You’re safely driving along, following the rules of the road, and suddenly your whole day, week , year or life is changed. The tires screech and when you’re able to gather yourself you’ve come to realize that you’ve been involved in a car accident. You check your bearings, and ensure that the occupants of the cabin are ok.
But what if they’re not?
Car accidents can cause a myriad of injuries. From the lucky ones that are able to walk away having only suffered minor bumps and bruises, to the life changing accidents that result in serious injuries including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis and even death. These types of accidents can cause severe debilitation on both a physical and mental level.
Texas is a Fault State
According to a San Antonio car accident attorney, the state of Texas is a “fault state”. Meaning, that the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident is at fault and thus obligated to pay for the other parties personal medical bills. Car accidents can be caused by a plethora of issues, but some of the most common are distracted driving and driving while intoxicated. Due to the nature of car accidents, determining who is at fault can sometimes be a lengthy, expensive and time consuming process that can take months or even years to play out in the court systems.
Once the court systems come to their conclusions, the at-fault party will have to pay for the personal damages caused to the injured individuals. With the high cost of healthcare associated with car accidents, medical bills can stack up in a hurry. To help alleviate medical bills, it is important to ensure that all individuals in your household are properly covered with health-care insurance to help provide adequate coverage in the event of a car accident. Ambulance rides can be incredibly expensive, and vary substantially between markets and providers. After you take into consideration the ambulance bill, emergency treatment, expensive medication, ongoing treatment and follow up appointments, along with the potential loss of quality of life, injuries sustained in these types of accidents can quickly encroach on tens of thousands of dollars or more.
What Happens If Multiple Parties Are Found Responsible for a Car Accident?
In the event that two or more drivers, were at least partially responsible for the accident in question, the injured party will receive that compensation less the percentage of fault. For example, if a given injury accrued $100,000 in medical bills and the judicial system has found the injured party to be 25% responsible for the accident, then the injured party will receive 75% of the total damages or $75,000.
The Physical Effects of Car Accidents
From a physical standpoint, the effects can be wide ranging. With the vast amounts of injuries that can occur from an auto accident, you can have anything from a fender bender to a fatal accident. Each car accident is different and each member involved may have a different injury that they’ve suffered. These ailments can range from minor to severe. Regardless of the injury, it is important to see a doctor after a car accident. Even if an involved party is not showing any signs of injuries, a doctor can document what has occurred and potentially identify an injury the party was unaware of.
The Mental Effects of Car Accidents
Short term and long term mental side effects can be severe. For those that were recently involved in a car accident, they may be incredibly anxious and scared entering a car. In traumatic car accident scenarios, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur resulting in added stress and anxiety. These types of damages should be taken into account when considering damages.
In the state of Texas, this event is all too frequent. With the second largest population in the country, and the largest stretch of freeway in the world, the state of Texas has several unique conditions that contribute to the large volume of car accidents. With a count of 12.7 fatalities per 100,000 people, this state checks in slightly higher than the national average. With the high amounts of car accidents, also come high amounts of auto accident injuries.
How Much is Your Car Accident Worth?
Before you get in contact with a car accident attorney, it is critical to first assess the financial damages you seek to be compensated for. Take into account the property damage, physical damage, medical bills, loss of ability to earn compensation along with the emotional and mental stress this situation has caused. There are several factors that need to be weighed, and the unique circumstances of car accidents are best left to the professionals.
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