Chicago Scarring & Disfigurement Lawyer

Scarring & Disfigurement Injuries in Chicago, IL

Visible scars and permanent disfigurement can be painful reminders of a traumatic accident — affecting not just how you look, but how you live, work, and feel about yourself.

At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we understand that the physical pain, emotional distress, and long-term challenges of scarring injuries deserve full recognition under Illinois law. Our team helps the victims of catastrophic injuries across Chicago to recover compensation for reconstructive treatment, lost income, and the lasting impact of disfigurement on their quality of life.

If you suffered scarring or disfigurement after an auto accident, truck crash, or any incident caused by another’s negligence, don’t face the insurance companies alone. Call (312) 236-2900 or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced Chicago scarring and disfigurement lawyer.

“Scarring & Disfigurement” in Illinois Injury Claims

Even when an injury heals medically, the visible or functional effects can remain — and those lasting changes have legal significance.

Under Illinois law, scarring and disfigurement refer to any permanent or long-lasting visible change to your body’s appearance or function caused by an injury. This can include surgical or accident-related scars, burns, skin grafts, nerve damage, loss of limb function, or other physical deformities that alter how you look or move.

Scarring & Disfigurement Are a Distinct Category of Damages

These injuries matter because Illinois recognizes scarring and disfigurement as separate from pain and suffering or medical bills. They affect how you see yourself, how others see you, and how you navigate daily life. A visible scar on the face or hands, or contractures that limit movement, can impact your career options, confidence, and relationships. You deserve to be compensated for that loss, physically and emotionally.

Not sure if your injury qualifies as disfigurement under Illinois law? Call (312) 236-2900. Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. will explain your rights and options. Your consultation is free, and there’s no fee unless we win.

Accidents that Commonly Result in Scarring & Disfigurement

Scarring and disfigurement can result from nearly any serious accident. In a city as active and densely populated as Chicago, these injuries often stem from everyday events, from vehicle collisions to workplace incidents. Understanding where and how these injuries occur helps identify liable parties and determine the full scope of your recovery.

Scars from Auto Accidents

Car, truck, and rideshare accidents are among the leading causes of scarring and disfigurement in Chicago. Victims often sustain deep lacerations, broken glass wounds, airbag burns, and dashboard impacts that require surgical repair. Follow-up procedures such as sutures, skin grafts, or orthopedic surgeries can leave lasting scars or visible deformities. Additionally, severe fractures may result in malunion or nonunion, leading to misaligned bones and long-term disfigurement.

Disfiguring Motorcycle, Bike & Pedestrian Accidents

Motorcycle riders, cyclists, and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to road rash, facial abrasions, and burn-related scarring when struck or thrown to the pavement. These injuries frequently develop into hypertrophic or keloid scars, especially on exposed areas like the face, arms, and legs. Severe burns may require skin grafts or reconstructive surgery, and resulting contractures can limit motion around joints or neck areas.

Workplace & Construction Accidents

Construction workers and industrial employees face a heightened risk of burns, crush injuries, and lacerations from machinery, tools, or chemical exposure. Scarring across joints or limbs can reduce range of motion, while internal adhesions can form after surgeries or tissue trauma.

Premises Liability (Falls), Dog Bites, & Product Defects

Slip-and-fall accidents, dog attacks, and defective consumer products can also cause serious scarring. Victims often experience facial lacerations, bite wounds, and surgical scars after reconstructive treatment. Exploding devices or defective household products can lead to thermal or chemical burns that leave lasting discoloration or contractures.

These cases often involve complex liability, from property owners to manufacturers, often making early investigation the key to recovery.

Scaring & Disfigurement from Medical Negligence

In some cases, disfigurement results from surgical errors, improper wound care, or postoperative infections. Internal adhesions, scar widening, or nerve damage following surgery can all cause visible or functional disfigurement. In birth injury cases, surgical or delivery-related trauma can result in permanent scarring to mothers or infants alike.

When medical negligence leads to these outcomes, you can pursue damages for the pain, emotional distress, and long-term treatment required to restore your health and confidence.

