Data reveals that the most serious car crashes can have a profound impact on a person’s financial situation as well as emotional and physical health. Whether a car crash is caused by a driver’s behavior or external condition, the aftermath of a wreck can be serious.
To make matters worse, statistics reveal that every 14 seconds an individual in the United States is injured in a car crash. Additionally, approximately 40,000 people are killed each year in car crashes. This article reviews several important details regarding permanent disabilities caused by car crashes.
What Constitutes Permanent Disabilities
Permanent disabilities refer to injuries that make it impossible for a person to perform their routine work duties or to engage in daily living activities that they participated in before the accident. Permanent disabilities are ongoing and will impact a person for the duration of their life. Further, as we age, permanent injuries do not get better—they tend to worsen with time and age.
These disabilities vary substantially and are established based on a person’s level or performance if they are able to return to work following the accident.
The Most Common Types of Permanent Disability
Based on how they occur as well as severity, car accidents can cause various types of injuries. Unfortunately, some of these accidents can result in permanent disabilities. Some of the most common types of permanent disabilities caused by car crashes include:
- Damage to the spinal cord can end up interfering with how the nerves relay signals between the brain and various body parts. This can in turn lead to either partial or total paralysis. Paraplegia refers to paralysis that impacts the lower body parts, while quadriplegia involves paralysis that impacts the torso and upper and lower extremities.
- The emotional and mental hardships that result from car accidents can last for years and even a lifetime. Tragically, some victims end up experiencing anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Car accident victims’ eyes can be damaged due to glass or shrapnel born from a car crash. Other times, striking a person’s head against parts of a vehicle can also lead to vision or hearing loss.
- Head trauma during car crashes can result in concussions, while substantial blows to the head or body can leave accident victims with moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries. These injuries (including even a “mild” traumatic brain injury) can lead to substantial physical or mental disabilities that can profoundly disrupt an accident victim’s life.
- When a person’s bones are crushed in a car crash, limbs may need to be amputated. Other permanent disabilities can occur if a limb is amputated during an accident and cannot be reattached.
The Consequences of Permanent Disabilities
Permanent disabilities often end up impacting every aspect of a person’s life—their work, their hobbies, and their relationships. Accident victims often need lifelong assistance to complete various daily living activities. Following the most serious Missouri and Kansas car crashes, you might find yourself or a loved one needing in-home care, future rehabilitation, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship.
Speak With an Experienced Missouri Car Crash Attorney
Obtaining an adequate amount of compensation after a car crash is never easy, but it is particularly difficult if your accident resulted in a permanent disability. At House Law LLC, we focus on helping car accident victims fight for the results they deserve. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Tags: auto accident, car accident, personal injury
Related Posts: Missouri & Kansas Weather-Related Car Crashes Understanding Liability After Vehicular Crashes Caused by the Rain Driving Safely in Construction Zones
