Getting involved in a car accident can be one of the most devastating events to experience for the survivors and their families. Even for law-abiding and experienced motorists, there’s no foolproof guarantee of avoiding an accident. Driving carries significant risks because of factors beyond your control, like adverse weather and environmental conditions. And there are other factors, such as vehicle mechanical failure, human error, and negligence.
Furthermore, these collisions can have a drastic and long-lasting impact on several aspects of your life, depending on the severity of your injuries. Some of the long-term consequences of a car accident are described in detail below.
Increased Car Insurance Premiums
One unavoidable consequence of a car accident that could affect you over the long term is your car insurance premiums going up. This could happen whether you were not at fault, although the increase in your premium will likely be lower if you did not cause the accident than if you did. Insurers will want to recover the payout they provided to your claim and cover future payments if you get involved in another collision.
Drivers involved in a car accident are considered a higher risk by insurance companies, which is why you’ll likely be paying more from then on. Depending on your insurer, the rate of increase could be as much as 45% to 47% if there had been injuries or property damage.
Furthermore, this will affect your driver’s record. Thus, you may be wondering: how long do car accidents stay on your record? Generally, it remains on your record for at least three years, but it can be longer if you’ve had multiple accidents.
Injuries And Disability
Physical injuries are a common occurrence in most road accidents. They can range from mild injuries in minor car collisions to severe injuries in serious high-impact accidents. Some of the most common injuries include the following:
- Concussions
- Soft tissue damage
- Fractures
- Loss of limbs
- Traumatic head and brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Back and spine injuries
Most of these could carry long-term health effects that can impact your daily living and ability to work. This could lead to many years of chronic pain, loss of physical strength, recurring illnesses, and health complications.
In some cases, a car accident may result in lifelong disability. For instance, a spinal cord injury may cause paralysis. Furthermore, there’s also a chance of gradual sensory loss that develops over time and may lead to partial sight, blindness, partial deafness, or deafness.
Psychological Effects
Car accidents can also have a long-lasting emotional impact on victims. This is due to the psychological trauma experienced during the accident, such as fear, shock, and panic. In addition, victims contend with the aftereffects of the crash, such as stress, financial worries, and learning to live with longtime painful and sometimes disabling injuries.
Some of the most common mental health conditions experienced by car accident survivors are as follows:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Vehicle phobias
- Sleep disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
This is why post-accident mental health counseling is recommended. Some survivors who sustained traumatic brain injuries may exhibit behavioral changes. The injuries may have damaged sections of the brain involved in regulating emotions, impulse control, and social awareness.
Increased Medical Bills
The potential financial strain of car accidents would apply to increased premiums and rising medical expenses if you sustained injuries that need long-term care and treatment. If the accident caused paralysis and permanent disability, this could sometimes mean additional fees for assisted living. The medical costs associated with car accidents may include surgery, psychiatric treatment, hospitalization, medication, and medical devices.
This can accumulate to a large sum if long-term care is required for your recovery. Nevertheless, there are ways to cover your medical expenses through disability benefits and health insurance. There’s also the chance of receiving compensation to pay for your medical bills if you file a meritorious personal injury claim with the help of an experienced attorney.
Early Retirement And Income Loss
As previously stated, the long-term physical and psychological effects of a car accident can affect your capacity to perform efficiently at work. This can become more evident as you age when old accident injuries cause musculoskeletal issues that decrease your working strength and energy.
This could lead to choosing early retirement and, consequently, potential loss of income and tax penalties. If you retire before age 55, you may have to make lifestyle adjustments or scale down by moving in with your family while you live off the rest of your retirement funds and social security.
Conclusion
The long-term consequences of a car accident may include injuries that could lead to disability, early retirement, and income loss. In addition, it can take an emotional toll on victims, increasing symptoms of mental health conditions.
Finally, there are financial implications as they can increase your medical expenses and car insurance premiums. These are the most common implications of severe collisions that could have an enduring impact on your life.