A crash can take a long-term financial and emotional toll.
If you’re involved in a car crash, your first concern may be to address the damage to your vehicle. From getting estimates to submit to your insurance company, to coordinating with the repair shop, to arranging for a rental car, there are multiple steps you need to take to get you and your vehicle back on the road.
But for those who’ve been injured in a crash, repairing or replacing their vehicle is the easy—and least expensive—part. They often find the effects of the crash can continue long after the scene has been cleared.
Taking into consideration the full long-term impact of a crash can help victims make informed decisions about their recovery and help protect their future.
Medical bills can add up over time
An individual injured in a crash may face a staggering array of costs associated with their medical care. A crash may result in any or all of the following:
- Emergency room visits
- Ambulance costs
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Specialist care
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medications
- Follow-up appointments
And while extensive medical care can prove expensive, it can also be a lengthy burden, as many injuries require treatment for weeks, months, or even years after the crash.
Some crash victims need additional surgeries, continued physical therapy, help with pain management, assistive devices, and other care that may not be apparent at the time of or shortly after the crash.
These long-term medical issues can prove financially devastating while also negatively impacting quality of life for the victim and their loved ones.
Lost income can add up quickly
One of the most devastating outcomes of a crash is the impact on the victim’s ability to work and earn an income.
A lengthy recovery can require the individual to miss work for an extended period, during which they may exhaust their PTO or sick leave. And even if they can return to work, they may be unable to work as many hours as before, either because of their lingering injuries or because they need to attend doctor’s or physical therapy appointment.
In some instances, the individual may be unable to return to the same job they had before the accident, resulting in the loss of future earning capacity. If they find a new job, it may pay less than the job they held previously.
Physical recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital
Ideally, when the victim of a crash is released from the hospital, they are well on their way to recovery and to quickly getting their normal life back. Unfortunately, however, recovery isn’t a linear process, and some injuries can even have lifelong effects.
Broken bones, and neck and back injuries can result in chronic pain, require multiple surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation, and may even result in permanent physical limitations.
The emotional impact is often overlooked
While the financial and physical impact of a crash is widely acknowledged, less understood and considered is the emotional impact. A crash can take a devastating toll on a victim’s mental health, and the invisible damage done can remain long after physical injuries have healed.
Anxiety about driving again, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a crash, and ongoing sleep disturbances are all-too-common afflictions for crash victims.
And dealing with the emotional impact of a crash, and the loss of independence that may accompany it, can place stress on the victim’s relationships with others, especially their family members and other loved ones.
Why quick settlement offers aren’t always enough
Often, insurance companies will reach out to the victim soon after a crash to offer a settlement.
While this settlement may initially appear to be substantial, it’s important to understand that this early settlement offer may not account for initially undiagnosed injuries, future medical treatment, lost income, emotional trauma, or other long-term effects.
As insurance companies will strive to settle injury claims as quickly and inexpensively as possible, they may pressure the victim to accept the compensation they offer. And once a claim is settled, additional compensation may no longer be available to the victim.
This is why it crash victims should consult an experienced personal injury attorney before accepting an insurance company’s settlement offer. An attorney can represent the victim’s rights and seek the full, fair amount they’re owed to cover short- and long-term medical care, lost wages, emotional trauma, and the other negative effects of a crash.
Make an informed choice
Remember, for a victim, a car crash doesn’t end once the vehicles are repaired.
Understanding the full impact of your injuries can help you make informed choices and protect you for what may lie ahead as you recover.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, take the time to understand the full picture before making decisions about your claim.
The team at Tiano O’Dell is here to help West Virginians understand their rights, evaluate their options, and move forward with confidence to make the best decisions and get the compensation to which they are entitled.
Contact us for a free consultation about your claim.
