Each year, around six million car crashes occur. Of those, two million drivers will suffer some form of life-long injuries as a result of the accident.
Since any auto accident can have a profound impact on your life, suffering one where you end up with life-long injuries changes the course of your life.
When you’re the victim of an injury that is permanent, you deserve compensation.
If you suffered an injury and are now part of an auto injury case, you might wonder what kind of settlement you can expect.
Read on to learn more about how settlements for life-long injuries are calculated and what to expect with your case.
How Is a Life-long Injury Classified?
As you begin a car accident case, your attorney will need to prove that the injuries you have suffered are considered life-long injuries.
This is key to the success of your case. Your personal injury lawyer will need to find ways to document and prove that your injuries are permanent.
The attorney will use medical records, expert testimony, your ability to work, and what medical care you’ll still need to classify your injuries as life-long.
Types of Life-long Injuries
Some injuries are more likely to impact you long-term than others. You might break a bone and heal. You might suffer a head injury and feel the impact your whole life.
A car accident settlement will need to be more significant for a lifelong injury than one that you can recover from. When an injury is permanent, it leaves the victim disabled in a way that means they can’t live life and do things the same way they once did.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of permanent injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Back injuries are very common in car accidents. A spinal cord injury can be something like a strain or something permanent that causes paralysis.
If you suffer paralysis as a result of the auto accident, your life will be forever impacted.
Even spinal cord injuries that don’t result in paralysis can be permanent.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Another common permanent injury is a traumatic brain injury or TBI. A TBI can happen when the head hits with force during an accident.
A car accident victim can suffer from severe concussions or brain bleeds. Many types of TBIs can mean a loss of cognitive function. Most experts believe that once brain cells are injured or destroyed, they will not regenerate.
Extensive therapy and retraining will potentially help to regain some brain activity.
Amputations
An amputation, like losing a limb or digit, will significantly impact a person’s life and change it forever.
An amputation requires a person to relearn how to do things like walk or write. Often when an amputation is the result of an auto accident, the victim must learn how to use a prosthetic and face a life of managing it.
Burns
When a car accident turns firey, often the victims suffer from burn injuries. This type of injury is especially impactful because it takes a long time to heal.
Burn injuries also leave debilitating scars from the injury. Some burn victims even suffer from disfigurement.
Scars or Disfigurement
When seeking a settlement for life-long injuries, scars, and disfigurement will be important. Whether it’s right or not, the more visible the scar, the more settlement is likely to be worth.
A disfigurement injury from a severe injury or an amputation can be life-changing and should bring a significant settlement amount.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a type of emotional and mental injury that can have a lifelong impact. PTSD is a mental health condition that can have a permanent impact on trauma.
PTSD also can have serious regular symptoms like mood swings, behavioral changes, and traumatic memories.
What Evidence Is Needed for Your Case?
One of the first things your car accident lawyer will do is start to gather evidence to show how your injuries are permanent in nature.
Evidence used for your case might include:
- Medical records
- Bills from all medical treatments, including therapy
- Prescription medication
- Assistive devices
- Documentation of missed work
- Photographs of injuries
Your personal injury lawyer is also likely to call in your medical team and expert witnesses to discuss your injuries.
Calculating Damages for a LIfe-long Injury Case
When you look at the average settlement for permanent injuries, many factors are considered. Of course, there are economic factors like medical bills and lost wages. But there are also noneconomic factors, too.
Let’s take a look at some of the factors considered when considering a settlement amount for a life-long injury.
Age
Age is a factor because it impacts how long a person will live with the lifelong injury. A younger person is likely to get a larger settlement than a senior who has a shorter lifespan left.
Loss of Future Wages
A permanent disability that means you’re no longer able to work will be factored into a settlement offer. Both your wages lost and your future wage opportunities will be considered.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering involve emotional injuries that come with permanent injuries. The accident victim suffers pain as a result of their injuries.
Settlements can include compensation for the pain and suffering experienced since the accident and into the future.
Level of Disability
Another factor to be considered is the extent of the disability. A permanent disability means someone is likely to need lifelong support and even medical care.
Disfigurement
Visible disfigurement is a significant factor in compensation. If the accident caused permanent disfigurement, the victim will suffer from it for their whole life, and compensation should reflect that.
Get the Help You Need From an Auto Injury Lawyer
If you’ve suffered any kind of injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, one of the first things you should do is seek the help of a car accident lawyer.
You don’t want to be misled by an insurance company and not get the full settlement you deserve.
For victims of life-long injuries, the car accident attorney will know how to calculate for needs into the future and can fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Seeking a Settlement for Your Lifelong Auto Injury
An auto injury is traumatic; one that results in a permanent injury is life-changing and presents you with a path in a life full of challenges.
You need a personal injury attorney who can fight for you and get you the compensation you need as a result of your injuries. Contact us today so we can start working on your behalf if you’re the victim of a car accident injury.
CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.
Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.
