What Compensation Can Be Expected for Long-Term Injuries from a Car Accident?

What Can Cause an Injury from a Car Accident to Have Long-Term Implications?

Many injuries caused by a car accident have long-term effects. Any body part, from head to toe, can be injured, especially in a severe accident. The following is a short list of common examples. If you’re unsure if your injury could be considered long-term, contact an experienced car accident attorney.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI). Concussions are one type of TBI. Any brain injury can have long-lasting effects, including cognitive difficulty, loss of memory, inability to communicate, issues with physical movement, loss of impulse control, and increased depression, anxiety, confusion, or irritability.
Spinal cord damage. These injuries can cause loss of function, paralysis, nerve damage, and disrupted heart and blood pressure rates.
Fractures or loss of limbs or digits. Broken bones don’t always heal quickly or thoroughly. In especially bad car accidents, someone might lose fingers, toes, legs, or arms.
Burns, especially extensive burns, are notoriously difficult to heal and can leave a person unable to function as they previously did.
Back injuries. These can cause long-term pain and loss of movement.

What Financial Compensation Might Be Available for Long-Term Injuries Caused by a Car Accident?

How much the victim receives involves numerous factors, including the injuries’ severity and the level of fault assessed to each party involved in the accident (more on that below). Categories addressed through financial damages include:

Economic Damages

These are the actual, quantifiable monetary costs of the accident and injury incurred.

Medical costs. This includes immediate medical treatment (ambulance to the hospital, emergency surgery, etc.) and ongoing costs, such as rehab and therapy. Compensation usually considers both medical bills already incurred and those likely to be billed in the future.
Lost income. This applies to someone who can’t work for a specific period because of the challenges of healing and rehabilitation but is expected to return to work eventually. It also applies to someone who may no longer be able to earn a living due to their injuries.
Property damage. This applies to repairing or replacing the vehicle damaged in the accident, along with any valuable items that were in the vehicle at that time.

Non-Economic Damages

These are damages that don’t have a quantifiable monetary cost and are judged based on their effect on the victim’s quality of life after the injury.

Pain and suffering. This includes both physical and emotional pain and distress. Victims of major accidents can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be as debilitating as a physical injury.
Decreased quality of life. This happens when the injuries affect the victim’s ability to go about their day as they previously did, including not just working but enjoying hobbies and events.
Loss of consortium. This is for the victim’s spouse or other close loved ones when the victim is no longer able to provide companionship and support to their loved ones because of the injuries.

Because so many factors play a part in determining financial compensation, it’s difficult to estimate a general figure. Each case is complex. An experienced personal injury attorney can review your circumstances to give you a better idea of what you might be eligible for.

That said, a recent study found that the average car accident settlement in Washington State for moderate injuries is a little more than $25,000. In comparison, severe injuries may average nearly $500,000.

What Is a Pure Comparative State, and How Could it Affect My Case?

Many accidents that lead to injuries can involve more than one person who contributed to the accident, meaning more than one person is at fault. In order for victims to receive financial compensation, the liability each party has must be determined as a percentage. Across the U.S., there are three different ways states handle cases like these, known as comparative negligence.

Contributory negligence. This is only used by a few states, and it holds that if the injured party is just 1% at fault for the accident, they have no right to file claims.
Pure comparative negligence. This is basically the opposite of contributory negligence in that if the injured person is 99% at fault, they can still receive 1% of any damages awarded.
Modified comparative negligence. This says that if the injured person is found about half responsible (with exact percentages of either 50% or 51% by state), they can’t receive damages. If they’re found under the state’s legal threshold, they can receive damages, but the award will be reduced by the percentage of their assessed fault.

Washington State follows pure comparative negligence. That means that if anyone other than the injured person is found to have any liability for the accident, the injured person will likely receive some compensation. However, the party expected to pay the damages will likely work aggressively to have as much fault assessed to the injured person as possible. This is another reason it’s vital to work with an experienced car accident attorney.

What Should I Do if I Sustained Long-Term Injuries in a Car Accident?

Call South Sound Law Group as soon as possible at 253-465-2722 to request a free consultation. We understand how traumatic and life-changing these types of injuries can be. We can examine your case and advise you on what to expect and how to proceed. Our experienced, knowledgeable personal injury attorneys are here for you.