Lasting Effects of a Motor Vehicle Accident
Suffering serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident can leave you physically, emotionally, and financially devastated. It’s not uncommon for car accident victims to suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and other trauma that causes pain, disability, and emotional anguish for months or years to come. When you’ve sustained long-term injuries in a car accident caused by someone’s carelessness, it’s important to consider your potential long-term needs before reaching a settlement with the at-fault party.
Can a Car Accident Cause Problems Years Later?
Recovering from the physical side effects of a car accident could take weeks, months, or years. In severe cases, a full recovery may not even be possible. Many victims also experience emotional difficulties which can plague their lives long into the future. The unfortunate result for many people is financial debt due to ongoing medical expenses, the inability to work, and the limited nature of some disability benefits.
Emotional vs. Physical Long-Term Effects of a Car Accident
While the emotional and physical injuries from a car accident differ, both can limit a victim’s quality of life.
The hard truth is that trauma from a car accident can produce long-lasting effects. For example, back, neck, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries can cause chronic pain and permanent disabilities. Even comparatively less severe injuries, like herniated discs, can require extended treatment and could limit a person’s ability to work in their chosen career forever.
The emotional effects of a car accident should not be overlooked. Studies have shown that accident victims may also have post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, mental anguish, and other mental conditions after a car accident. You may even experience phobias of driving or riding in a car altogether. These illnesses can have wide-ranging consequences in other areas of your life, such as your ability to enjoy life or even commute to your workplace.
Medical Care After a Car Accident
Getting medical care is crucial to protect your health and a future legal claim. If your injuries are immediately apparent, as in the case of a broken neck, you will likely receive emergency medical care right away.
However, car accident victims often suffer delayed-onset injuries, which means that symptoms don’t appear immediately. This can be the case with brain injuries and internal organ damage, both of which can be life-threatening. That’s why it is so important to seek medical attention following a car accident to ensure you receive the proper care you need.
Furthermore, you may also require long-term medical treatment from medical professionals and rehabilitation specialists.
From a legal standpoint, getting prompt medical attention shows the insurance company that you did everything possible to mitigate the effects of your injury. It also links the car accident to your injury on your medical record, which will be valuable evidence in any claim or lawsuit you file.
Additionally, psychological and psychiatric treatments needed to address a car accident’s emotional and mental effects are often overlooked in lieu of physical healing. Still, it’s crucial to get qualified medical attention to help you treat mental injuries that may make it difficult to sleep, work, have close relationships, and participate in activities you once enjoyed.
Contact Our Skilled Ohio Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers
If you are experiencing physical, emotional, and mental effects from being in a motor vehicle accident that wasn’t your fault, contact the Ohio car accident lawyer at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys today. We will help you pursue maximum compensation for the long-lasting effects of your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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At Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, we only represent consumers. We fight for regular people who have been seriously hurt in accidents. We fight for people who are being crushed by overwhelming debt and need a fresh start. We fight for individuals and families. Never businesses. Never insurance companies. We are loyal to the consumer.
