The Unseen Costs of Car Accidents: Financial, Emotional, and Physical

Every year in the US there are more than 6 million passenger car accidents, and more than 42,900 are fatal. According to the Department of Transportation, car accidents cost the economy around $340 billion yearly, but this is only a general overview. When you focus on the individuals involved in accidents, the costs are more than likely a lot more, especially when you factor in the financial, emotional, and physical aspects.

The Financial

When people think about car accidents, they’re mostly concerned about the immediate financial cost, which is making repairs to the car and paying insurance fees. However, there are many more financial considerations to make following an accident including:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of services
• Loss of income
• Living adjustments

The expenses can vary from case to case, but there’s no denying that a car accident can change a life forever. For example, if a driver suffers paralysis from spinal damage, they may lose the ability to carry out simple functions like mowing the lawn, taking care of children, and attending their place of work. The loss of actions like this, which most people take for granted, leads to emotional distress, financial trauma, and physical limitations.

The Emotional

Even the smallest of car accidents can leave behind emotional trauma, with the most common issue being stress. However, the complication with mental distress is that it’s not always immediately obvious, which is why people have to be aware of their state of mind following a traumatic event. Here are the most common mental conditions following a car accident:

• Behavior and personality changes
• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleep disorders

Even though not visually debilitating, some of these mental conditions can prevent people from getting out of their daily life, which results in visual symptoms and financial issues.

The Physical

Most people only see car wreckages when accidents happen, but the physical cost runs much deeper, especially when server injuries are involved. Unless you’re lucky enough to escape unscathed, here’s a list of the most common car accident injuries:

• Burns
• Fractures
• Tissue damage
• Loss of limbs
• Cuts
• Internal organ damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage

In the majority of car accidents, it’s the physical injuries that lead to unseen emotional and financial costs. For example, if you lose your limbs, your life will change forever and you’ll be out of work for a long time, which will be emotionally and financially draining.

Seeking Compensation

Even though the financial, emotional, and physical issues following a car accident go largely unseen, they’re very much real. Therefore, even though these can’t always be seen, you can still claim compensation to cover damages. To do this, you will need to hire a qualified auto accident lawyer who will work hard to win a fair sum.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with The Law Office of William J. Luse using the following details:

Address: 917 Broadway St, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Call now for a free consultation on (843) 839-4795.