What to do When a South Florida Car Accident Causes Permanent Disability
Being injured in a South Florida car accident can lead to life-altering consequences. If you suffer permanent disabilities from a car crash, you may have extensive medical bills, lost income, and a reduced quality of life. Understanding your legal options is crucial.
Key Takeaways:
- Permanent disabilities like paralysis, amputation, and brain injuries can arise from South Florida car accidents.
- Disability victims require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation for life.
- Accidents often prevent victims from returning to work, resulting in major lost income.
- Quality of life diminishes without independence, mobility, senses, and cognition.
- Legal claims seek compensation for medical costs, income loss, and non-economic damages.
- Experienced attorneys help maximize compensation and stability after crashes.
Overview of Permanent Disabilities from South Florida Car Accidents
Thousands of people are injured in South Florida car accidents each year. While many injuries heal over time, some cause permanent disabilities. Common permanent disabilities include:
- Spinal cord injuries leading to paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Traumatic brain injuries resulting in cognitive or physical impairments
- Amputated limbs
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Loss of senses like sight or hearing
- Limited mobility from orthopedic injuries
The effects of these disabilities vary but often prevent accident victims from working and participating in daily activities they once enjoyed. The losses can be emotionally and financially devastating.
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data, over 400,000 car accidents occurred in South Florida counties between 2019-2021. Tens of thousands of those crashes involved disabling injuries. Victims’ lives are forever changed in just an instant.
While survivors try to adapt, costs quickly add up. One study by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center found the average lifetime medical costs for paraplegia to be $500,000, while costs for quadriplegia exceeded $1 million. When lost wages are considered, totals jump over $1 million and $2 million respectively.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries frequently result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. With paraplegia, accident victims lose motor and sensory function in their lower body and legs. Quadriplegia impairs all four limbs and the torso. Both conditions can arise from vertebrae fractures, disc herniation, ligament tears, or spinal dislocation suffered during car collisions. Besides paralysis, victims may experience loss of bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Lifelong medical care aims to prevent secondary complications like respiratory issues, infections, and pressure ulcers.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when the brain collides with the inside of the skull during rapid acceleration/deceleration. Mild TBIs or concussions cause temporary impairment. However, moderate or severe cases trigger disabling cognitive, communication, sensory, and motor deficits lasting at least months.
TBI victims require extensive rehabilitation to relearn basic skills and cope with disabilities. Ongoing care focuses on managing residual issues like seizures, fluid buildup, mood disorders, vertigo, and sleep disturbance. Support is often needed for daily living activities.
Amputations
Amputated limbs are a common result of severe crush injuries and vascular damage from car wrecks. Amputees require surgery, prosthetics, mobility aids, rehabilitation, accessibility modifications, and home care. Phantom limb pain is also frequently reported.
Losing an arm or leg drastically reduces quality of life and employment potential. Depression is common as amputees grieve these losses. With age, amputees face higher healthcare costs and prosthetic-related complications.
Other Permanent Disabilities
Burn victims suffer from disfigurement, chronic pain, increased infection risk, limited mobility, and skin cancer risk. Those blinded in crashes endure loss of independence and employability without retraining.
Permanent hearing damage impairs communication abilities. Orthopedic injuries like fractured hips limit mobility and increase arthritis risk years after the crash.
Medical Care and Rehabilitation for Permanent Disabilities
The first priority after a serious South Florida car accident is getting medical treatment. However, that is just the beginning for permanent disability victims. Ongoing rehabilitation and medical care are usually needed for the rest of their lives.
Some common medical and rehabilitation costs include:
- Extended hospital stays and surgeries
- Medications and medical equipment
- Physical, occupational, speech, and cognitive therapy
- Counseling and psychotherapy
- Personal care assistants
- Accessibility modifications to homes and vehicles
- Orthotics, prosthetics, and mobility devices
Paraplegics require wheelchairs, grab bars, ramps, urinary catheters, pressure sore prevention, and help with bowel programs. Quadriplegics need total daily nursing care. TBI victims use cognitive therapy, support groups, and medication for issues like depression. Burn victims need compression garments and ongoing skin grafts.
These costs add up quickly, especially since disabilities often prevent victims from returning to work. Experts estimate lifetime care for a 25-year-old with a spinal cord injury to exceed $4 million. Those with cerebral palsy or paralysis may require assisted living facilities costing up to $100,000 annually.
Lost Income from Permanent Disabilities
In addition to medical costs, lost income can be a major consequence of permanent disabilities from car accidents. Victims forced to stop working face:
- Loss of their regular wages
- Reduced retirement savings and benefits
- Loss of future earnings and promotions
- Damage to their career prospects and earning potential
Those lucky enough to return to work may still have reduced incomes from missed time, schedule changes, or an inability to perform at the same level as before the accident. They may be limited to part-time or lower-paying jobs.
