When you’re injured in a car accident, you may believe that your insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurance company will cover all of your expenses. What often surprises accident victims are the hidden costs that have nothing to do with medical bills. The true financial impact of car accidents often extends far beyond the initial hospital visit or vehicle repairs.
Our Orange County car accident attorneys understand how these unexpected costs can be overwhelming and create financial stress when what matters most to you is your recovery. Here, we discuss hidden car accident costs and how our team might be able to help you recover fair compensation after your crash.
The True Financial Impact of Orange County Car Accidents
There are initial expenses following an accident that most people expect. Medical care and vehicle damages are bills you probably assume you’ll have to deal with. However, as you recover, you will likely find that those first expenses were just the tip of the iceberg. For example, after an emergency room visit, you may have multiple follow-up appointments with your doctor, need diagnostic tests, and need consultations with specialists. Co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses, such as bandages and over-the-counter products, can add up quickly.
Additionally, if your car needs repairs after the crash, you may need to rent a vehicle to get to work, get your kids to school and their extracurricular activities, and do basic activities such as shopping for groceries. Your insurance might cover the costs of a rental car, but usually you only get the rental for a limited time, and your car may still be in the shop when that time has expired.
Many Orange County accident victims learn their insurance coverage has gaps, and there are things it does not cover—leaving them to handle the costs on their own.
The Impact of a Car Crash on Your Career
When you’re recovering from accident injuries, it’s possible that you’ll need time away from your job. If you’re lucky, your company offers paid sick leave or has short-term disability coverage; however, many companies do not. Taking time off work means that you may not receive a paycheck, and this can create a significant financial strain when you’re facing extra expenses. If you have long-term injuries, you may have to reduce the amount of hours you can work. The negative consequences of the injuries could keep you from working for many months or years or make it impossible for you to return to your previous occupation.
If you’re self-employed or own a business, that financial strain can be serious. Your relationships with your clients may be put in jeopardy, and business opportunities could be lost while you’re recovering. Each day you can’t work can have severe financial consequences.
Our Orange County accident attorneys know that a car accident can change your life in an instant, but it can also change your future. That’s why it’s important to hire our legal counsel to help ensure you understand how a car crash can impact your career.
The Cost of Ongoing Medical Care
Most accident victims understand there will be follow-up doctor appointments to heal and recover. But ongoing or long-term treatment and care may be necessary, and those expenses aren’t always obvious at first. You may need physical therapy, prescription medication, and/or specialized medical equipment. It’s likely that a wheelchair ramp or updates to a vehicle won’t be eligible for full insurance coverage.
Mental Health Care After the Accident
An accident can leave you with emotional injuries—not just physical ones. You might experience a variety of feelings about the accident that disrupted and interfered with your life. For example, you might feel any of the following emotions:
- Anger at the responsible driver for causing the accident and changing your life
- Anxiety or depression from lasting memories or thoughts about the accident
- Constant worry that you might be involved in another accident
- Unease about continuing to see doctors and having medical tests performed
- Depression that your social life has changed or become more complicated due to a TBI or another debilitating injury
It’s possible that these emotions don’t go away with time, and you may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can happen after a traumatic situation. Depression or other mental health issues can also impact your recovery. Research shows that psychological stress can affect your body’s ability to heal physically. It can also contribute to chronic pain and keep your body in a constant “fight-or-flight” state that shouldn’t naturally persist.
You may need mental health support, including counseling for anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and this is often an overlooked expense. You may get limited coverage from insurance companies, but you may have to cover the rest.
Here are some of the mental health services you may need after your accident:
- Individual counseling sessions
- Group therapy programs
- Anxiety management sessions if you’re suffering from depression and anxiety
- Behavioral therapy if you fear driving
Other Long-Term Consequences of an Orange County Accident
Another less-known consequence of a car accident is how it might affect your credit score. For example, your score might suffer if you’re unable to pay medical bills while you’re waiting for your insurance settlement. It’s often the case that insurance companies raise premiums following an accident. And this can upend your monthly budget and make it difficult to make your medical payments.
It's also possible that some future medical conditions may arise years later related to the accident. You may develop chronic pain or some type of illness that requires additional medical care. By that time, you may have already settled with the insurance company, and there’s no more money available to help pay for these medical costs.
Protect Your Personal Injury Claim
When you work with our experienced Orange County car accident attorneys, we will explain all the potential costs before you accept any settlement offers. Insurance companies often try to get you to accept a quick settlement that may not account for long-term expenses and impacts, but we can help you understand the possible medical costs down the road. If you're dealing with financial issues after your Orange County car accident, we may be able to help. Read our case results of other clients we’ve helped after their crashes.