Scarring & Disfigurement

Michigan Scarring & Disfigurement Claims

Permanent scars and disfigurement go beyond physical pain — they affect a person's self-image, confidence, relationships, and career opportunities for the rest of their life. Whether caused by a car accident, dog bite, burn injury, surgical error, or workplace incident, visible scarring and disfigurement deserve significant compensation. Koussan Law fights for Michigan victims whose injuries have left lasting visible marks.

Michigan Law and Disfigurement

Under Michigan's no-fault auto insurance law, permanent disfigurement is one of the specific grounds for pursuing a third-party pain and suffering claim under MCL § 500.3135(1). Unlike the "serious impairment of body function" standard that requires proving functional limitations, the disfigurement threshold focuses on the visible, permanent alteration of a person's appearance. This means even when an injury heals functionally, the resulting scar itself is independently compensable if it constitutes a "serious disfigurement."

Types of Disfiguring Injuries

Disfigurement cases we handle include facial scarring from lacerations, glass, and road rash; burn scars from thermal, chemical, and electrical burns; surgical scars from emergency procedures and medical malpractice; amputation-related scarring; keloid and hypertrophic scarring; and dog bite wounds, particularly to the face and hands. Facial disfigurement commands the highest compensation because the face is always visible and the psychological impact is most severe.

Valuing Disfigurement Claims

The value of a disfigurement claim depends on the scar's location (facial scars are valued highest), size, visibility, the victim's age (younger victims live longer with the disfigurement), occupation (impact on career, particularly in customer-facing roles), and the psychological impact including depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. We work with plastic surgeons to document whether future revision surgeries could reduce scarring and include those costs in the claim.

Call Koussan Law at (313) 800-0000 for a free disfigurement case evaluation.