7 Consequences Of A Car Accident

7 Consequences Of A Car Accident

As long as you’re on the road, accidents are always a possibility. Whether it’s your fault or not, consequences are inevitable. However, in most cases, when a car accident happens, many only think about the resultant injuries or damages. While these are the most prominent and immediate, they aren’t the only consequence of a car accident. 

There are other potential and adverse consequences that could arise as a direct result of an accident. Look at these consequences of car accidents, including the ones that are rarely considered. 

1. Increase In Insurance Rate

There are many factors that could affect car insurance premiums. These include your gender, age, marital status, car model, or where you live. An insurance company will look into these factors in an effort to predict a driver’s likelihood of causing an accident. That’s why your driving record also comes to play while determining the insurance premiums one has to pay. 

The percentage increase in insurance rates varies from state to state. For instance, if you live in California, you may have a peek at this site and see why your rates increase after an accident. From an insurance company’s point of view, a driver with a record of an accident is more likely to be involved in another compared to a driver who doesn’t have one. 

Almost all accidents have a negative effect on your insurance premiums. However, some make your premiums go significantly higher. Here are the accident causes that are likely to cause you an arm and a leg at the insurance company. 

  • Driving under the Influence (DUI): If you get into an accident because there was alcohol or intoxication of some kind involved, the consequences are harsh. Besides being held legally liable for the accident, your insurance company may decide to stop offering their cover to you. For those who don’t drop you, the insurance premium rate will be made relatively high.   
  • Uninsured driver: If you allow your uninsured relative or friend to drive your car and they get into an accident, you’ll end up paying for it. Your insurance company will adjust your/policyholders’ premium rates to the higher side. 
  • At-fault accident with injuries to the driver: If the accident was your fault, meaning the insured motor vehicle was at fault, be sure to receive an upward revision of your insurance rates. However, when the driver is injured in the accident, the rates may be adjusted even higher. 
  • At-fault accident extensively damages the vehicle:  If the insured vehicle was at fault and the accident totals the car, the insurance premiums are likely to be much higher for the person who caused the accident.  

You should also be aware that most states allow an accident to stay in your records for between three and five years. If the accident was caused by drunken driving, the accident record could last for more than ten years. 

2. Physical Injuries And Shock

Immediately after an accident, you may suffer some shock. You may not even realize the extent of your injuries or feel any pain. It may take some time for you to recover from it, even weeks in some instances, depending on the circumstances of the accident. 

Most car accidents end up in bodily harm and injuries in different degrees. The one thing that is common in any of these situations is the medical bill. Sometimes even seemingly minor injuries can end up costing you a lot of money. Among the most common accident injuries are head, neck, chest, and limb injuries. 

Some of the injuries may take a short time to heal, but some may require longer time, therapy, or special equipment to help you move around. Dealing with physical pain and injuries and dealing with substantial medical bills can be an overwhelming situation. 

3. Financial Burden

The financial implications associated with a car accident can be adverse. Medical bills can pile up quickly, sometimes which may not be covered by the responsible party’s insurer. Also, if your car gets extensively damaged, you’ll have repair charges to attend to as well. If the vehicle was rendered totaled, and you don’t have a comprehensive cover on it, you might even be forced to buy a new one. 

These unplanned expenses can take a severe toll on your finances.  

4. Loss Of Income Or Possible Career Change

Depending on the extent of the injuries you suffered, you may be forced to take some time off work during recovery. If you have to work to get paid, this could mean losing income until you’re well enough to return to work. This can lead to stress and frustration and, in the worst cases, the inability to support yourself entirely. 

Your injuries could also result in your inability to perform your duties, causing you to lose employment. In case your injuries don’t hinder you from working, your organization may assign you a different role to accommodate your condition. It can happen if your previous role involved constant movements or carrying things that you may no longer be able to do. This can mean a massive change from what you’re accustomed to. 

You’ll have to meet new colleagues and learn how to execute new roles, which may require you to undertake training at your own cost. Sometimes, you may have to make a complete career change. These are changes and expenses you wouldn’t have incurred if not for the accident. 

5. Lack Of Transportation

Assuming your car gets extensively damaged or becomes totaled by the accident, you may face a lot of challenges in your usual commute and movements. You may have a hard time running your regular errands, such as getting to and from work or taking children to school. Lacking a reliable means of transport has many inconveniences in addition to expenses that come with alternative means such as rentals or taxis. 

6. A Lawsuit And Legal Costs

Not all car accidents result in lawsuits. If you live in a state with the no-fault insurance rules, your insurer or the other party’s insurer will pay for the damages, and the issue ends there. When cases are settled in this manner, there’s no lawsuit instituted against the driver at fault. 

However, things aren’t always this smooth for many reasons. One of these reasons is when an insurance company is not ready to settle the accident matter this way. If that happens, a lawsuit may be filed in court by the party, not at fault. 

If you’re in such a situation, your insurance company will organize for your defense in court. When a ruling is delivered and the damages awarded exceed the amount covered by your insurer, you could be held liable for the difference. 

If you need a lawyer’s services to take you through the claim process, you will incur legal costs. Some lawyers work on a contingency basis, but some require upfront pay, especially if you’re in the defense.  How much money you spend on the legal process depends on the lawyer, the nature of the claim, and the time the legal process takes for you to receive compensation. 

7. Emotional Stress 

Along with all the issues discussed is the emotional stress that all these issues can bring along. Perhaps you’re suffering pain from the physical injuries, which already brings a lot of strain with it. People who suffer incapacitating injuries from an accident may especially be quite susceptible to feelings of inadequacy as they feel like their normal anatomy has been taken away. 

You may get upset by the inability to take care of yourself or take on your day-to-day duties. Emotional stress as a result of a car accident can have profound effects. You may also suffer driving phobia for fear of getting into another accident, anxiety, or panic attacks. Legal proceedings can also bring more strains on your finances, becoming another source of emotional stress. 

Some studies show that up to a third of people involved in accidents don’t lead to death exhibit signs of emotional trauma even a year after the accident. Emotional trauma includes symptoms of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and phobias. 

Conclusion 

These are all consequences of being involved in a car accident. However, if you aren’t at fault, you stand to receive compensation for all these factors. A car accident injury compensation claim captures things such as pain and suffering, loss of income, current and future medical expenses, and other general and specific damages you may have suffered.  

Always mind and take care of your physical injuries and emotional injuries first. Then ensure to act as fast as possible in obtaining professional advice after an accident. A legal professional will help guard and represent your interests adequately, whether you’re at fault or not. Be careful with your choice of lawyer as they are crucial to your success in a legal process.  

Some lawyers specialize in accident claims and those with a good reputation in successful prosecution or defense of such cases. If they can receive fees on a contingency basis, that’ll be even better as they will help lower your financial burden.  

About the Author Leroy

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