Automobiles make the everyday conveniences of modern life possible. You can go many miles in mere minutes, traveling in an hour what that would have been a day’s journey just a few generations ago.
But this convenience comes at the price of risking your well-being every time you step into a car, both financially and from a safety perspective. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, every year over 2 million people in the United States are injured in auto accidents.
If you happen to be one of the millions of Americans that gets into a car crash this year, here are the ways that you may experience a financial setback.
Damage to Your Vehicle
Unless you live in an urban setting with public transportation, you likely need a car for everyday use. A vehicle allows you to get to work on time, bring groceries to your home, etc. If your car is damaged in an accident, there’s a chance you will have to get it fixed immediately to keep going about with your life. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the average accident produces over $3,000 in property damage. This means that, depending on your insurance and who was at fault in the accident, repairing your car after a crash might take a big bite out of
your savings.
Damage to Your Person
The cost of possible vehicle damage pales in comparison to the cost of personal injury following an accident.
Indeed – $3,000 in car repairs is nothing next to the average of $53,200 an accident costs for every person who suffers non-incapacitating injuries as a result of the accident.
It’s usually more than just a stay in the hospital. Restoring your health after such physical damage will likely require expensive prescriptions, and there’s also the possibility that nightmares, panic attacks, and other signs of psychological damage will have to be treated.
Lost Income Resulting from Injury Recovery
Another expense to consider is that if an injury caused by a car crash requires you to take time off work to recover, you’re going to miss out on a lot of income that you would have made if you had never been in the accident. That’s going to make it even more difficult to afford any car repairs and medical bills.
If you have any questions about legal issues regarding auto accidents, contact your trusted legal office.