If your scars or disfigurement resulted from any of these accidents, Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. is ready to help you hold the responsible party accountable.

Type & Severity: How Scars & Disfigurement Are Classified

No two injuries are exactly alike. The type, location, and severity of tissue damage all play a major role in how an injury heals and how it affects you. Understanding how scars are medically classified can also help determine the value of your Illinois personal injury claim.

Below are some of the most common types of scarring and disfigurement we see in Chicago accident cases:

• Hypertrophic Scars – These thick, raised scars develop when the body produces too much collagen during healing. They remain within the original wound’s borders but can be red, itchy, or painful. Hypertrophic scars may improve over time, though the process can take a year or longer.
• Keloids – Keloids are like hypertrophic scars but grow beyond the wound’s original boundary. They can become firm, shiny, and uncomfortable, and may continue to expand long after the initial injury. Because they can restrict motion or cause social and emotional distress, they often factor heavily into compensation claims.
• Contractures – When a burn or major skin loss occurs, the surrounding tissue can tighten as it heals — a condition known as a contracture. This pulling effect limits flexibility and range of motion, especially around joints. Contractures often require reconstructive surgery or long-term physical therapy to restore movement.
• Adhesions (Internal Scars) – Adhesions form inside the body when scar tissue connects tissues or organs that are normally separate. These are common after surgery or abdominal trauma and can cause chronic pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
• Pitted or Atrophic Scars – These scars appear sunken or indented due to loss of underlying tissue or collagen. They often result from deep wounds, severe acne, or surgical procedures. While not typically painful, they can cause significant cosmetic and emotional distress.
• Malunion and Nonunion Fractures – When bones heal improperly (malunion) or fail to heal at all (nonunion), the result can be visible deformities, reduced limb function, or chronic pain. These structural disfigurements are common after severe crashes or crush injuries.
• Nerve Damage – Traumatic injuries can sever or compress nerves, leading to partial paralysis, facial asymmetry, or loss of muscle control. Even without visible scarring, nerve damage can cause lasting functional disfigurement that affects expression, movement, and self-confidence.

Each of these conditions can impact your health, livelihood, and quality of life. Our team of Chicago scarring and disfigurement lawyers works with medical experts to document your injuries, demonstrate the full extent of your disfigurement, and pursue compensation that reflects your physical and emotional losses. Contact Staver for a free case evaluation.

 Compensation for Scarring & Disfigurement in Illinois

If you’ve suffered scarring or disfigurement from an accident, Illinois law allows you to pursue compensation for the physical and emotional toll these injuries cause. Because scarring and disfigurement can alter not only your appearance but your confidence, livelihood, and relationships, the value of your claim must account for much more than immediate medical costs.

A comprehensive claim for scarring and disfigurement can include:

• Medical costs (past, current, and anticipated future care) — including hospital stays, follow-up visits, reconstructive procedures, and specialist care.
• Surgeries, therapy, medications, and assistive devices related to scar or disfigurement management.
• Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity, especially when visible scarring affects employment opportunities or physical disfigurement limits work performance.
• Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and social or relationship strain.
• Home or vehicle modifications and assistive care costs when functional impairment or mobility limitations arise from contractures or nerve damage.

Our firm works with medical experts, vocational analysts, and mental health professionals to present a full picture of your losses, ensuring insurers and juries understand how deeply this injury has affected your life.

Recovering the Cost of Treatment & Reconstructive Surgery for Scarring & Disfigurement

Many victims require ongoing care or multiple procedures to restore mobility, function, or appearance. Illinois law allows recovery for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your injury, including reconstructive and plastic surgery when it serves a functional or restorative purpose.

Common treatments include:

• Medical management: wound care, silicone gel or pressure therapy, corticosteroid injections, laser resurfacing, and dermabrasion to minimize scarring.
• Surgical procedures: scar revision, skin grafts, tissue flaps, contracture release, bone realignment, or staged reconstructive surgeries.
• Rehabilitation: physical and occupational therapy to regain strength and motion, along with psychological counseling to address trauma and self-image issues.

