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3 Common Disabilities Cause by Chicago Car Accidents
Car accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries varying in degree of severity and impact on the victim’s life. While minor injuries such as bruises or simple sprains may not require much attention, more serious ones often require extensive treatment and may have a lifelong effect on the individual. Even seemingly minor injuries such as an arm fracture can leave a person disabled for a certain time period. After a Chicago car accident, disability can prevent a person from attending school, working, or enjoying his/her life.
If the injuries are caused by negligent actions of another driver, you have a right to claim financial compensation. When you file a claim for compensation, make sure you take into account any disability from which you suffer and its value. Generally speaking, there are three main types of disabilities that a victim of car crash may experience, and each has its own potential value in regard to what the victim can seek in a fair Chicago car accident settlement. Here are the three main types of disability and their potential value in a settlement:
Temporary Disability
It is the most common disability from a car crash. This occurs when a person suffers a minor injury expected to impair him/her for a short time and heal completely.
Some examples of injuries that cause temporary disability are:
· minor whiplash
· strained muscles
· broken bones
These injuries can prevent a person from performing his/her job or the treatment may require the injured person to take time off work. In such cases, the victim may seek lost wages for the recovery period.
Partial Disability
This is an injury that results in long term disability and hinders the victim’s work and personal life, but does not completely prevent him/her from performing the regular activities. For example, if a person suffers a torn rotator cuff and is no longer able to lift object overs 40 pounds, it would likely be considered a partial disability. If a person is employed as a warehouse worker, they may have to change roles to a desk job or an equipment operator to avoid having to lift heavy objects.
If a partial disability results in loss of income, your settlement should take this into account. The loss of income may be temporary while the person recovers from his/her injuries or may be permanent, because of the change in job duties. In both cases, wage loss should be included in settlement.
Permanent Disability
This is often severe and has a permanent impact on the victim’s life. Severe injuries such as amputations, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries can cause permanent disability and result in complete inability to do work or even perform daily activities. In such cases, the settlement should reflect the victim’s lifelong needs for both ongoing medical care and loss of income.
Seeking legal help
If you have suffered a disability in a car accident, you a Chicago personal injury attorney can help you determine the fair settlement amount and ensure that your legal rights are protected. Contact Willens Law Office for a free personal injury consultation with an awarded Chicago injury attorney. Call (312) 957-4166 today.
