Car Accident Changed My Life

One of the most common statements a personal injury attorney hears from clients is: “A car accident changed my life.” A person who has been the victim of a car accident can expect many physical and emotional changes. In many cases, a personal injury attorney may be able to help the victim recover monetary payments for these injuries and changes.

What Types of Injuries Change Victim’s Lives?

Some injuries are strictly temporary in nature. They involve only minor inconveniences that will quickly resolve themselves. This may be true even if the initial injury is very traumatic. For example, a broken leg is a traumatic injury, but it usually heals quickly and completely.

On the other hand, a relatively “minor” injury may cause permanent and lasting changes in a victim’s life. For example, a broken finger could be considered a relatively minor physical injury, but may cause the victim pain for many years to come, especially when he or she attempts to use the hand in a certain way. This could make the broken finger ultimately a more serious injury than the broken leg.

Injuries that change victims’ lives include:

• Any injury that results in permanent pain or loss of use. Even if the pain is only minor, or the loss of use is not one that seriously affects a victim’s life, a permanent injury still changes the victim’s lifestyle in some way.
• Any injury that causes the victim to lose the ability to do something. Hearing loss, loss of sight, loss of use of a limb or loss of any other ability is a very serious issue. Permanent loss of a former ability can often be considered a catastrophic injury.
• Any injury that has the potential to worsen over time. Some injuries do not improve. In fact, some may gradually worsen as time passes or result in further loss of abilities. These injuries are often considered catastrophic in nature as well.

What Should I Do If I Suffer a Catastrophic Injury?

If you are the victim of a catastrophic injury, talk to a personal injury attorney about your claim. You may be able to recover significant monetary compensation for your losses, including payment of your medical expenses and other costs.