A car accident can unexpectedly change your life, livelihood, and health. Even if you are lucky to resume work immediately, you may still face challenges such as lack of transportation while your vehicle is in repair, medical bills, car towing and repair costs, strained relationships, pain, and suffering.
If someone else caused your accident, you could pursue compensation for your losses, pain, and suffering. Personal injury laws allow you to claim other economic and non-economic damages apart from lost wages.
Therefore, speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after your car accident is essential to learn your legal options and merits. Working with an experienced car accident law firm will increase the chances of obtaining maximum compensation. Here’s a look at how a car accident can affect your life and the damages you can recover.
How a car accident can affect your life
The state of Florida, for instance, experiences a significant number of car accidents, especially in Hernando County. Around 1000 residents in the county were involved in car accidents in 2018. According to official sources, a significant percentage of these occurred in Brooksville. These types of accidents can have various impacts on the lives of innocent victims. Some of the significant challenges you may experience after a car accident include the following:
Pain and suffering
If you sustain injuries from a car accident, you may experience tremendous pain from the condition and also some tiredness from all the medication. The pain and suffering will depend on the extent of the injuries. You could be in a lot of pain but still be required to go to work after your accident.
Transportation difficulties
If your vehicle is damaged in the accident, you must pay for it to be towed and repaired. You might experience transportation difficulties because of this situation.
Financial challenges
The cost of treating your injuries and repairing damaged property can be expensive. Even if you don’t sustain physical injuries, you may need the help of mental health professionals to cope with the shock of the incident. The cost of traveling and booking appointments can make a dent in your finances.
Damaged credit
Hospital bills, car repair costs, etc., can pile up, leading to credit troubles, especially if they reach collections. These kinds of debts can besmirch your crest score.
Emotional challenges and strained relationships
As already mentioned, a car accident can be shocking. You may experience anxiety, PTSD, and sleeping troubles. Coupled with the resulting financial stress, it can be tough on your relationships.
Loss of consortium is a term often used when discussing a car accident’s effects on relationships. It refers to losing the benefits of a family relationship, including companionship, support, and intimate relations, due to an accident.
Vehicle depreciation
Of course, vehicles involved in accidents age faster. Sometimes, it’s easy to determine damages such as broken mirrors, dented rear, etc. However, even if your car rolls out of the incident unhurt, the accident will still be part of its story, significantly lowering its market value. You need help figuring out this cost. There’s also the chance that costs covering maintenance and repairs of problematic components will lead to a far more significant dent in your bank account than usual.
Accident victims can recover economic and non-economic damages
Personal injury laws govern car accident cases. Many states adhere to modified comparative negligence standards, meaning you can obtain compensation for car accidents in which you are less than 50% at fault. Even if you weren’t injured or didn’t miss work, you can still claim other damages, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Car towing and repair costs
- Depreciation
- Psychotherapy costs
- Car hire/rental costs
- Costs of traveling to and from related appointments
How to recover damages from a car accident
After experiencing a car accident, it is vital to take the necessary measures to ensure the success of your case. Although it may be challenging to remain composed or take any actions following such a traumatic event, maintaining a calm demeanor and adhering to the proper protocol will significantly benefit your claim.
The recommended steps include reporting the incident so you can get emergency help. It will also allow police to record your statement and injuries and make an official report to help your case.
Gather evidence, including photos, witness statements and contact info, insurance details, and vehicle plates from the other driver. Go to a hospital and follow your doctor’s advice, including attending all required appointments.
Write down what you remember about the accident, document your recovery, and keep every receipt of expenses related to the car accident.
Lastly, hire a reputable lawyer as soon as possible. A car accident lawyer will help you with the claim filing process, answering questions from insurance representatives, gathering evidence, and negotiating or litigating.
In fact, you have a high chance of obtaining maximum compensation if you work with a lawyer. Call a reputable law firm today to learn more from a qualified car accident lawyer.
