Physical, Emotional, and Financial Effects of a Car Accident

Car accidents can cause injuries that last a lifetime. Not just physical damage, though crashes are certainly responsible for some of the physical injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries. Collisions also take a serious emotional and financial toll. In Nevada, the primary way to secure compensation for this type of harm is by filing a personal injury claim against whoever is at fault.

Some people don’t realize that compensation for motor vehicle accidents can cover more than just current and past expenses. It can also account for costs that are anticipated in the future, as well as losses that do not have a specific dollar amount, such as pain and suffering. A Las Vegas car accident lawyer at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys can help you fight for maximum compensation if you’ve been hurt in a crash.

At THE702FIRM, our attorneys look at the big picture when we evaluate clients’ cases. You can count on us to push for the full and fair compensation that you are owed. That includes physical and emotional damages.

Ready to learn more about how we can help? It’s easy and free. Call or contact us for a consultation at no charge, with no strings attached.

The Physical Effects of a Car Accident

An automobile accident can cause devastating injuries. These physical effects play a key role in determining how much compensation you may be entitled to receive after a wreck. The worse the trauma, the more money you could potentially recover for your injuries.

The most common physical effects of a car accident include:

• Cuts: Deep cuts can sever arteries and cause a person to suffer serious external bleeding. If not treated immediately, these lacerations could cause the victim to bleed out before reaching the hospital. Cuts can also leave permanent scars that a person must deal with for the rest of his or her life, which can lead to emotional distress.
• Soft tissue damage: Soft tissues in the body include the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Whiplash is a common soft tissue injury. While often dismissed as a mild injury, severe cases of whiplash can have long-term effects. Anywhere from 45 to 85 percent of whiplash victims still suffer from symptoms five years after their injury, according to the American Chiropractic Association.
• Broken bones: Fractures are very common in car accidents. A severe break may require surgery and a long recovery. Fractures can also damage vital organs if splinters penetrate the organ tissues.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Brain injuries vary in severity. Some car accident victims can return to a normal life with little to no limitations. But in catastrophic TBIs, victims can suffer from memory loss, speech problems, cognitive deficits, motor problems, personality changes, seizures, and other permanent disabilities.
• Burns: During a car crash, explosions or exposure to hot pieces of debris can result in thermal burns. Victims can also suffer from chemical burns if fluids from the vehicles come in contact with their skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, burns that result in permanent scarring can cause accident victims a great deal of embarrassment and humiliation. Scar tissue may also force victims to endure repeated surgeries as they heal and/or grow.
• Amputation: Losing a limb is one of the most traumatic injuries that a person can suffer. An amputation may happen at the scene of a crash, or a limb could be surgically removed if it has been too damaged to save. The long-term impacts of amputation include mobility problems, infections, blood clots, and phantom limb pain. Some victims experience tremendous grief and depression as well.

If you’re suffering from complications and permanent medical problems after a car accident in Las Vegas, a lawyer at THE702FIRM can identify all possible sources of compensation for you.

Emotional Impacts of a Car Accident

Every auto accident is traumatizing. It’s no surprise that many people suffer emotional injuries as well as physical ones. Some of the most common emotional effects of a car accident include:

• Anxiety: Panic attacks, social anxiety, separation anxiety, and generalized anxiety can hinder a person’s ability to recover and enjoy life. Even with proper treatment, a person may experience anxiety for the rest of their lives after a car accident.
• Depression: It’s natural to experience depression after a crash, particularly if the victim has lost a loved one or has suffered serious injuries with no promise of a full recovery. Sleep issues: Stress can overstimulate the brain and cause a number of different sleep disorders.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): When a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event such as a car crash, they may develop PTSD. This can lead to flashbacks of the event and other emotional reactions that are disabling. This can prevent the victim from returning to work and developing healthy relationships with others.

Seek mental health treatment if you are suffering from emotional trauma after a car accident. The most important priority after any wreck is getting treatment to protect your health and well-being.

