The True Cost of a Car Accident Beyond Property Damage

Car accidents are often thought of as flashes of terror that are over in seconds and get resolved once the damaged cars are removed from the scene. The idea that damage to the car is the only long-term loss is a myth. There is so much more that goes into the aftermath of a car accident, especially depending on the severity. If you have never been in a car crash and do not know what to expect if it happens to you one day, read below to help prepare yourself in the case that you end up in a car accident. 

Physical Pain

Car accidents, even minor fender benders can cause physical problems for drivers that can last for days, weeks, months, and even years. Many people end up with whiplash from the initial impact of a crash and this kind of pain may require medical attention or an ice pack. More severe car accidents could land drivers in the hospital if they broke bones or had internal damage from the impact of airbags or other car parts hitting them. Other small injuries can include lacerations from flying glass and bruising. 

Recovery from any of these injuries may entail surgeries, stitches, physical therapy, and lots of recovery time. The physical impact of a car accident is a price that many drivers and passengers have to face in the aftermath and many people suffer from chronic pain long after the healing is done. Every car accident is different, but when humans are in a vehicle that is driving fast and then hits another vehicle or a stationary object, our fragile frames suffer.

Legal Repercussions

Whether you are at fault or not in a car accident, it is likely that you will have to be involved in some kind of legal process to resolve financial issues brought on by the crash. Immediately following a car accident, if you are physically well enough to do so, you should contact your insurance company and make a record of everything that happened including taking pictures and writing down a statement. If things escalate to needing a lawyer, find a car accident attorney in Moreno Valley who will represent you and help you get compensated for your injuries and damages to your car. The legal repercussions of a car accident can go on for months as lawyers compile evidence and gather witnesses to the crash. 

Even if you think that the trauma of the crash has ended, you may have to relive the crash by looking at photos of it in court and describing the events to a jury. You may also have even further implications if you are the driver at fault. Repercussions can extend as far as being convicted of a crime depending on the severity of the crash and the impact on the people involved.  

Legal dealings post-crash may not even be with the other people involved in the crash but with your own insurance company. Sometimes after a car crash, insurance companies refuse to pay for car repairs, leading to a legal battle with customers. This is why collecting evidence as soon as the crash is over is so important because you can use it to get the money you deserve to fix your car. These legal fights can last a long time and may leave you without a car for months at a time if you cannot get it fixed.

Financial Loss

Although property damage can cost a pretty penny after a car accident, there are other things that can cost a lot more. Between medical bills and legal fees, one of the biggest setbacks that car accident victims face is financial loss. Initial costs that can make a big impact are ambulance fees, hospital bills, and towing fees. In the long run, medical insurance may not cover all of the costs of physical therapy or chiropractor appointments as well as any other long-term medical needs due to chronic pain or disability brought on by the accident.

Legal fees are also a huge setback, especially if you were the one responsible for the crash. Hiring good lawyers means that you will hopefully get a good result but will have to invest a lot of money in them. 

Getting injured badly in a car accident can also put you out of work for weeks or months and people who do not have traditional jobs with insurance and loyalty may even be let go due to the time they missed. Lost wages on top of paying high medical and legal fees can cause financial ruin that will take years to recover from. 

Loss of Life

Since driving cars has existed, human casualties have happened. No one ever intends to cause death when they get behind the wheel, but we never know what the future holds. The best thing people can do is to stay vigilant on the road and never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Losing a loved one in a car accident is a scar that will never heal and will stick with the victims for the rest of their lives. People who survive car crashes while someone else in the car does not will suffer from survivor’s guilt forever. 

On the other side of the coin, if a person is driving and hits another car and that accident results in the death of someone in that car, their life is changed forever. They will likely go to court and then prison. The impact of the loss of life in car accidents ripples through families and communities and leaves a permanent scar.

Emotional Toll

People who are involved in car accidents can have mental scars in addition to physical ones. A car crash is a traumatic experience and can cause side effects like PTSD and anxiety. Some people may take months to get back into a car or drive again. This emotional toll is amplified if there is a loss of life. Whether it was someone they knew or not, being involved in an event where someone died changes a person. One of the biggest impacts of car accidents is the emotional fallout.

Being involved in a car accident is scary and no matter how bad it is, it is an experience that costs everyone in some way. Stay safe on the road and if you are unfortunate enough to end up in a car accident, remember that even if the recovery process is long, you will hopefully get back your sense of normalcy.