Income loss totals at least $25,000 a year for paraplegics and over $35,000 for quadriplegics according to National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center data. However, individual losses vary based on education, occupational skills, age, and pre-injury salary. A vocational rehabilitation specialist can accurately assess income reduction.
Non-Economic Damages from Permanent Disability
A serious car accident in South Florida affects more than just someone’s finances. Permanent disability victims must cope with:
- Physical pain, changes in mobility, and loss of independence
- Disfigurement and changes to self-image
- Depression, anxiety, and emotional trauma
- Strain on marriages and family relationships
- Loss of enjoyment of hobbies, sports, social activities
Life changes profoundly when a disability limits mobility, self-care, communication, senses, cognition, and relationships. Victims describe lower perceived quality of life even decades post-injury. Caregiver burnout is also common.
While no financial compensation can make up for these losses, it provides resources to help victims and families adjust. Funds allow for modifying homes, purchasing adaptive technologies, and securing caregiving assistance. Effective psychological counseling also aids the emotional adjustment process.
Seeking Compensation for a Permanent Disability
After a serious South Florida car accident, victims face major expenses and uncertainty. However, they don’t have to bear that burden alone. Pursuing a personal injury claim can help secure compensation for:
- Past and future medical treatment
- Lost income and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability modification costs
- Caregiving and household assistance
Compensation also punishes the at-fault driver financially through their insurance. This accountability promotes safer driving to help prevent future accidents.
The claims process involves gathering evidence, negotiating a settlement, or filing a lawsuit if needed. Legal help improves the odds of a favorable outcome. An experienced South Florida car accident attorney handles the process so victims can focus on recovery.
Conclusion
Permanent disabilities from South Florida car wrecks create profound, lifelong challenges. However, legal options exist to seek compensation and long-term care to improve victims’ lives. With an attorney’s guidance, families can secure a stable future despite catastrophic injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Disability Claims
If you suffer permanent injuries in a South Florida car accident, you likely have many questions about your legal options and the claims process. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Who is liable for my injuries?
Liability depends on fault. If another driver caused the crash through negligence like speeding or distracted driving, their insurance usually covers your claim. However, liability gets complicated with multiple vehicles, uninsured drivers, or shared fault.
What proof is needed to show permanent disability?
Your medical records must show the extent of your injuries, treatment undergone, and prognosis. Your doctor often provides a letter explaining your permanent physical limitations. Vocational assessments can show lost earning capacity. Documentation of major life changes demonstrates reduced quality of life.
How do claims calculate long-term economic damages?
Economists create loss of income reports projecting how disability reduces your earnings over your lifetime. Estimates account for your income, education, skills, age, and other factors. Medical experts assess your future care needs and costs. Understandably, projecting decades into the future involves some guesswork.
Who pays for my attorney?
In injury claims, attorneys are usually hired on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you receive compensation. Their fee comes out of your final settlement or award, typically 30-40%. This allows victims to pursue claims without paying legal fees upfront.
When should I settle my claim?
There is no universal answer, as the best timing depends on your situation. Settling sooner provides needed funds faster but risks undervaluing your long-term losses. A serious permanent disability often justifies holding out longer to better account for future care costs and consequences. An attorney can advise you.
Can I still get compensation if I was partly at fault?
Yes, Florida uses comparative negligence, meaning you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you were 30% responsible for causing the accident, your compensation drops by 30%. However, if your fault exceeds the other driver’s, you cannot collect damages.
What if the at-fault driver was uninsured?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) on your own policy helps pay damages when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage. This protection is invaluable with a permanent disability, given high medical and income loss costs.
The Importance of Legal Representation
When facing the life-altering consequences of a South Florida car accident leading to permanent disability, having the right legal representation is paramount. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider seeking assistance from Bodden and Bennett Law Group:
Expertise: Our attorneys specialize in South Florida car accident cases and are well-versed in the intricacies of Florida Car Accident Law.
Maximizing Compensation: We will diligently work to secure the maximum compensation possible for your case, taking into account all your current and future needs.
Reducing Stress: Dealing with legal matters while coping with a permanent disability can be overwhelming. We aim to alleviate your stress by handling all aspects of your case.
Support and Guidance: Beyond legal representation, we offer emotional support and guidance to help you navigate the challenges ahead.
You Have a Strong Ally in Your Legal Team
The claims process can seem daunting, but an experienced South Florida car accident attorney aggressively protects your rights. We handle all aspects of your claim so you can focus on recovery. With our robust resources and proven negotiation skills, we maximize compensation for even the most devastating injuries. Don’t go it alone – Contact the Bodden and Bennett Law Group online or call (561) 806-5229 for a free consultation. Our sole priority is helping South Florida accident victims prevail after hardship. Let us walk you through this difficult process with compassion and expertise.