Financial Impacts After a Car Accident

Like physical and emotional injuries, car accidents can have lasting financial impacts. The most common of these are:

• Medical costs: The costs of routine medical care are expensive enough. But when emergency care and future treatment are factored in, the medical expenses incurred after a car accident injury can be astronomical. For example, the lifetime costs of a person with a severe traumatic brain injury can reach as high as $4 million.
• Loss of income: Disabilities that result from a crash may prevent a victim from returning to work or earning as much money as they could before the collision. Compensation in a successful car accident claim can cover past, current, and future lost wages, as well as lost earning potential.
• Property damage: Cars are expensive to repair or replace. You shouldn’t have to pay for these damages if someone else caused your crash. A successful car accident claim can help you recoup these losses. Unfortunately, having a car accident in any vehicle’s history will lower its resale value in the future.
• Renovation costs: Homes may need to be modified to assist victims who suffer from long-term injuries. Examples include the installation of ramps or widening of doors and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs. Construction costs are burdens that you should never have had to bear. Recovering money for these expenses can be included in an insurance claim for compensation.
• Loss of services: A person contributes more to their household than just an income. They may cook, take care of children, or regularly clean the home and perform maintenance. When a person can no longer perform these tasks, outside help is often required, and those costs can quickly increase.

Calculating Future Compensation for Long-Term Car Accident Injuries

Getting legal help after a car accident in Las Vegas is important to ensure that all your future needs are taken into account. But how do you place a dollar figure on costs that you don’t know about yet? That’s how a lawyer can help.

Attorneys utilize many tools to help forecast future expenses. One way is by consulting with medical professionals who have specialized knowledge about your injuries and can make predictions about what kind of treatment you will need and for how long you might need it.

Other experts can assist with calculating future expenses, too. Financial planners can look at the long-term economic losses you can expect due to your injuries. Vocational specialists can identify how your injuries will affect your ability to earn an income in the future.

Finally, your unique characteristics, such as age, life expectancy, geographic location, and overall health, will play a role in determining a fair settlement amount for future costs. At THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys, our lawyers consider all of these factors when valuing a case. 

Why You Need to Consult a Legal Professional After a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, seeking guidance from an experienced auto accident attorney is one of the smartest steps you can take. Here’s why.

Understanding Your Rights

After a car accident, many people feel lost about their legal rights. Personal injury law exists to protect accident victims, but it can be overwhelming to understand without help. A legal professional can explain how the law applies to your situation, ensuring you don’t miss out on the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, or mental anguish.

Protecting Your Personal Injury Claim

Insurance companies often prioritize their bottom line over fairness to auto accident victims. Without legal guidance, you risk accepting a low settlement that doesn’t cover your medical expenses, emotional suffering, or ongoing care for spinal cord injuries or other severe injuries. A skilled attorney knows how to handle these companies and fight for a fair outcome.

Building a Strong Case

Proving how a car accident affects your life takes more than telling your side of the story. An attorney will collect police reports, medical records, witness statements, and other evidence to support your personal injury claim. This detailed preparation increases your chances of a successful outcome, especially in cases involving serious injuries.

Focusing on Recovery

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident injury can drain you physically and mentally. By consulting a legal professional, you can focus on healing while they handle the legal process. From negotiating with the insurance company to representing you in court, they take care of the heavy lifting.

Avoiding Costly Mistakes

Delays, missed deadlines, or poorly documented claims can hurt your case. An experienced attorney ensures everything is handled correctly from the start, giving you the best chance to recover damages for your injuries, emotional suffering, and mental anguish.

Getting Compensation for More than Just Your Injury

Under Nevada law, you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages for your injuries. Economic damages are those that are easily calculated. These damages include medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and more.

Non-economic damages include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and other non-tangible losses. It is recommended that you work with a lawyer who can help you quantify these damages.

In rare cases, car accident victims can also be awarded punitive damages if the at-fault party was especially reckless. These damages are awarded to “punish” the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future.

Talk to a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer Now

Have you been seriously injured in a Las Vegas car wreck? You need an experienced injury lawyer who knows what your case is worth. Turn to THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys. Our skilled team of car accident lawyers will build a strong legal claim that places your past, present, and future needs first.

Don’t wait to get started on the path to a healthier future. Call or contact THE702FIRM today for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we win.