How does an accident affect your life in North Carolina? The truth is that a serious accident will affect your life physically and financially. Recovery from the physical harm of an accident can take months. But that’s not the only challenge accident victims face. There is also the often-overlooked financial impact of an injury, which can be much greater than anticipated.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in North Carolina, you should understand your options. You may have a right to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage. If the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, you can file a personal injury lawsuit demanding financial compensation for your medical expenses incurred, as well as other losses. Take advantage of a free consultation with a North Carolina accident injury accident to clarify the steps you can take.
There Can Be Some Immediate Financial Impact of Injuries
After a car accident, financial hardship can take many forms. The financial impact is likely to have both short-term and long-term aspects. The immediate financial impact of an accident can include:
Medical Expenses
Short-term medical expenses can include emergency services, doctors’ visits, hospital stays, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. Medical care is costly. Even with insurance, you may have out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and copays. If you are unable to work as a result of your injuries, you may lack the income to pay unanticipated medical bills.
Property Damage
Your property damage expenses after an accident include the cost of car repairs or replacement of a totaled car. You may also seek compensation for personal property damaged in a crash, such as a laptop computer. In many cases, a crash will cause more damage to a car than the vehicle’s value, forcing you to replace it with another vehicle.
The Ripple Effect: Lost Income and Long-Term Costs
As bad as the short-term impact often is, the long-term impact can be even worse. Accidents that cause injuries have a ripple effect in terms of lost wages and long-term costs.
Lost Wages
If you are unable to work while recovering from your injuries, you may run out of vacation and sick leave and lose whatever wages you would have earned if you had been able to work. Lost wages can cause you to fall behind in meeting your regular household expenses and leave you unable to pay the medical bills from the treatment of your accident-related injuries.
Long-Term Care
Some injuries, such as broken bones, heal relatively quickly, but others take months or longer. Long-term care expenses include the costs of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any home modifications you need to make to make your home accessible. You can pursue a personal injury case and seek compensation for the costs of a long-term injury in North Carolina.
Loss of Earning Potential
Lost wages after an injury in NC include more than just your immediate lost income. Accident victims may have limitations on the type of work they can do after an accident, causing future lost income. Severe injuries can lead to career changes or an inability to return to work.
Long-term injuries often reduce your work capacity in other ways. If you’re forced to switch to a different type of work, you may earn less income after going back to work. If your injuries are severe, it may not be possible for you to return to your old job. You can pursue compensation for this loss of income due to reduced capacity as part of a personal injury claim.
Injuries Can be Long Lasting – Physically, Mentally and Emotionally
Accident consequences in North Carolina can be long-lasting. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, you may be struggling with your injuries. The effects of an accident can include:
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
- Emotional distress from the trauma of the accident and the long-term effects of your injuries
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to limitations on your activities
- Anxiety and fear in the aftermath of the accident
- Anger and shock as you process the impact of the accident on your life
These effects can have an impact on your career and your income as well. You can file a claim seeking compensation for your losses to avoid having a burden of medical debt.
Take Back Control After Your Accident
How can you take control after an accident in North Carolina? First, make sure everyone is safe and contact law enforcement. Then:
- Exchange information with the other driver
- Gather evidence by taking photographs of your injuries, damage to the vehicle, road conditions, and anything else you think might help.
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you’re injured
After getting the medical help you need, your next step is to contact a North Carolina accident injury attorney for guidance. You need a law firm with experience handling personal injury cases and a track record of favorable outcomes. Our legal team knows personal injury law. A qualified Raleigh personal injury attorney can negotiate with insurance adjusters and can guide you through the legal process of seeking fair compensation.
When you file a personal injury claim, you can pursue money for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
A knowledgeable Raleigh personal injury lawyer at Hardison & Cochran can file your claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement. If the insurer doesn’t offer an acceptable amount, your personal injury attorney can file a lawsuit to pursue compensation in court.
North Carolina is a contributory negligence state. That means you cannot obtain compensation for your losses if you were partially responsible for the accident. You need the help of a skilled personal injury attorney who understands North Carolina law to stand up to the insurance company’s attempts to pin the blame on you.
Hardison & Cochran handles personal injury cases involving car accidents. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. We do not charge legal fees unless we secure a settlement or court award for our client. Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers are dedicated to standing up for the rights of injured North Carolinians. Contact Hardison & Cochran today for a free consultation where you can learn more about how we can help you.
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