SKIP TO CONTENTAny car accident injury lawyer will tell you that car crashes often produce life-altering injuries. While your doctor may have deemed “maximum medical improvement” in your case, that doesn’t mean you’re back to normal. You may experience long-term effects, and your financial compensation should account for how the accident has impacted your life.
Learn the potential long-term impact of car accident injuries — both physical and mental.
Chronic Pain
Even if your injuries have technically healed, you may experience chronic pain for months, years, or even the rest of your life. Chronic pain often occurs after:
- Sprains
- Broken bones
- Muscle strains
- Whiplash
You may experience ongoing pain in the injured area or notice flare-ups after overusing the affected body part.
Chronic pain is particularly common after back injuries, such as herniated discs or back strains, and neck injuries, such as whiplash. You may experience ongoing pain and mobility problems even after reaching maximum medical improvement.
Physical Limitations
Car accident injury lawyers commonly see cases where a victim’s injuries leave them with lifelong physical limitations. For example:
- Joint damage often impairs mobility and flexibility and can lead to arthritis over time.
- Amputations require accident victims to relearn how to complete basic tasks without the use of a limb.
- Organ damage can lead to prolonged fatigue and weakness even after a transplant if one becomes necessary.
These severe injuries aren’t always 100% curable. They generally produce effects that limit a person’s mobility and lifestyle in the long term.
Psychological and Mental Impairments
Car accidents don’t only produce physical injuries. They can also have serious psychological and cognitive effects that make moving on challenging.
The trauma of the accident and the subsequent recovery process can lead to psychological challenges such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hypervigilance
Even when a victim fully recovers from physical injuries, they may experience these psychological symptoms for years or even the rest of their life. Flashbacks of the accident, nightmares, and panic attacks can make leading a healthy lifestyle immensely challenging.
Meanwhile, car accident victims who experience head injuries are often left with cognitive impairments, such as:
- Concentration problems
- Memory issues
- Trouble with problem solving and decision making
Even if the accident did not involve a head injury, sometimes, the emotional trauma of the accident can also lead to cognitive impairment. PTSD may put victims at a higher risk of dementia and neurocognitive issues.
Effects on Daily Life
Victims of serious car accidents often experience effects that transform their day-to-day lives, and car accident injury lawyers account for these effects in their compensation calculations.
- Employment: Car accident victims with long-term injuries often cannot return to their previous place of employment because of physical or cognitive limitations. They may need to change careers or stop working altogether.
- Independence: For those experiencing severe physical impairments, remaining independent becomes near impossible. They may need to rely on caregivers or family members to complete basic tasks.
- Social life: The emotional pain of the accident, combined with the victim’s newfound limitations, may lead them to withdraw from social activities, which can exacerbate psychological symptoms.
A person’s daily life may look much different after a car accident than before, and they may no longer be able to complete the activities they once loved.
Seek Compensation With the Help of a Car Accident Injuries Lawyer
Financial compensation won’t fully make up for the long-term physical, emotional, and psychological pain your car accident has caused you. But it could make moving forward a bit easier.
Bryan Garrett, PLLC, has helped numerous car accident victims throughout the greater Oklahoma City area gain maximum compensation. Contact our car accident injuries lawyer today at (405) 972-6960 to schedule your free initial consultation.
