Car accidents can be overwhelming, and their aftermath is often a blur of medical visits, insurance paperwork and vehicle repairs. Immediate expenses—like medical bills and car repairs—are usually the first things that come to mind. It is easy to overlook other significant losses that you may be entitled to claim if you’ve been harmed by another’s negligence.
These forgotten damages can add up, potentially costing you thousands of dollars in compensation. If you’ve recently been involved in an accident, here are losses you might initially forget to claim but shouldn’t ultimately overlook.
Lost future earnings
When you think about income loss after an accident, it’s normal to consider the wages you’ve missed during your recovery period. But did you know that you’re also entitled to compensation for the future earning capacity you’ve lost?
Suppose you sustained an injury that will take a long time to heal; you may not return to your previous job soon enough. You may be forced to take a lower-paying position or end up with a permanent disability. When pursuing compensation, you should consider how your accident has limited your career advancement or reduced your work hours.
Emotional distress and mental health treatment
The first thing you can notice after an accident is the physical injuries you sustained in the collision. However, you should not overlook the emotional and psychological distress that the accident caused.
With a proper medical diagnosis, you can determine the psychological disorders you may have to treat during your recovery. Fighting to be compensated for mental health treatment can alleviate some of the financial burden you will have to carry months or even years after the accident.
Diminished value of your vehicle
Depending on the type of accident and the impact of the collision, your vehicle may sustain substantial damages. To make your car road-worthy again, you will have to spend a significant amount of money at a mechanic’s shop. Unfortunately, even if your vehicle is fixed to the highest standard, it will still have a diminished market value due to its accident history. Therefore, you should consider your vehicle’s depreciation in value when pursuing compensation.
Failing to account for the losses mentioned above can leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses and long-term financial consequences. Suppose you’ve been involved in an accident. In that case, working with an appropriate legal team can help ensure that you receive full compensation for all the damages you are entitled to, including the ones that can be easy to forget.