Car accidents are the leading cause of death among US drivers. Almost 2.5 million drivers are either seriously hurt or permanently disabled each year – numbers that continue to rise despite car manufacturers’ ongoing efforts to improve safety. Being involved in a car accident can not only be a traumatizing experience in itself but also have long-lasting emotional, physical and financial consequences.
People who are involved in serious car accidents often have to deal with lifelong emotional and physical difficulties, something which they could never have anticipated at the time of their ordeal. As a car accident victim, it is critical that you have specific rights in place in order to get the protection and compensation that you deserve. This is why you need a knowledgeable car accident lawyer by your side to properly examine your case, and provide guidance on how to move forward.
What are the long-term impacts of a car accident?
The long-lasting consequences of a car accident can be not only physical and financial but also emotional as well. For instance, when it comes to physical injuries alone, some may not be as serious and so you may be back to normal in a couple of days or weeks. However, in other cases, the physical trauma can be so severe that it can often take many years to recover or in a worst-case scenario, you might have to live with a physical disability. This is why it is important that you contact a car accident attorney as whether you’re at fault or not you may be eligible for a payout, to help cover any medical bills or loss of earnings.
A few common physical injuries following a car accident include:
Physical trauma
- Lacerations, cuts, bruises and cuts which may range from normal to very serious. Deep lacerations, for instance, take a lot longer to heal, leave scars and can have long-lasting consequences on how you drive or change clothes.
- Broken bones are a common occurrence in car accidents, with some requiring only a cast to allow them to heal naturally, and others requiring extended healing, along with painkillers and physical therapy.
- Whiplash is commonly witnessed in car accidents where the victim’s neck, head shoulders and spine can suffer a sudden jerk due to the sheer force of the impact. This can have long-lasting consequences too, with symptoms ranging from just headaches and chronic dizziness to concussions, imbalance, motor control issues and even vision issues.
- In the worst-case scenarios, you may even need to engage in-home disability care services.
Emotional trauma
The emotional consequences of a car accident can last a lot longer than others. For instance:
- Anxiety can slowly creep into your system when you least expect it, as it’s something that people often experience followed by traumatic events. By merely recalling those turn of events, people often feel nauseated, accompanied by panic attacks.
- Recovering from the traumatic events which occurred before, during and after the car accident can lead to bouts of depression and even cause loss of sleep.
- Behavioural changes have often been observed in car accident victims such as unexplained confusion, belief in false realities and PTSD.
What you are going through is no laughing matter. While insurance companies and adjusters may not be on your side, your lawyer certainly is. Get in touch with an experienced car accident lawyer today.
