Car accidents are rampant in Virginia, with 118,498 crashes in 2021 resulting in 58,786 injuries and 968 deaths. The most publicized and commonly known effects of accidents are physical injuries and death. However, there’re other adverse and lesser-known repercussions of accidents. Whether you sustained a TBI or PSTD in a crash, a car accident attorney in Virginia can offer legal counsel and help you attain compensation for damages. Here are two less-known effects of auto accidents.
Emotional Scars
After an accident, many victims suffer psychological ramifications from stress, anxiety, depression, mood swings, fear, anger, sleep disturbances, PSTD, and behavioral changes. You may experience personality and behavior changes characterized by hallucinations, confusion, delirium, and disorganized speech. The conditions can last a few days to months and are damaging as physical injuries.
Auto accidents are a leading cause of PSTD in the US, affecting 9% of accident survivors. Many victims report re-experiencing the trauma through thoughts and dreams and avoiding situations associated with the accident. PSTD affects a victim’s ability to work, relate with friends and family, engage in daily activities, and general quality of life.
Wrongful death from an auto crash causes emotional trauma. When a person loses their spouse or child, they suffer guilt, shock, loneliness, hopelessness, anxiety, anger, and emptiness. Spouses lose companionship and love, while surviving kids experience loss of guidance and memories.
Fortunately, in Virginia, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused an accident resulting in psychological repercussions. A car accident attorney helps you prove liability, calculate damages, and attain compensation for noneconomic damages. While rare, victims may get punitive damages to punish the liable party if they portray extreme recklessness.
Financial Setbacks
Did you know that auto accidents in the US cost $340 billion in 2019, according to NHTSA? These include medical costs, court and legal expenses, emergency services, claims, property damage, and lost productivity. Even uninvolved people in crashes pay for the cost of accidents in taxes and lost time in traffic.
Auto crash victims incur property damage, medical expenses, and loss of income. Most cars get significant mechanical and cosmetic damage after a crash, affecting their actual cash value. Repairing the vehicle may be a costly endeavor, and so is replacement.
Medical costs cause a substantial financial dent to victims and their families. Depending on your injury’s severity, you can pay up to $15,000 for medical treatment, including hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and medication. The costs increase when you sustain injuries requiring long-term or lifelong care.
Some injuries affect a victim’s ability to work. Some cannot resume work due to cognitive problems, emotional distress, and physical incapacitation. With the piling medical bills and lack of income, victims experience financial hardships, affecting their quality of life and welfare. If the victim is the breadwinner, the financial effects are devastating for the family.
When someone becomes physically disabled in Virginia, they must modify their homes to accommodate wheelchairs, clutches, and other assistive devices. Other financial effects of an accident include high insurance premiums, alternative transportation costs, and loss of services.
Insurance is handy in reducing the financial burden for victims and their families. Nevertheless, underinsured and uninsured victims experience financial hardships, primarily when the insurer does not cover certain medical expenses. Insurance companies paying as little as possible to victims escalates the situation.
Auto accidents have devastating consequences on victims, families, and the economy. Besides physical injuries, accidents cause psychological distress and financial difficulties. The effects narrow down to a person’s unique injuries and other circumstances. Working with a skilled car accident attorney allows you to get compensated for damages sustained in an auto crash in Virginia. However, preventing injuries and protecting victims’ rights are paramount.
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