Everyone is afraid of something. Fears can be strange things because many of the things we are afraid of have a very small likelihood of actually happening. For example, many people have a fear of flying. But experts put the likelihood of being in a plane crash in the neighbor between 1 in 5.4 million (reported by the Economist) and 1 in 11 million (according to a 2006 Harvard study). On the other hand, car accidents are extremely common, yet most of us hop in the car with far less fanfare than when we drop a loved one off at the airport. In fact, car accidents are such a frequent occurrence that it is estimated that every seven seconds someone is injured in a car. Most drivers are also blissfully unaware of just how expensive a car accident can be. Even if you are not the at-fault driver, a simple car accident could cost you more than you think. The following is a breakdown of the true cost of a car accident:
- Medical expenses. Obviously, if you are seriously injured in a car accident, there will be medical expenses. Accident victims can incur costs related to ambulance transportation, hospital stays, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and in-home or long-term care. Even if the victim has health insurance, there may be co-pays and deductibles that need to be paid out-of-pocket.
- Car related expenses. Even a minor accident can do some serious damage to a vehicle. In some cases, you not even be able to drive your vehicle away from the scene of the accident. This means you will have to pay a towing company to tow your vehicle to a repair shop. Car repairs and autobody work are not only costly but can also take significant time to complete. Accident victims often resort to renting a car for a few days to weeks while their vehicle is being repaired. Before renting a vehicle, check with your insurance policy to see how much they will cover since you will be on the hook for the remainder.
- Lost income and future earning potential. One expense that surprises many accident victims is lost income. A minor accident could leave a victim missing only a few days of works. But depending on the severity of a victim’s injuries, he or she may be out of work for weeks or even months. Some victims, due to the nature of their injuries, can never to return their previous line of employment.
- Trickle-down effect. When a person has no income for weeks or months, plus has unforeseen medical and car expenses, there is often a trickle-down effect. Depending on the victim’s financial situation, a victim may have to forgo discretionary spending and live on a bare bones budget. Even then, there still may not be enough money to go around.
The good news is that there is no upfront cost when hiring a personal injury to fight for the money you are owed. Contingency-based fees mean the attorney does not receive money until you receive a settlement or win at trial.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries after being involved in an auto accident the experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can help. Our team of seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys will work hard to make sure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help you, just as they have helped countless injured victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can work for you, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we look forward to providing injury victims with exceptional legal services.