To strengthen your claim, always keep detailed medical records, cost estimates, and surgeon opinions explaining the medical necessity of these treatments. Insurers often dispute elective or aesthetic procedures, so documentation that ties each procedure directly to your injury is critical.

What Influences the Value of a Scarring & Disfigurement Claim?

Every scarring or disfigurement case is unique. Illinois courts and insurance adjusters consider numerous factors when determining fair compensation, including:

• Permanency and prognosis – whether the injury is temporary or lifelong.
• Location and visibility – facial and neck scars or hand deformities generally receive higher valuation due to visibility and social impact.
• Size, extent, and symptoms – chronic pain, itching, or restricted movement increase claim value.
• Impact on employment – individuals in public-facing or physically demanding jobs may face additional losses.
• Emotional and psychological effects – anxiety, depression, PTSD, and loss of confidence all contribute to non-economic damages.
• Documentation quality and defense arguments – detailed photographic evidence, medical records, and expert testimony strengthen your case, while comparative fault or pre-existing conditions can reduce awards.

Learn More about Compensation for Disfigurement and Scarring in Illinois

Don’t Settle a Claim Involving Scars or Disfiguring Injuries Too Quickly

It’s natural to want your case resolved quickly. But insurance companies know this and often pressure victims to accept quick, low settlements before the full extent of scarring or disfigurement becomes clear.

Scars can change over time. Hypertrophic and keloid scars may continue to thicken or darken for months, and contractures from burns or deep wounds can gradually tighten, reducing mobility and increasing the need for future treatment. Settling too early can leave you without compensation for necessary surgeries, therapy, or revision procedures down the road.

At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we work with medical professionals to evaluate your long-term prognosis and include future care and reconstruction costs in your claim. Before you accept an insurance offer, talk to a lawyer who understands how these injuries progress and what they’re truly worth.

Call(312) 236-2900 today for a free consultation.

FAQs: Scarring & Disfigurement in Chicago, IL

Do Facial Scars Settle for More?

Generally, facial and neck scars tend to receive higher compensation because they are more visible and can deeply affect self-esteem, social interactions, and professional opportunities. Courts and insurers consider the location, size, and emotional impact of visible disfigurement when determining settlement amounts.

How Do You Prove Disfigurement?

A strong disfigurement claim includes time-stamped photographs, detailed medical and surgical records, expert opinions from reconstructive surgeons or dermatologists, and testimony about how your injury affects daily life, relationships, and emotional health. Comprehensive evidence helps demonstrate both the physical and psychological impact of your injury.

Do I Need a Lawyer If Liability Is Clear for You Scars?

Even when fault is obvious, the value of scarring and disfigurement claims is highly subjective. Insurance companies routinely undervalue visible injuries, especially those with evolving symptoms or emotional effects. An experienced attorney will time your settlement correctly, include future-care projections, and negotiate for compensation that reflects your true losses, not the insurer’s first offer.

Can Emotional Distress Be Part of a Scarring Claim?

Yes. Disfigurement often causes emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal, especially when the injury is visible. Illinois law allows compensation for these non-economic damages as part of your overall settlement or verdict.

Can I File a Claim for a Child’s Scarring or Disfigurement?

Yes. Parents or guardians can pursue a claim on behalf of a minor who has suffered scarring or disfigurement. Because children’s scars may change as they grow, it’s essential to document medical opinions about long-term appearance and treatment needs before settling.

Contact a Chicago Scarring & Disfigurement Lawyer Now

Visible scars and disfiguring injuries don’t just mark your body — they can alter your sense of self, your relationships, and your future. Whether your disfigurement resulted from a car crash, workplace accident, or surgical error, you deserve fair compensation.

At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we know how to prove the full value of a scarring or disfigurement claim. Our team collaborates with medical experts, vocational specialists, and mental health professionals to show exactly how your injury has changed your life and what you’ll need to recover. We don’t let insurance companies rush you into low offers or ignore the ongoing pain, treatment, and emotional distress caused by visible injuries.

If you or someone you love has suffered permanent scarring or disfigurement due to another party’s negligence, call (312) 236-2900 or contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Chicago scarring and disfigurement lawyer