With ever-increasing congestion on the roads, it is no surprise that car accidents are on the rise. Even in this era of technology, road accidents of all kinds are still an unfortunate reality that we all have to deal with. People on the road are driving carelessly, driving under the influence, or simply aren't educated in proper driving techniques, and it results in car accidents that can dramatically change a person's life.
What's worse is that a car accident is not limited to that particular moment when the accident occurs. In many cases, it can have a long-lasting impact on the lives of the affected people. These are some of the main consequences of a car accident.
Loss of a car
Today, more people than ever before own a car and they rely on this asset for their daily operations. Whether that is going to work or dropping the kids off at school, as cities get larger, owning a car has become a requirement rather than a luxury. Some basic car services don't take too long, but in the case of an accident, it could take several days or even weeks for your car to be back in running condition.
In extreme situations, the car might even be totalled, rendering it completely useless. This creates a major problem for people that don't have a secondary vehicle and who don't have the resources to arrange an alternative car right away.
Loss of time
After a car accident, there are a number of things that one has to manage. These include insurance matters, car repair issues, work-related problems, and even legal issues if the matter is being taken to court. With people already caught up in their day-to-day lives, the last thing they need is more things to add to their to-do list.
Facing a car accident is (one would hope) a one-time thing, but the number of tasks that one has to manage after the accident can take weeks and even months. People have to take time out from their activities just to manage these problems.
Managing injuries
Considering how high-speed modern traffic has become, it comes as no surprise the resulting injuries are becoming more severe, and fatal accidents are becoming more common. In some cases, people are able to walk away from an accident with no visible injuries but after a few days, problems start to emerge.
Due to the adrenaline and stress of the situation, people often don't feel whiplash injuries right there and then. It takes a few days for the trauma to wear off and then they start to feel what their body has gone through.
Some of these injuries, such as whiplash, can be extremely difficult to deal with and affected persons may face problems for many years to come. In some situations, major injuries such as internal bleeding, go unnoticed and they can lead to other major complications down the road.
Car repair costs
Car accidents are not cheap to deal with in any way. While most people do have vehicle insurance, they don’t always get the kind of comprehensive coverage they had hoped they would get. Insurance companies have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves to somehow get out of the situation and make the victim liable for the situation.
The cost of an accident can vary significantly, and if people don't have insurance coverage for the damage, it can set them back financially. In most cases, they will have to get third-party financing to cover the costs and that comes with its own interest and servicing fees, which only add to the expenses one has to bear.
Insurance expenses
The insurance cost is one problem but a more long-term issue is the impact the accident has on your overall insurance situation. After an accident, people become a higher risk individual for insurance companies so they have to face higher rates for everything.
This can considerably increase the cost of insurance for their car, health, and even other assets. It has a similar impact to what happens when your credit score decreases.
Legal challenges
In some situations, there is no solution other than settling the matter in court. This costs both time and money and only adds to the problems that the person is already facing.
If a victim is lucky, they might get some legal cover from their insurance company or some assistance from the state, but it will still cost them time to settle the matter in court. If they have to hire a private lawyer, this can cost quite a bit of money.
There is no easy way to deal with a car accident. Sometimes people get lucky and the other party involved in the crash is very cooperative and supportive.
However, this is only a very small percentage of people on the roads and most people have to face a great deal of difficulty to get the compensation they deserve. Everyone who uses the roadways is at risk of a car accident and it is up to each individual to keep an eye out for their own safety as well as the safety of other people on the road.
