Understanding the Long-Term Impact of Car Accidents on Health and Finances

The after-effects of a car accident, in terms of health and finances, may go way beyond the immediate impact. Right after an incident of this nature, most people’s minds immediately turn to things like repair issues, medical bills, and insurance claims and not long-term effects. These may take several months or even years fully to come into view and might put the victim in quite a critical situation. This is where an Atlanta car accident lawyer can help you. They make sure that your long-term health and financial needs are taken care of.

Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

Check out what previous clients say about their services. Do they carry clients along? Do they communicate— break down details to their clients? Getting a local lawyer is also important because they know the laws regarding accidents in the city of Atlanta.

The Hidden Health Consequences of a Car Accident: Why You Need a Lawyer

While injuries such as cuts, bruises, and broken bones heal shortly after being in a car accident, sometimes more severe internal health issues may not reveal themselves until a week or even a month or so later. Whiplash, nerve damage, and concussion are just a few of the different things that could be suffered long after the accident, so it’s important to stay vigilant with your health for many weeks.

Those whiplash injuries experienced by almost all car crashes lead to long-term neck and back pain. In some cases, victims are not able to recover even after physiotherapy. It hampers their life and work, too.

Psychological and Emotional Stress

Many victims of car accidents have been known to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. In some cases, driving again after an accident can be very difficult because of the trauma.

The damage caused by an accident takes more time to heal than physical damage. In most cases, therapies and counseling are required to help the victims get through with their mental health after such an incident. Over time, the costs associated with such services pile up, adding to the overall financial burden.

Other Financial Consequences Outside of Immediate Costs

The economic cost of a car accident is not limited to expensive repair bills or direct medical costs. Many of these situations involve working through long-term financial burdens, with their injuries and time off from work. Losing wages with the earning capacity cut down because of the ongoing medical bills will slice down any savings a person might have and cause financial stress surprisingly fast.

The sad truth is that injuries can be crippling, and most of the time, the victims of such injuries have to spend a fortune in getting accustomed to the new way of life. Expenses on home modification, special equipment, and long-term medical care are just but a few examples of what may come out of this unfortunate incident. A good attorney can allow you to factor these future expenses into any settlement with sufficient funding for the future.

Legal Support from a Car Accident Lawyer

It is highly recommended that as soon as possible after a car accident, one seeks legal advice. The lawyer will explain in detail all cumbersome legalities and see you through the process of getting compensation due you. The negotiations that need to be done with various insurance companies can also be well entrusted to your attorney while you recover from your injury.

A legal professional will be able to ascertain the true value of your damages, not just current medical treatment but future medical injuries. This may include the following: future medical treatment, lost wages, and the cost of continuing therapy and rehabilitation. An attorney will ensure you are compensated in all areas pertinent to recovery.

Rehabilitation and Continuing Medical Needs

The treatment of a car accident can be very long. Even after the first treatment, most of the victims need follow-ups in the form of physical therapies, chiropractic treatments, and even surgeries for months or years; hence, this increases the overall time it takes to recover.

All of these may lead to chronic pain, a common consequence for many accident victims who may have to endure long-term treatment through medication, physical therapy, or other types of care. In some cases, victims may not fully recover from their injuries and would, in effect, have to seek treatment for the rest of their lives. This will require multiple treatments over time, and any awarded compensation should reflect this requirement.

Rehabilitation is not just about becoming physically better — it is also about healing emotionally and psychologically. Oftentimes, victims need guidance and counseling to move beyond the scope of the traumatic incident. These treatments are expensive but an instrumental part of the healing process, and there is no reason victims should be denied those that will help.

Long-Term Planning with a Car Accident Lawyer

Of course, the most critical long-term health and financial consequences are after the accident. What initially might seem minor could blossom into chronic pain or, for that matter, ongoing problems with medical care. It is important to make sure your future planning is taken care of, and you have resources to cover such expenses.

More often, legal experts are necessary in planning your future. An experienced attorney will be able to help you through the legal system and ensure that whatever settlement or award you receive reflects precisely what you will need in the future to protect your financial stability and make sure the support necessary for complete recovery is taken into consideration.

Moving On After the Accident with Help from a Car Accident Lawyer

One may be affected by a car accident in terms of quality of life for many years. Overwhelmed by the medical needs, emotional trauma, and financial stress that come along with a car accident, one can sail through such problems toward a considerably better future by having the proper guidance. That is what a car accident lawyer can do for you.

Visit the CDC’s Motor Vehicle Safety page for more information on the lifetime cost of car crashes and how you can prevent car accidents.

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