A car accident can turn your world upside down in an instant. While the immediate concerns often revolve around vehicle damage and obvious physical injuries, the true financial and personal toll can extend far beyond what’s initially apparent. At Sticklen & Sticklen, we understand that a car accident in Missouri can bring a cascade of unexpected expenses and hardships that impact your life long after the crash itself.
The Immediate Financial Strain: More Than Just Repairs
Of course, the first thing many people think about after a collision is the cost of repairing or replacing their vehicle. But even seemingly minor accidents can lead to a host of other immediate financial burdens:
- Rental Car Costs: While your car is in the shop, you’ll likely need a rental to maintain your daily routine. These costs can add up quickly, and your insurance may not cover the full duration or expense.
- Towing and Storage Fees: If your car isn’t drivable, it will need to be towed from the scene and potentially stored, incurring fees that can be surprisingly high.
- Increased Insurance Premiums: Even if you weren’t at fault, a car accident can sometimes lead to a hike in your auto insurance rates, costing you more for years to come.
- Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Expenses: You’ll likely be responsible for your insurance deductible, and there can be various other out-of-pocket costs for things like transportation to medical appointments or new personal items if yours were damaged in the crash.
The Lingering Medical and Personal Costs
Beyond property damage, the most significant hidden costs often stem from injuries sustained in the accident. These can manifest in ways you might not anticipate:
- Ongoing Medical Treatment: An emergency room visit is often just the beginning. Many injuries, especially those involving soft tissue, concussions, or spinal damage, require months or even years of physical therapy, specialist consultations, medications, and potentially future surgeries. These long-term medical bills can quickly become overwhelming, even with health insurance.
- Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from working, even for a short period, the loss of income can be devastating. For more severe injuries, you might face a reduced ability to work in your previous capacity or even a permanent disability, impacting your future earning potential significantly.
- Pain and Suffering: This isn’t just a legal term; it’s a very real and often profound hidden cost. The physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and even PTSD that can follow a traumatic car accident can affect every aspect of your life. While intangible, these non-economic damages deserve to be compensated.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, sports, or other activities you once enjoyed, this loss can deeply impact your quality of life. This, too, is a compensable damage in a personal injury claim.
- Household Services: If your injuries make it difficult or impossible to perform daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, or childcare, you might need to hire help, adding another unexpected expense.
How Sticklen & Sticklen Can Help
At Sticklen & Sticklen, with offices in Joplin and Columbia, Missouri, we have seen firsthand the devastating impact these hidden costs can have on accident victims and their families. We believe that when someone else’s negligence causes you harm, you shouldn’t have to bear these burdens alone.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover not only for your immediate financial losses but also for the less obvious, long-term costs of a car accident. We will meticulously investigate your case, gather all necessary evidence, and work tirelessly to ensure that all economic and non-economic damages are properly accounted for in your claim.
Don’t let the hidden costs of a car accident jeopardize your financial stability and well-being. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Missouri, contact Sticklen & Sticklen today for a free consultation. Let us put our decades of experience to work for you, helping you navigate the complexities of your claim and fighting for the full and fair compensation you deserve. When “sorry” just doesn’t cut it, we’re here to help you get results.