Degloving Injuries

Degloving injuries, which occur when the flesh and skin of a part of your body are literally ripped away, can be extremely painful and change the course of your life forever. These injuries can be the result of unexpected accidents. When another person is responsible for causing your degloving injury you may be entitled to recover monetary compensation. At Citywide Law Group, our injury attorneys can help to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your degloving injury.

Call us today to request a free consultation and find out about the benefits of filing a personal injury claim for damages.

What is Degloving?

Degloving refers to an avulsion-type injury where your skin and soft tissue are separated from the rest of your body. Avulsion basically means that one part of your body is forcibly separated from the rest. Degloving refers specifically to the forcible and sudden removal of skin and soft tissue. With a degloving injury, the rest of your body (e.g., muscles, tendons, bones) remain in-tact. Contrary to popular belief, degloving injuries can affect more than just your hands. You can sustain degloving injuries on many parts of your body, including your face, torso, and feet.

What Causes Degloving Injuries?

Degloving injuries generally occur when your hand or another part of your body becomes caught or stuck on something and is then pulled away slowly. Accidents that may result in degloving injuries include:

Car accidents,
Recreational vehicle accidents,
Motorcycle accidents,
Conveyor belt accidents,
Roller machine accidents, and
Negligence.

If you wear rings on your fingers, you may at risk of suffering a degloving injury. Rings can easily become caught on imperfections or hazards on handrails and railings. Your finger can sustain a degloving injury if your hand pulls away from the ring when it is caught on an object.

Should I File a Personal Injury Claim After a Degloving Injury?

Degloving injuries are extremely traumatic and will likely put you in a very difficult financial situation. Your injury will probably require significant medical treatment, multiple surgeries, and extensive rehabilitation. The cost of recovery does not come cheap and will likely rack up significant medical debt. Your injury may also sideline you for a while a work, causing you to miss out on much-needed income.

If you require the use of your hands (or other injured body part) to do your job, your earning capacity may be significantly reduced. When an injury affects so many different aspects of your life, you may be at risk of suffering from depression and other emotional issues. Filing a personal injury claim for damages can allow you to recover the money you need to diagnose, treat, and recover from your injury.

Damages Available to Degloving Injury Victims

What kind of damages can you recover if another person is responsible for your degloving injury? In California, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages. The type and amount of damages you can get will depend on the specific facts of your case.

Economic Damages: Economic damages are awarded to make up for the financial expenses and out-of-pocket costs associated with your degloving injury. The purpose of economic damages is to put you back in the financial situation you would have been in if you had never been injured. Economic damages can help to compensate for:

Hospitalization
Corrective surgery
Plastic surgery
Medication
Rehabilitation
Lost wages during recovery, and
Your reduced earning capacity.

Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages are awarded to help you deal with the physical, emotional, and social injuries that you are forced to endure because of your injury. While these injuries may not have a direct financial cost, they can still significantly affect your life. Non-economic damages can help to make up for:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Disfigurement and scarring
Embarrassment, and
Loss of consortium.

Liability for Degloving Injuries

Who can be held financially responsible for damages after you’ve suffered a degloving injury? In California, any person who contributes to the cause of your accident can be held liable. When more than one person is at fault, each can be held responsible to the degree they contributed to the accident.

In order to determine liability, your personal injury attorney will have to investigate the accident and understand what caused your injury.

Potentially liable parties could include:

Negligent drivers
Employers
Companies responsible for the design, manufacture, or sale of defective products
Government agencies responsible for dangerous conditions
Landlords, and/or
Property owners.

When Do I Have to File a Degloving Injury Claim?

California accident victims must file a personal injury claim for damages within two years of their accident. If you do not file a claim before the two-year statute of limitations expires, you will probably not be able to recover the money you need and deserve.

There are very limited exceptions to this rule. If extenuating circumstances are present, the statute of limitations may be extended. For example, you may be able to extend the time in which you can file a claim if you are a minor at the time of the accident or if the person responsible for your injury cannot be located.

On the other hand, the statute of limitations is accelerated if you believe the government is at fault. In order to recover compensation from the government, you must file a special administrative claim within six months of your accident.

The best way to make sure that your claim is filed within the appropriate statute of limitations is by speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles as soon as you can.

What Should I Do After I Suffer a Degloving Injury?

These suggestions will help to make sure that your health is protected and that any legal claims you decide to pursue are as strong as possible.

Get Medical Help: The very first thing you should do after sustaining a degloving injury is seek medical attention. These injuries can be excruciatingly painful and put you at risk of suffering life-threatening complications. A medical professional will make sure that your injury is fully diagnosed and treated immediately, thereby reducing the risk of complications. The extent of your injury will be thoroughly documented during this process, which will help to support any future legal matters.

Report the Accident: Make sure that the injury-causing accident is promptly reported to the appropriate authorities. If you suffer a degloving injury in a car accident, be sure to call the police and request a police report. If you suffer a degloving injury while at work, tell your employer immediately and request that a report is created. These reports will help to preserve valuable information and evidence that may be lost or forgotten over time.

Document the Injury: Photographs can be incredibly powerful and helpful during a personal injury case. Try to take photographs of the scene of the accident as well as your injuries.

Refuse Early Offers: If another person is responsible for your injury their insurance company may be quick to offer you a settlement. While it may be tempting to take this money, the amount you receive will not be enough to cover the full extent of your injury. Companies may take anything you say during early discussions out of context and use it against you in the future, so try to avoid any conversations with other parties before you have consulted an attorney.

Hire an Attorney: Personal injury claims can be incredibly complex and are best handled by an experienced attorney. Hiring an attorney will increase the chances of maximizing the compensation you are awarded and give you time to focus on your own health and recovery.

Experienced Los Angeles Degloving Injury Attorneys

Have you suffered a degloving injury in a Los Angeles accident? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the personal injury attorneys at Citywide Law Group to learn how we can help make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. Our attorneys have nearly two decades of experience helping thousands of accident victims recover millions in compensation for their life-changing injuries.

We are confident that we can help you recover the compensation you deserve, as well. Call us today to request a free consultation.

Citywide Law Group
12424 Wilshire Blvd Suite 705
Los Angeles, CA 90025