A broken jaw is one of the most common forms of facial injuries, caused by trauma to the face such as falls, assaults, or accidents. It is the 10th most commonly fractured bone in the body and in most cases, it will likely be fully treatable.
Treating a broken jaw requires medical attention and rehabilitation to return to full health. A broken jaw causes facial pain and impacts your ability to eat, sleep and talk. In nonsurgical cases, a broken jaw can take up to four to eight weeks to heal. In the case of a surgical fracture, it can take up to several months.
Whilst these workers compensation claims are less common, you may be eligible for compensation if the injury was the result of negligence or a workplace accident. Due to its lengthy healing time that will leave you inactive for at least a month, it is crucial to seek compensation to cover medical expenses and rehabilitation if you are eligible.
Types of Workplace Broken Jaw or Facial Injuries
Broken jaws
A broken jaw refers to a break in the jawbone. Often impacting the lower jaw or mandible, you may also experience other facial fractures as a result. The breaking of your jawbone will cause pain and make talking and eating difficult to impossible. A broken jaw is often caused by accidents, like vehicle or workplace incidents, or assaults and traumas. Depending on how you broke your jaw, you may be eligible for compensation.
Unhinged jaws or dislocated jaws
A dislocated jaw, also referred to as an unhinged jaw, occurs when the lower part of your jaw has been moved from its position at the joint connected to your skull. You can expect the dislocated jaw to heal following treatment, however, the jaw may become dislocated again in the future. A dislocation jaw can be caused by an injury but often it can occur due to the mouth being opened excessively wide. If the jaw dislocation or unhinging was a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation.
Nerve damage to the jaw
Nerve damage to the jaw involves the damage to a branch of the trigeminal nerves, inciting severe pain. Nerve damage is often the result of a cyst, tumour or internal damage irritating the jaw and takes place spontaneously. In rare cases, nerve damage can be caused by facial trauma or dental procedures, yet most often, no one is liable for this condition.
Damage to jaw muscles
Jaw muscle damage, experienced through sprains and strains of the jaw area, often are a response to the muscle dealing with stress. In cases whereby the jaw is overused or under pressure, the jaw can experience tearing of muscle fibres resulting in aches and pains. In most cases of jaw muscle damage, it can be healed on its own, caused by yawning, dental procedure or intubation. On occasion, jaw muscle damage can be caused by trauma to the jaw, and access to compensation will depend on the extent of the impairment.
Common Causes of Workplace Broken Jaws
A broken jaw can be caused by a range of incidences. From falls, to crashes and assaults, jaw damage can be caused by a wide range of conditions of experiences. The major issues include:
- Assault
- Sports Injuries
- Road traffic accidents
- Industrial or workplace accidents
- Slip, Trip and fall
Whilst broken jaw workers’ compensation claims are rare, compensation may be available to you if you have experienced such an injury due to somebody else’s negligence.
Due to the major inconvenience and pain caused by jaw injuries, you may be eligible to claim compensation from the person who caused the condition. These situations could range from workplace accidents or assaults. If you are trying to determine whether you are eligible for compensation, we recommend considering whether a negligent act has taken place or a duty of care has been broken.
How Much Compensation Will You Receive for A Broken Jaw?
The compensation you will receive from a broken jaw will vary case to case, depending on the damages caused and the severity of the injury. Due to variety of jaw injuries that can occur, the amount of compensation you will receive if you are eligible will be unique to your case and circumstances.
The compensation available will depend on whether the compensation being awarded is general damages or special damages. General damages refer to compensation awarded due to loss of quality of life such as pain and suffering. Special Damages instead refers to the expenses experienced due to the injury such as medications, procedures and medical bills, both past and incoming. The former damages are more difficult to calculate precisely in comparison to fees.
Ultimately, compensation pathways differ for each personal circumstance. To find out where you stand, call GC Law now for a free no obligation appointment on 1300 302 318 or contact our expert legal team online today.
How Long After the Broken Jaw Injury Can I Claim?
In most instances, compensation claims should be made within six months to the injury occurring. However, this timeline can be extended to three years in light of certain circumstances which has impacted the plaintiff’s ability to make a claim. In cases where an injury has been sustained due to negligence, we recommend reaching out to legal support as soon as possible to understand your eligibility and timeframe.
How To Make a Broken Jaw Workers Compensation Claim
We understand a broken jaw injury, or any major jaw damage can have major long term health effects on the victim. From impacting one’s ability to eat and sleep, jaw injuries serve to complicate daily life, cause severe pain and require great expenses.
You may be eligible for compensation for a broken jaw injury if an act of negligence has occurred or if a duty of care has been broken. To make this claim, gathering evidence will support your success. Keeping record of witness statements, medical evidence, photographic evidence and accident reports can all serve to strengthen your case.
Contact GC Law About Your Workplace Jaw Injury
Receive a free consultation with GC Law to further discuss your broken or injured jaw compensation claim options. Contact our Gold coast worker compensation lawyers team today for a free consultation and speak with a qualified lawyer who can explain your options.
