Any tear or cut serious enough to require treatment, including stitches, increases the value of a claim. If the wound leaves a permanent scar, the value increases even more. The value can vary substantially between the facial scarring of a young female, and scarring that is not normally visible on an older male. A brain injury can affect certain mental and bodily functions, or leave a person totally incapacitated. The effects of these injuries may last a long time and can even recur after recovery seems to be complete.
Paralysis usually results from spinal cord damage.
These injuries result in lifetime medical treatment and loss of earning capacity. These claims have a high value. Physical and emotional suffering before death, the accident victim's occupation, age, sex, and marital status influence the value of this type of claim. These claims have substantial value. The relationship between psychological damage and physical injuries is now becoming more accepted.