Personal Injury: It’s More Than Just Physical!

The impact of an accident should never be measured solely on the severity of physical injuries. If you knock a glass of water onto the ground, there are two ways in you could suffer loss. Either the glass will suffer damage and the contents will spill; or, the glass will remain intact and the contents will still spill. Understanding the full scope of losses and damages after an accident is crucial, and consulting with an experienced Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer can help you assess and pursue appropriate compensation for all aspects of your case.

In a serious accident, your body may suffer little or no damage, but that doesn’t mean you have not been harmed in other ways. Psychological injuries are just as important as physical injuries, although they are not always as easy to see.

Stress & Anxiety

Stress is one of the most common emotional impacts that may result from an accident. Dealing with medical treatment, insurance companies and juggling the costs of an accident are just some potential sources of stress. Certain physical injuries can result in emotional changes in the injured party, which can put stress on relationships.

It is not unusual for those who have suffered injuries in an accident to experience anxiety. For instance, if you have been bitten by a dog, you may feel anxious around dogs after your accident. Similarly, those who have been involved in motor vehicle accidents are often anxious about getting into a vehicle again.

Sleep Deprivation

Are you having trouble sleeping since your accident? Pain and discomfort are not the only things that can cause sleep deprivation after a traumatic event. If you were involved in a major accident and didn’t suffer a scratch, that would not negate the emotional impact of the accident.

Accident victims often suffer from nightmares, where reliving the accident causes disruption to regular sleep patterns. Sleep is important for overall health and well-being, so never downplay the impact of an accident on your ability to have a restful night.

Loss of Consortium

How have your personal relationships held up since your accident? It is an important issue to consider if you are thinking about pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Physical injuries can negatively affect familial relationships between spouses, parents and their children.

For instance, if a spouse or child has to look after you due to injuries resulting from an accident, both parties have suffered “loss of consortium.” You are no longer able to perform the tasks around the home that you could prior to your accident, whereas the other party has had to take on more responsibilities.

There are numerous other ways in which loss of consortium may occur as the result of an accident. Discussing the details of your accident with a personal injury lawyer will provide further clarification based on your own circumstances.

Lost Earning Potential

If you have to take time off work, or are left permanently unable to work due to injuries, that is an additional loss. The ability to earn a wage cannot be measured in an exact dollar figure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t seek compensation for those losses.

In a personal injury lawsuit, you are entitled to pursue a monetary award for any future earnings you may have lost as a result of your accident. There are calculations that can be used to arrive at a figure based on a number of factors in your case.

If you are concerned that you do not have a strong personal injury case, don’t leave the question hanging in the air. Speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Georgia or Alabama, from the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown. We can provide an experienced and compassionate consultation where you can discuss the specifics of your accident, injuries and any losses.