Bruise and Laceration Injury Lawyers

Cuts and bruises are some of the most common injuries people sustain

throughout their lifetime. Vehicle accidents are particularly likely to cause cuts and bruises. But because cuts and bruises are common and occur frequently doesn’t mean they can’t be serious. If you or a loved one suffered cuts and bruises, you may have had to undergo surgery, emergency treatment, physical therapy, or even suffered loss of a limb or severe impairment. Injuries sustained in lacerations can cause people to lose time from their work and thus impact them financially. In some cases, laceration or bruise injuries may cause people to become unable to perform their job or lead to long-term disability.

Victims of motor vehicle and other accidents often suffer from bruises and lacerations. Fortunately, most of these injuries are relatively minor. There are exceptions, and some bruising and laceration can cause serious issues. This is especially true if the accident victim had an underlying health disorder, or if the bruising involves a major organ, such as the brain or lungs. Facial lacerations may result in scarring and disfigurement.  

After any kind of accident caused by another party, it is imperative to seek medical treatment right away. Failing to do so might not only harm your claim, but could put your health at risk. Without a prompt medical examination, the insurance adjuster will allege the bruising and lacerations did not occur because of the incident caused by their client.  

The Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Ellis Injury Law will investigate your case and hold those responsible for your bruises, lacerations and other injuries accountable. We will negotiate with insurance companies so you may receive the compensation you deserve for these injuries.  

A laceration injury can cause serious damage and even death

Cuts — medically termed lacerations — can be serious injuries, depending on the severity, location in the body, and what happens after the laceration occurs.

Cuts and lacerations can cause major blood loss and shock, even if they don’t appear serious. They can cause damage to nerves, muscles, and tissue.

Laceration injuries are cuts, remember. They may result in limbs, fingers, or toes being cut off, or so lacerated that amputation is necessary.

Lacerations can become infected if not properly dressed and treated. Foreign objects in a laceration can also cause infection. In some incidents, a foreign object may remain after the laceration wound starts to heal, causing injury and even disability.

Some lacerations are caused by scraping, along the side of a road after a car or motorcycle accident, for example. But others are caused by punctures. A flying object after an accident can cause puncture wounds. Puncture wounds can also be caused by animal bites, for example.

Puncture wounds can be more serious simply because objects that puncture the skin can also puncture bodily organs, nerves, muscles, and tissue. A puncture wound to the head, for example, can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI).

People with laceration injuries may suffer scars and need cosmetic surgery, or multiple surgeries, after the initial damage is repaired. Those who suffer from scars and lacerations may need physical therapy if their scars cause loss of mobility.

Lacerations that cause blood loss, infection, and serious damage to the body can be fatal.

Contusions

Bruises, which are medically termed contusions, can also be extremely damaging. Bruises are discolorations caused by damage to the blood vessels underneath the skin.

Many bruises, as we all know, are not serious. They can be painful, but they soon lighten and disappear.

Other contusions can be fatal. Contusions can, for example, cause hematomas and TBIs.

Bruises and laceration 

Bruises, also known as contusions, result when trauma causes blood vessels to break. In car accidents, bad bruising frequently occurs from the seat belt. The seat belt may have saved the person’s life, but the impact can cause considerable bruising and chest pain.  

A severe bruise can cause a hematoma to form. When blood collects from a hematoma, surgical drainage is sometimes necessary. Severe bruising can lead to blood clots. It may also indicate internal organ damage.  

Generally, bruising starts to fade within a few weeks. If the bruise does not fade after several weeks, or actually gets darker, see a doctor. The same holds true if the bruise seems to become larger and firmer rather than shrinking.  A growing bruise may indicate internal bleeding, which causes significant health issues. Photograph your bruises after the injury so you can tell how they are changing over time.  

Laceration is a wound, more severe than a cut or abrasion. These wounds usually require stitching or gluing together of the skin. Skin grafts are needed in the worst cases. People with diabetes and other immune disorders are at greater risk of developing infection from a wound.  

If the wound becomes infected, that could result in serious illness. See a doctor immediately if a laceration displays any of the following characteristics: 

• Swelling 
• Pain 
• Heat 
• Pus drainage  

Such infections may also cause the person to experience chills. In a worst-case scenario, an infection could prove fatal.  

Bruise and laceration causes  

Besides motor vehicle accidents, bruising and laceration often occur in premises liability cases. That may mean a slip and fall accident or an animal attack. A property owner has the responsibility to maintain their premises in a safe manner for visitors. If they allow known hazards to exist on the property, such as broken stairs or holes in pavement, they are potentially liable for any injuries caused.  

Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists hit by a vehicle often suffer bruises and lacerations.  

Although some injuries resulting in bruising and laceration are serious, they are not a catastrophic injury.  

Bruising and laceration damages 

Damages, or compensation, for serious bruising and lacerations may include: 

• Medical expenses, current and future 
• Lost wages 
• Pain and suffering 

If the victim was involved in a car accident, he or she may receive property damage reimbursement for their vehicle.  

Compensation depends on the severity of the injury and its effect on the individual’s life. Damages are higher if the wound was disfiguring or left substantial scarring. The same holds true if nerve damage is involved or if the accident victim struggles with chronic pain.   

Filing a laceration injury lawsuit

If you or a loved one have suffered injury or death from a laceration or contusion as a result of the negligence of another person or entity such as a corporation, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries and losses

Legal claims can seek damages to pay for medical care, surgery, emergency room visits, required cosmetic surgery, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and more.

People who were unable to work or who cannot work at their previous occupations may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, lost opportunities, retraining, and disability, among other claims.

Loved ones and families may be entitled to seek damages as well, for loss of their loved one and loss of consortium.

What is my injury worth in a laceration injury settlement?

Laceration injury settlements can be negotiated before or during trial between plaintiffs and their attorneys and the negligent parties named in the lawsuit. Compensation awarded by courts vary, and determining potential damage awards is complicated as a result.

In general, the court will look at two factors: 1) the seriousness and extent of any injury and 2) the degree of culpability of the defendant. Some awards on seriousness and extent may be reduced if the plaintiff is found partially responsible, by the percentage the court feels the defendant contributed.

Some cases can be illustrative, however. Recently, for example, a jury awarded $8 million to a plaintiff whose injury was caused by faulty design in a conveyor belt. The injury resulted in the loss of three fingers and required 12 surgeries.

A jury awarded $200,000 to a taxi driver whose finger was broken in a physical fight regarding a fare. The injury resulted in the driver’s being unable to work for 32 weeks.

Contact a Los Angeles accident lawyer  

If you or a loved one suffered from serious bruising and lacerations because of another party’s negligence, contact the Los Angeles accident lawyers at Ellis Injury Law for a free consultation. Just fill out our online contact form or call or text 24/7 and schedule an appointment.  

We will review your claim and let you know whether you have grounds for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Our dedicated attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in settlements for injured clients. There is never a fee unless we win.