Suffering a serious injury in an accident is one of the most upsetting experiences a person can go through. A serious injury can leave you scared and highly anxious about your future, particularly if you can no longer work or you’ve had to take a significant period of time off.
It is for this reason that personal injury claims can provide a lifeline to many. Without the assistance that such a claim can provide, victims of these accidents could find themselves in dire financial straits.
What makes an injury serious?
Serious injuries can take many forms. Also known as catastrophic injuries, serious injuries can be life-changing and extremely difficult to deal with after the event.
Road traffic accidents and falls from height are some of the more common ways you might suffer such an injury, but there are numerous ways it can occur. Whatever the cause, serious injuries can affect you, your loved ones and even your colleagues.
You have likely suffered a serious injury if you’ve experienced any of these:
- Brain and head injury
- Spine and back injury
- Burns and skin damage
- Sight or hearing loss or damage
- Internal organ injury
- Loss of limbs and amputation
- Paralysis, including partial and temporary
- Fractures and broken bones
Effects of serious injuries
After suffering a serious injury, you might be left with changed circumstances. This can relate to your emotional recovery, as well as your physical needs. As you may be left struggling to come to terms with what has happened to you, it’s important not to neglect the mental trauma you may have suffered.
You could need to take part in continuing treatment, such as physiotherapy or counselling, to help you deal with what happened. You might also need specialist equipment or modifications installed in your home to help you accomplish daily tasks, such as cooking or cleaning. You may find that you require a mobility aid or vehicle adaptation to help you get around.
After a serious injury, you may find that you can’t work anymore or that you have to take a long period off. This could leave you facing huge financial pressures, particularly if you’re the main breadwinner in your household.
What can I do after a serious injury?
After a serious injury, the first thing to focus on is your health. Your priority should be to get the right treatment. You need to give yourself the best chance of recovery.
You can then start to think about the justice you’re entitled to. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you can make a claim against them for compensation. And you may well need this money to finance treatments to aid your recovery. As there is generally a three-year limit in which to make your claim, it will pay to start thinking about it sooner rather than later.
Compensation typically falls into two categories. General damages are calculated by the severity of your injury and the suffering you have gone through. The amount you may receive are based on Judicial College Guidelines, which has set out monetary bands for specific injuries.
Meanwhile, special damages take into account the costs you’ve incurred since your injury, including medical bills and travel to and from appointments. It also covers any losses you’ve suffered through time off work. In addition, special damages consider the impact of your injury on your quality of life, including ongoing costs and future loss of earnings.
In order to obtain the maximum amount of compensation to help you get through what may be a hugely difficult time, you need the right lawyer. A specialist personal injury solicitor will help you drive your claim forward, working to help you secure your future.
Image copyright : Jaromír Chalabala
