Understanding the Long-Term Effects of a Cleveland Car Accident

Even a minor fender bender can significantly interrupt your life. While the injuries from these minor collisions are likely to heal in a few days or weeks, you may have to miss work. Dealing with an insurance claim can be stressful as well.

If a minor crash can potentially affect many aspects of your life, imagine what a serious crash can do. For some victims, the effects of a severe accident may be felt for many years or even the rest of their lives.

Below, the experienced lawyers at Friedman, Domiano and Smith discuss some of the long-term effects of a Cleveland car accident. If you have legal questions after a crash, our Cleveland car accident lawyers may be able to help you seek compensation.

Injuries That Can Cause Long-Term Problems for Crash Victims

Car crashes can cause severe or catastrophic injuries that could have long-term effects on injured victims. Some crash victims suffer injuries that may affect them for the rest of their lives.

These are some of the injuries that may affect victims for a long time after the crash:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Head trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Amputated limbs
• Severe burns (third-degree or higher)
• Lacerations
• Internal injuries, including internal organ damage or bleeding
• Compound fractures
• Whiplash
• Knee injuries, like a torn meniscus
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Disc injuries or other back injuries

The long-term impact of a collision depends on many factors, including the specifics of your injury, your age, preexisting health issues, how you respond to treatment, and more.

Doctors need to determine the long-term effects of an injury to recommend ongoing treatment. This also helps your lawyer determine what your treatment may cost.

Long-Term Physical Effects of an Auto Accident

These are some of the potential long-term physical effects of a car accident:

• Chronic pain 
• Nerve root compression
• Headaches
• Shoulder pain
• Limited mobility
• Paralysis, such as from a spinal cord injury
• Loss of bowel control
• Lost bladder control 
• Muscle weakness 
• Impaired muscle coordination
• Loss of balance
• Nerve damage 
• Migraines
• Organ failure requiring a transplant
• Pain that worsens with movement 
• Scarring
• Disfigurement 
• Impaired cognitive function
• Shortness of breath
• Vision loss 
• Hearing loss 

These types of symptoms can restrict your ability to work in the same position as you did before. You may need to find a lower-paying position or work part-time. Some Cleveland car crash victims will not be able to work at all because of these physical issues.

Severe car crash injuries can also affect you outside of work. You may be unable to play with your children or even pick them up. You might not be able to help out around the house as much as before. These physical limitations can have severe financial and emotional consequences for victims and their families.

What Are Some of the Long-Term Emotional/Psychological Consequences of a Car Accident Injury?

There is a significant psychological/emotional component to car accident injuries. For example, some crash victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder. They may not want to drive or go anywhere close to where the accident occurred.

Other examples of emotional effects of a car crash injury include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Cognitive impairments 
• Personality/behavior changes
• Trouble concentrating
• Sleeping problems
• Chronic fatigue 
• Loss of companionship and consortium 
• Memory issues 
• Sexual dysfunction
• Anger management problems
• Flashbacks

Some crash victims make significant progress after seeking therapy to help them with the emotional trauma. Mental health professionals can equip crash victims with coping strategies and help them develop better psychological well-being.  

Long-Term Financial Effects of Car Crash Injuries

Treatment for the physical and emotional effects of a car crash quickly adds up, leaving victims trying to figure out how to manage the costly expense of getting the care they need, especially when the damages require long-term care.

The financial effects of a crash include:

• Medical bills– This includes bills for surgeries, emergency treatment, follow-up doctor visits, physical therapy, mental health care, chiropractic care, prescription medications, medical supplies, in-home health care and much more. Some victims need to make vehicle or home modifications, such as to accommodate a spinal cord injury.
• Lost wages and benefits– While some crash victims are unable to work in the short term, others suffer a significant lifetime loss of earning capacity. Some victims may be unable to work to support themselves and their families. Losing a job may also mean a loss of health care and retirement benefits.
• Lost services:Cleveland crash victims may be unable to take care of their children or help maintain the home. They will need to hire outside help to take care of these tasks.

How Can Your Lawyer Prove the Value of Future Medical Bills?

This is a common question posed by crash victims. However, until you have completed your treatment and have all the bills for your medical expenses, you cannot know the total value.

Lawyers often work with medical and economic experts to evaluate an injury and determine the future medical bills that are likely to arise. For example, you need to replace a prosthetic or wheelchair several times over the course of your life. Those who suffered severe brain injuries in a crash may need ongoing occupational therapy. Spinal cord injuries can cause many complications, such as pressure sores, blood clots and more.

Experts can do a detailed analysis of your injury and determine how it is likely to affect you and the cost of medical interventions doctors usually recommend.

Calculating Future Lost Income

When a car crash injury causes long-term damage, you can seek compensation for lost earning capacity. There are many factors to consider with your loss of earning capacity, such as:

• Age
• Where you live
• Life expectancy
• Your career before the injury
• Education
• Job skills
• History of promotions and raises
• And more

Lawyers often bring in occupational and economic experts to calculate the value of lost earning capacity. These experts can determine the difference between what you earn after the injury and what you were likely to earn if you had not been injured. Experts consider various factors, such as inflation, benefits and cost of living increases.  

Evaluating Future Pain and Suffering

How do you put a price tag on pain and suffering you have yet to experience?

This is a complex task that is best left to an experienced lawyer. He or she can work with experts to determine what your future pain and suffering may be worth. They need to factor in many things, like:

• Your diagnosis
• What doctors say are the long-term effects of your injuries
• How you have responded to treatment
• The amount of pain you are currently experiencing
• How much your condition is likely to improve in the future, if at all
• And more

Call Friedman, Domiano and Smith Today

Were you injured because of another driver’s negligence?

Call our firm to schedule a free legal consultation. You may be eligible to seek compensation to pay for your medical care and other damages you may have suffered. The initial consultation comes with no obligation to hire our firm. There are also no upfront costs with our services.