Work with the Best Los Angeles Laceration Injury Lawyer

A laceration is a skin wound in the form of a cut generally caused by a sharp object such as a blade, shard of glass, bite, or piece of debris being propelled at high speeds. Lacerations are usually caused by blunt trauma, and when deep, require sutures. In extreme cases, lacerations can cause nerve and tendon damage, damage to one’s organs, and can require plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery. If you or a loved one in California has suffered from a laceration injury caused by the negligence of another individual or organization, you need to work with a Los Angeles laceration injury lawyer to ensure that you get the full compensation you deserve, and that the negligent party is held accountable for their wrongdoing.

What is a Laceration Injury?

As mentioned, lacerations are caused by sharp objects, usually by blunt force trauma, in which the skin is cut. A laceration is also the tearing of the skin that causes an irregular wound. In most cases, lacerations do not lead to an infection when treated in a timely manner. However, deep lacerations can cause massive damage to muscles, tendons, internal organs, and bones. Typical symptoms from a laceration include severe pain and bleeding. It is extremely important to properly treat lacerations in a timely manner in order to reduce scarring.

Is a Laceration a Serious Injury?

Based on the location, depth, and other factors, a laceration injury can be very serious, and even fatal. In the event a laceration leads to a fatality (such as one that causes hemorrhaging due to a lack of blood going to the organs) then you will be filing a wrongful death claim. Aside from death, lacerations can be very severe and potentially lead to the need for amputation. Lacerations can also leave disfiguring scars, as well as lead one to having to undergo a series of painful medical procedures. Lacerations penetrating muscle and internal organs can leave a victim with extensive nerve damage, leaving the person permanently disabled.

What to Do if You Receive a Laceration Injury?

In the event you suffer from a laceration injury, you will want to seek immediate medical attention. In the event medical services aren’t readily available in your area, you will want to care for the wound until a medical professional can examine you. Here are some steps you can take to prevent infection and mitigate the damage:

  • Make sure the laceration site is clean. If you have a proper first aid kit, clean the area using a saline wash. If this isn’t available, use bottled water to wash away any dirt or debris.
  • Wipe down the area with rubbing alcohol to disinfect the site.
  • Using a sterile gauze, stop the bleeding by applying continuous pressure to the laceration.
  • Determine the depth and severity of the laceration
  • If possible (for example, if the laceration is on a limb) elevate the arm or leg while en route to the hospital.

Once your wound has been treated by a doctor, you will want to call the best Los Angeles laceration injury lawyer at The Ryan Law Group before giving any statement to the insurance companies. This is critical to ensuring you get the compensation you deserve, as insurance reps are trained to get people to state specific things that can take liability away from the negligent person responsible for your injury. 

How Long Does it Take for a Laceration Injury to Heal?

Different types of lacerations have different times of healing. Here is a breakdown of the various types of lacerations and their estimated healing time:

  • Full Thickness Lacerations – This type of laceration has a longer healing time that can take up to three months. It also usually leaves severe scarring and almost always requires suture closing.
  • Crush Laceration – When additional trauma is involved that can include soft tissue damage, muscular damage, and nerve damage due to the direct effect of the compression from the laceration. This type of injury can also take up to three months to heal. 
  • Split Laceration – Not as severe as a crush laceration, this type of injury takes place when the injured region is pressed between two objects. This type of laceration can take a month or two to heal. 
  • Stretch Laceration – This type of laceration is caused by the overstretching of a region of the skin until it ruptures. When this happens, there is localized pressure that has a pulling action causing the skin to tear and causing a laceration. This type of injury usually takes a few weeks to heal. 
  • Chop Laceration – This type of laceration is usually produced by a weapon such as a knife or an axe. A sharp, heavy edge will cause this injury and is usually associated with criminal intent, though flying debris can also cause this type of laceration if enough force is present. These lacerations can take a few weeks to heal.

What are Common Causes of Lacerations in Cases Handled by Personal Injury Lawyers?

Our laceration lawyers at The Ryan Law Group have handled a number of cases in Los Angeles that occur from a variety of accident types. Some include the following:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bus accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Dog bites
  • Construction accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Rideshare accidents
  • Product liability accidents
  • Premises liability accidents
  • Falls

When accident victims have valid claims for their injuries resulting in traumatic cuts to the skin, working with a laceration lawyer in Los Angeles will enable you to get the highest possible compensation for lost wages, physical suffering, emotional suffering, and medical expenses in the present time and in the future. When you contact the laceration lawyers at The Ryan Law Group, we will tell you exactly what your case is worth, educate you about your rights, and ensure your best interests are met in terms of medical care and financial compensation. 

What You Should Know About Laceration Injury Compensation Claims

If you suffered a laceration at the hands of a negligent individual or party, such as a drunk driver striking your vehicle, you deserve monetary compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills. The overall cost of something that can seem as straightforward as a laceration can grow to be extremely expensive, as some lacerations can take months, even years to heal. Whether you were bit by a dog that wasn’t on a leash, your safety harness broke on the job and lacerated your skin, or you were in a car accident caused by an impaired driver (or any other accident type), you could be entitled to the following forms of compensation:

  • General Damages – Physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
  • Specific Damages – These include lost wages, lost earning potential, past, current and future medical bills, required modifications to your home or car, child care, home repairs and maintenance, housekeeping costs, 

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, there can be multiple parties liable for your damages. These can include the person driving a vehicle, the vehicle’s owner or the company that owns the car, or shipping/manufacturing companies. Your laceration injury lawyer will be able to prove liability on all parties to ensure you get the highest possible compensation.

What if you share partial liability? For example, if you accidentally drive the wrong way down a one-way street, and a drunk driver hits you, you will likely share partial liability because you failed to obey traffic laws, or if you were speeding during a car accident, you will likely share partial liability. In the state of California, there is a system that addresses this known as Pure Comparative Fault. Also referred to as Pure Comparative Negligence, this is used to reduce the compensation granted to the victims of car accidents by the level of their fault in an accident. For example, if you are determined to be 10% at fault for an accident, then the full compensation amount awarded to you would be reduced by 10%.

Contact the Best Laceration Injury Lawyer at The Ryan Law Group Today

If you or a loved one has suffered from a laceration injury due to someone else, you should contact us at The Ryan Law Group. We provide free, no-obligation case consultations so please do not hesitate to reach out to learn about the merits of your case. Our team of LA-based legal professionals will make sure that your claim is thoroughly investigated and properly presented in order to win the highest settlement award you deserve while you heal from your injury.

If we can prove that someone else is responsible for your injury, you are entitled to reimbursement for your medical costs, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. A partnership with our team at The Ryan Law Group will ensure that you will receive high quality legal representation with tact, integrity and proven skill.