Not all accidents are catastrophic, but all can be damaging
On behalf of of Frederick & Hagle posted in Car Accidents on Friday, February 1, 2013.
There is a vast spectrum of motor vehicle accident outcomes that can result in Illinois. Often, when we think of a car accident, our imagination takes us to the catastrophic accident where the victim is paralyzed because of another driver’s negligence. While this unfortunately does happen, there are also many individuals in Illinois that become victims of car accidents and suffer injuries that are less catastrophic but absolutely still very disruptive to their life.
There can be consequences from car accidents that many individuals fail to consider until it happens to them. What do I do if my car is too damaged to get to work? What if my accident injuries require on-going therapy that causes me to miss work? What happens if I have injuries that require me to miss a period of work?
Unfortunately, even in minor car accidents, these risks are very real. Not all individuals in Illinois have paid time off that allows them to recuperate following a car accident. Further, it is estimated that 44 percent of Americans do not have a substantial enough financial savings to continue paying all of their expenses and remain out of poverty for more than three months if they were to suddenly lose their income.
This is alarming in light of the fact that a car accident could mean that on top of trying to deal with any injuries and the medical expenses associated with such injuries, some individuals could also be vulnerable to lost wages that could leave them in a very difficult financial situation.
Fortunately, it is not just catastrophic accidents in which victims could be entitled to financial recovery. If an individual becomes an injury victim in a motor vehicle accident in Champaign or anywhere else in Illinois, they could be apt to recover for lost wages, compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disability and other factors that can result from a car accident.
Source: WCAI, “Study: Nearly Half In U.S. Lack Financial Safety Net,” Pam Fessler, Jan. 30, 2013
