Disabling Injuries: Understanding the Costs and When You Can (and Should) Seek Just Compensation

Suffering a disabling injury in an accident is a life-altering experience. Regardless of how well you are able to cope, you will face consequences in many—if not all—aspects of your day-to-day life. In this scenario, it is important to make an informed decision about whether to take legal action, and talking to an experienced Florida injury attorney is the first step.

Understanding the Costs of a Disabling Injury

When you talk to an experienced attorney, your attorney will be able to help you understand the costs you are likely to incur as a result of your disabling injury. This includes both financial and non-financial costs. If you have a claim for just compensation, these are all costs that you can (and should) seek to recover.

While every accident victim’s circumstances are unique, the costs generally associated with disabling injuries from traumatic accidents include:

Medical Expenses

If you suffered a disabling injury in an accident, you are probably already well aware of the substantial costs associated with medical care for serious traumatic injuries. However, you may continue to incur medical costs in the future as well, and, depending on the nature of your injury, your future costs could potentially far exceed the costs you have incurred to date.

Other Out-of-Pocket Costs

Disabling injuries can leave accident victims and their families facing other out-of-pocket costs as well. Some common examples of additional out-of-pocket costs include:

• Home accessibility modifications
• Medical devices (i.e., wheelchairs and closed-system catheters)
• Medical supplies
• Prescription medications
• Vehicle accessibility modifications

Home and vehicle accessibility modifications can be extremely expensive, and you may need to incur the other costs listed above (among others) for the rest of your life. As a result, even if these costs don’t seem too concerning in the short term, it is important to ensure that you are making informed decisions with your long-term needs in mind.

Loss of Income and Benefits

If you are unable to work as a result of the accident, this will add significantly to the costs of your injury as well. While the total amount of your lost earnings will depend on your job, your future career prospects, and your age, you could be facing hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in losses over the course of your lifetime.

Even if you are still able to work in a limited capacity, your lost earnings could still be substantial. When you talk to a Florida injury attorney about your situation, your attorney will be able to help you understand how much you may be entitled to recover now in order to account for your lifetime loss of income and benefits.

Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement

In Florida, accident victims who have personal injury claims are entitled to seek compensation for their permanent scarring and disfigurement. This is compensation above and beyond the costs of their medical care. Whether you have lost a limb, your legs will atrophy due to paralysis, or you have permanent scars from physical trauma or surgery, your permanent scarring or disfigurement is a loss for which you can (and should) seek just compensation.

Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Trauma

Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma are also non-financial losses for which accident victims can seek just compensation under Florida law. Many accident victims who suffer disabling injuries also deal with chronic pain on a daily basis. Suffering a life-altering injury can have serious psychological effects as well, and here too, accident victims can (and should) seek compensation above and beyond the costs of their treatment.

Loss of Companionship, Consortium and Society

Many accident victims who suffer disabling injuries find it difficult to spend meaningful time with their friends and loved ones. The physical and psychological effects of enduring life-altering trauma can interfere with relationships, cause anxiety and depression, and lead to loss of intimacy. If you are struggling with any of these consequences, you should seek help, and these are potentially long-term consequences that you should discuss with your Florida injury attorney as well.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

For many accident victims, suffering a disabling injury also leads to loss of enjoyment of life. Whether due to the psychological effects of living with debilitating trauma or the reality of being physically unable to participate in hobbies and activities, this is a very common consequence that cannot (and should not) be ignored. This is also a consequence for which financial compensation is generally available under Florida law.

Understanding When You Can (and Should) Seek Just Compensation

With these costs in mind, when can (and should) you seek just compensation for an accident that resulted in a disabling injury? Accident victims can seek just compensation when their injuries are the result of either: (i) someone else’s negligence; or (ii) a dangerous or defective product. This means that victims can frequently seek compensation after accidents such as:

• Auto accidents (car, pickup truck and SUV accidents)
• Commercial truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Boating, personal watercraft (PWC) and watersport accidents
• Golf cart accidents
• ATV and UTV accidents
• Premises-related accidents
• Product-related accidents
• Medical mistakes

However, it is important to emphasize that every case is unique, and determining whether you have grounds to take legal action will require a prompt and thorough investigation. Again, talking to an experienced attorney is the first step in the process, and we strongly encourage you to contact us if you have questions about your legal rights.

Learn More from a Florida Injury Attorney at Searcy Denney for Free

If you or someone you love has suffered a disabling injury in an accident, an experienced Florida injury attorney at our law firm can explain everything you need to know about your legal rights. Our law firm can promptly launch an investigation and help you make an informed decision about whether to take legal action. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at Searcy Denney, please call 800-780-8607 or contact us online today.