Disfigurement addresses visible permanent changes including scarring, amputation, and deformity. It may be a separate damages element or a component of non-economic damages depending on the jurisdiction.
Location and visibility drive valuation.
Alternative Names:
Disfigurement Damages, Permanent Disfigurement
Why it Matters?
Visibility and location determine value far more than size, with facial and hand disfigurement valued substantially above equivalent scarring on covered areas. Photographic documentation over time is the essential evidence, and defense counsel should obtain independent photographs rather than relying on plaintiff-selected images taken under favorable lighting. Future revision surgery costs frequently accompany the claim.
Frequently Confused with
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Frequently asked questions
What drives disfigurement valuation?
What documentation matters?
