The average person will experience a car accident an average of once every eighteen years. When that one accident does hit, it can mean immense trauma for the victim. Unfortunately, you may not even know what the full effects will look like for some time after the accident.
What are the most common major effects of a car accident? Consider these common impacts.
Property Damage
Property damage, of course, is one of the first things you consider when you think of a car accident. Modern vehicles are more expensive than ever, and repairs not only cost a great deal, they can take time–time when you have to manage without your vehicle. Even a minor fender bender can end up costing hundreds of dollars to repair. In a more serious accident, you may total your vehicle completely.
Property damage, especially substantial property damage, can mean considerable cost for the victim of a car accident. You may find yourself needing to pay the cost of those vehicle repairs or, in some cases, replacing your vehicle. Many people cannot go without a car for a long period of time, so they may need to use a rental car to help them get around. Rental costs can add up fast, particularly since many insurance policies do not cover the full cost of a rental car or may cover a rental car for only a limited period of time.
Injuries
Car accidents often involve a great deal of force and, as such, often lead to major injuries. Many car accident victims find that their injuries continue to impact them for the rest of their lives.
If you do have a car accident, you should always seek medical attention as soon as possible. A medical care provider can examine and diagnose your injuries, then help put together a treatment plan that will give you a better idea of how to recover from those injuries. Furthermore, seeking medical treatment will provide you with evidence of when your injuries occurred, which can prove essential to seeking compensation through a personal injury claim after your car accident.
Common car accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Burns, including severe road rash
- Tissue damage
- Organ trauma
Some people recover relatively quickly from car accident injuries. Even minor injuries, however, can cause substantial complications in the victim’s life.
Inability to Work
Serious injuries from a car accident can make it very difficult for many accident victims to take care of their usual work responsibilities. Sometimes, victims may have injuries that make it physically painful or impossible for them to complete their job duties: for example, a patient with serious back and neck injuries may have a hard time lifting and bending in a warehouse, while a patient with broken bones in the hands might find it hard to take care of typing and other computer-related tasks. Other times, the victim may require pain medications or have a concussion or other head injuries that make it difficult to manage those familiar cognitive tasks.
Medical Treatments and Bills
Modern medicine offers a number of treatments that can help restore normal function and capability after even a serious accident. Modern medicine does not, however, come inexpensively. Many car accident victims find a great deal of their time taken up with medical treatments, from procedures to follow-up appointments and therapies. Furthermore, medical costs from car accidents can rise to extreme heights, especially in cases of severe injuries.
Ongoing Pain
Many serious injuries lead to pain that can follow the victim for the rest of his life. Sometimes, even broken bones can cause limitations that the victim must contend with for years after the initial accident. More serious injuries may cause even more severe pain.
Limitations on Activities
The limitations a car accident victim faces may depend on the severity of his injuries and the recommendations of his doctors. Some limitations help prevent victims from suffering further injury or inadvertently delaying their own recoveries. Other limitations may be imposed by the victim’s specific injuries: for example, a patient with broken bones might not have the physical ability to engage in sports or other highly active pursuits. For many victims, that limitation on activities can prove incredibly frustrating. They might miss out in activities that they would usually enjoy or find themselves devastated by the inability to participate in milestone moments for friends and family members. Some car accident victims contend with serious loss of enjoyment of life as they manage the aftermath of the accident.
Emotional Concerns
In addition to the physical impact of injuries from a car accident, many people find themselves dealing with serious emotional consequences. Some may experience PTSD because of the accident, which can lead to flashbacks or sleepless nights. Other victims may have a hard time riding in a car following a serious car accident, or going past the scene of the accident. Car accidents can even cause behavior and personality changes or sleep disturbances in some victims.
Car accidents can also cause depression and anxiety in victims. Even victims who suffered no serious injury in the accident may struggle with the emotional aftermath of a serious car accident.
How to Protect Yourself After an Accident
After a car accident, you may have a number of worries to contend with and little idea what to do first. Start by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can help walk you through your car accident claim and give you a better idea of what to expect, from how much compensation you may deserve for the damages you suffered in the car accident to how long it may take to seek the compensation you deserve. Furthermore, an attorney can look over the liable driver’s insurance policy to give you a better idea of what compensation that policy offers and make sure you take advantage of it, from information about how much you can spend on a rental car to how to handle vehicle repairs.
Do you need a lawyer to help you after a car accident? Contact Allan Berger & Associates today at 504-526-2222.
