In 2010, over 36,000 people were injured in Alabama vehicle accidents. One of the most painful injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident are facial injuries. In addition to physical pain, these types of injuries often cause accident victims severe emotional anguish.
Any type of facial injury, whether the patient was scarred, disfigured or seriously hurt, can cause the individual to feel self-conscious.
If you sustained car accident facial injuries due to the negligent actions of another, you may have grounds for legal action. Accident victims should seek legal counsel from an experienced auto accident attorney. An attorney can thoroughly explain the legal rights and options available to accident victims.
To learn more about filing a legal claim, fill out the Free Case Review form.
Types of Facial Injuries
Maxillofacial trauma, also referred to as facial trauma, is one of the most common injuries sustained in an auto accident. Over 50 percent of people involved in a vehicle crash sustain some type of facial injury. The severity of the injury depends on the circumstances of the collision. The injuries can range from minor injuries that heal quickly to serious injuries that leave permanent scars or disfigurement.
Facial injuries can be divided into four groups, soft tissue injuries, bone injuries, dental injuries or joint injuries:
- Soft Tissue Facial Injuries- Some of the most common soft tissue injuries reported are lacerations, contusions, cuts and bruises. Oftentimes, these types of injuries will require stitches. When doctors are treating a soft tissue facial injury, they have to be aware of facial nerves, salivary glands and salivary ducts since they may have been injured as well.
- Facial Bone Injuries- Fractured facial bones are treated similarly to fractures in other areas of the body. However, doctors cannot use a cast on face, so they must use other methods to stabilize facial fractures. A broken jaw is one of the most common facial fractures suffered in a car accident.
- Dental Injuries- It is not uncommon for accident victims to sustain isolated dental injuries; these injuries often require treatment from a dentist. Dental injuries may also include fractures in the supporting bones and displaced teeth.
- Joint Injuries: When a vehicle occupant’s face hits the steering wheel during an accident, they can sustain temporomandibular joint injuries, or TMJ. The impact of the face hitting the steering wheel can result in the fracture of jaw bones or the dislocation of the disk used to keep the jaw in place. Typically, TMJ victims do not experience any physical changes, except maybe for a swollen eye. Complications of TMJ include locked jaw, limited mobility of the jaw joint, an abnormal bite, facial, neck and back pain, headaches and clicking jaw.
Contact an Alabama Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered from facial injuries from a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other losses associated with the crash. Contact an attorney at Citrin Law Firm to discuss your legal options.
At Citrin Law Firm, we believe that all accident victims deserve legal compensation regardless of their socioeconomic status. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis; you don’t pay us a fee unless we receive a favorable outcome for your claim.
To schedule a free and confidential case evaluation, fill out the contact form on this page.