The moments immediately following a car accident can be chaotic and traumatizing, particularly if the accident caused severe injuries. However, a serious car accident can cause a range of long-term consequences, from the ongoing medical care required to treat your injury to the emotional trauma that the accident may have caused. In addition, if you suffered an injury that requires long-term or permanent care, there are considerable costs associated with this type of care, which can be financially devastating.
Depending on the type and severity of your injuries, the long-term impact of the accident may not be apparent until months or even years after the accident. To secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries, do not hesitate to contact an experienced car accident lawyer at your earliest convenience.
What Are the Long-Term Physical Implications of a Car Accident?
Injuries from a serious car accident can be severe, ranging from broken bones and back injuries to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and internal organ damage. In some cases, symptoms of any injury may not be apparent immediately following the accident, so it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately. The more serious the injury is, the more likely that it will have long-term consequences, including the following:
- Chronic pain: This is one of the most common long-term effects of a car accident. While even a minor fender bender can cause chronic pain from whiplash or other relatively minor injuries, particularly if they are not properly diagnosed and treated, a more serious injury can result in chronic, debilitating pain. This can make it difficult to work, socialize, or even get through the day without experiencing extreme pain and discomfort.
- Limited mobility: Depending on the type and severity of the injury, it can take months to heal fully. However, injuries like spinal cord injuries or severe fractures may never fully recover, resulting in limited mobility. In extreme cases, a car accident victim may require a wheelchair or other mobility aids to get from one place to another.
- Paralysis: Spinal cord injuries can cause temporary or permanent paralysis. This can have a devastating impact on the victim’s quality of life, particularly if the paralysis is permanent.
- Organ damage: The extreme force of impact from a car accident can damage the internal organs, requiring immediate medical attention. If the organ damage is not properly diagnosed and treated, it can cause a range of long-term health complications, including liver, kidney, or brain damage.
- Scarring: If the car accident causes severe burn injuries or serious lacerations, this can cause scarring, which may require reconstructive surgery or painful skin grafts.
What Are the Long-Term Psychological Implications of a Car Accident?
In addition to the long-term physical effects, a car accident can cause emotional trauma that can last for months, or even years after the accident. The following are some of the most common emotional effects of a serious car accident:
- Anxiety: Even after the physical injuries heal, the trauma of the accident can cause you to experience panic attacks and anxiety, including social anxiety, separation anxiety, and generalized anxiety. Even with treatment, you may continue to experience varying degrees of anxiety permanently.
- Depression: It is also common to experience feelings of depression after an accident, particularly if you lost a loved one or suffered injuries that have caused permanent impairments like paralysis or a severe TBI.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): If you witnessed or were involved in a devastating car accident, you may develop PTSD, which can cause flashbacks and severe emotional reactions that make it difficult, if not impossible, to work, maintain healthy relationships, or simply get through the day.
What Are the Long-Term Financial Implications of a Car Accident?
When a serious car accident injury requires extensive medical care, including surgeries, ongoing follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and even long-term care, this can be financially devastating for years to come. The following are examples of some of the long-term financial impacts of a car accident:
- Medical expenses: Hospital bills include expensive surgeries, imaging, and emergency care. If you require ongoing or long-term care, your medical expenses will continue to accumulate for years, even after your car accident claim is over.
- Lost wages: If your injury prevents you from returning to work indefinitely or permanently, you could lose your salary and benefits.
- Renovation costs: If your home needs to be modified to accommodate a permanent injury, renovation costs are very expensive. For example, installing ramps and widening doors are common renovations needed to accommodate a wheelchair.
How Do I Recover Compensation for Future Losses?
It can be difficult to anticipate the total costs associated with a car accident and how an injury will impact your life in the months, even years, after the accident. Your insurance company may offer you a settlement that may seem like considerable money. However, this rarely covers the total losses associated with a car accident, particularly if you suffered a permanent injury that requires ongoing medical care. Once you accept an insurance settlement, you waive your right to future compensation for your injuries. To avoid this outcome and ensure that you recover the maximum financial compensation you deserve, it is highly recommended that you contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will determine the severity of your injury, calculate the long-term financial impact, and pursue the best possible settlement outcome that addresses all past and future losses.
The Cincinnati Car Accident Lawyers at Wolterman Law Office Recover Maximum Damages for Car Accident Victims
If you were seriously injured in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact the Cincinnati car accident lawyers at Wolterman Law Office. Severe injuries can have long-term physical, emotional, and financial implications. Our dedicated legal team will assist you with the claims process, negotiate with the insurance company, and pursue the settlement outcome that will address the current and long-term effects of the car accident. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 513-488-1135 or contact us online. Our office is located in Loveland, Ohio, and we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.