THE FINANCIAL STRAINS OF INJURIES
When people hear about multimillion dollar settlements for personal injuries, many of them think that these numbers are outlandish. After all, how can a car accident possibly yield hundreds of thousands of dollars?
What many people fail to realize is how costly these injuries are physically, emotionally, and financially. In examining the financial aspect of personal injuries, you’ll see that the costs add up very fast. These high expenses can take a toll on a person emotionally and even physically. Suddenly, what was a bad injury quickly becomes more devastating because of the financial impact.
MEDICAL BILLS
Depending on the nature and the severity of the injury, you may have to face numerous hospital visits, medication, physical therapy, and other medical treatments. All of these things are very expensive and can last for years. Unfortunately, your insurance companies may not cover all of these costs and may require you to pay a substantial amount out of pocket.
Facing these high medical expenses can take a toll on a person’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Many people struggle in deciding whether going to a doctor is worth the expense for their injuries. In these cases, by not going to a doctor, the injury can get worse to lead to other health complications. The high costs of treatment can also affect a person’s emotional state because these high bills can make a person feel helpless if he/she cannot afford them.
LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT
Depending on a person’s occupation type, an injury can lead to the inability to work and potentially cause a loss of wages or employment. For example, if a truck driver suffered from an accident that made him go blind, he will not be able to sustain a job as a truck driver. Sure, a person can try to collect unemployment or disability, but, rarely does unemployment cover all of the costs of living and disability pay is normally given if the injury occurred at the job site and not outside of work. With these things in mind, it can be extremely difficult to cope financially with the situation.
If you have loved ones who rely on your income, the financial stress directly affects them. Now, not only do you have to worry about your own financial stability, but now you have to worry about how those you love will cope with the situation.
OTHER EXPENSES
There are many unforeseen costs of having an injury. For instance, if a person sustains an injury that requires her to use a wheelchair, she will have to rework her entire life to accommodate her disability. She would either have to buy a new home or reconstruct her current home to fit her needs. Also, if she has trouble with transportation, she may have to use a service or get a new car to accommodate her condition. All of these things are things that you and I may take for granted, but their need becomes especially apparent when you suffer from an injury.