed to drive safely.
- Failure to yield or running red lights and stop signs – Ignoring traffic signals or right-of-way rules can cause severe crashes.
- Defective vehicle parts – A seat belt that fails to lock or an airbag that deploys improperly can cause severe facial trauma.
Depending on the facts of your case, the at-fault driver, their employer, or even a vehicle manufacturer could be held responsible. Our attorneys can investigate the crash to identify every party that may owe you compensation.
What Compensation Can You Recover for Injuries to the Face?
Every case is different, but many people with serious facial injuries can pursue compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses – This includes emergency care, plastic surgery, and any future treatment your doctor expects you to need.
- Lost income – If your injury keeps you out of work or limits the job you can do, you may recover the wages you lost.
- Pain and suffering – Compensation can also account for the physical pain and emotional distress that come with a lasting facial injury.
- Scarring and disfigurement – North Carolina law recognizes that a visible, permanent change to your appearance is its own kind of loss.
Our lawyers can work with your doctors and, when needed, medical experts and vocational experts to accurately calculate the value of your claim before we negotiate with the insurance company for fair compensation.
How North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Rule Can Affect Your Case
North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that still follows a strict rule called contributory negligence. Under the contributory negligence rule, if you are found to be at all responsible for causing the crash, you cannot recover any compensation, no matter how serious your facial injury is.
Insurance adjusters know the rule well, and they often look for small mistakes to try to shift some of the blame onto you. Contributory negligence is one of the biggest reasons to talk with a lawyer before you speak with an adjuster or sign anything. Our attorneys know how to counter these insurance company tactics.
How Long Do You Have to File a Facial Injury Lawsuit in North Carolina?
North Carolina law generally gives you three (3) years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, under N.C.G.S.Section 1-52. If you miss this deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, no matter how strong your evidence is.
Three years may sound like plenty of time, but building a strong car accident claim takes time. Evidence can disappear, and eyewitnesses can move away or forget details. The sooner you speak with our law firm, the sooner we can start protecting your right to seek compensation.
Speak with a Greensboro Facial Injury Lawyer Today
No one should have to face facial trauma alone, especially while dealing with insurance companies that put their profits ahead of your recovery. Ward Black Law has helped North Carolina families for more than 30 years. Our lawyers are ready to use our experience to help you pursue the justice you deserve.
Call us today at (336) 333-2244 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We charge no attorney’s fees unless we secure compensation for you. You have nothing to lose by finding out how we can help.