The aftermath of a car accident can be very scary when someone has been seriously hurt. The days and even weeks that follow a major crash can be a very uncertain and frightening time for the injured person and their family. You may not know the true extent of your injuries right away. In many cases, it can take some time before it becomes clear whether an injury will heal or become permanent. In others, it is immediately clear that the victim has suffered irreversible harm. In either event, it is important that you call an attorney as soon as you are able to. A prompt investigation may be critical to proving your case later, as accident scene evidence can be quickly disturbed and lost.
What Permanent Injuries Commonly Result From Car Accidents?
Finding out that an injury you sustained in a car accident will affect you the rest of your life can be a devastating blow. Some permanent injuries from car crashes can even stop you from returning to work or leave you in need of long-term care. These injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury – Certain injuries to the brain can permanently affect a person’s ability to function in daily life in a drastic way. Behavioral and emotional changes in addition to physical health problems are not uncommon.
- Amputations – Losing a limb can permanently affect your ability to work or engage in other activities of daily living. Long-term physical therapy will likely be required to help you relearn to perform certain tasks, such as walking or cooking.
- Burns – Burn injuries can lead to serious disfigurement and an ongoing need for treatment.
- Paralysis – Spinal and neck injuries that lead to paralysis or partial paralysis can devastate a person’s life. A person who has been paralyzed in a car accident may require ongoing extensive care, as they may no longer be able to care for themselves in certain ways depending on the extent of paralysis.
Who is Liable For These Long-Term Expenses?
A negligent driver who injures another person is generally liable for the full extent of the harm he causes. Most likely, it is the negligent driver’s insurance company that will ultimately pay out. However, most insurance plans include a liability cap, meaning the insurance company will only pay up to a certain dollar amount. There are other methods for seeking further compensation if the amount an insurance company will pay does not cover all expenses associated with the crash and resulting injuries. You will need to speak to an attorney to further discuss your options here.
Call a Wisconsin Car Accident Lawyer
If you suffered a serious disabling injury as a result of a car accident, Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. may be able to help recover compensation on your behalf. Our Appleton car accident attorneys are skilled at advocating for those who have suffered major injuries as a result of careless driving. Call us at 920-739-7366 for a free consultation.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1315633/