Long-Term Effects of Your Injury in Sugar Land
The long-term consequences of a serious injury are often more devastating than the immediate effects. Some issues may be life-long and affect every area of your life. What each victim experiences will depend on their unique injury. Below are some common long-term effects of injuries in Sugar Land, Texas.
• Physical Consequences. The long-term physical consequences of an injury are wide-ranging. Some examples include loss of mobility, fatigue, visual impairments, and sexual dysfunction. These physical symptoms can lead to a reliance on medications, rehabilitation, and physical therapy for years.
Furthermore, if you are forced to use a wheelchair or other assistive technology, you may have to modify your home, which can be costly.
• Cognitive Consequences. Injuries can lead to various long-term cognitive consequences, including:
o Problems with concentration, arousal, and attention
o Difficulty with speech, language comprehension, and word finding
o Memory loss
o Sleep disorders
o Sensory loss or impairment.
• Emotional/Behavioral Consequences. Some examples of long-term emotional/behavioral symptoms include irritability, anxiety, depression, addiction, and problems with judgment or planning. Sometimes emotional or behavioral issues are a direct result of the injury.
Other times these symptoms occur the quality of your life is reduced. Because you often cannot participate in the same activities and live life in the same way as before your injury, this can have a significant impact on your mental well-being.
• Loss of Earning Capacity. The effects of an injury could force you from your current occupation. You may never be able to work again, or you may not be able to do the kind of work you were doing prior to the injury. You may have to start a new profession that pays less than what you were making.
• Re-education. If you are forced into a new profession, you will likely have to complete training before you enter a new field. Re-education can be a costly and time-consuming process.
Common Injuries That Have Long-Term Effects
Any individual who has suffered a serious, incapacitating, or disfiguring injury is at risk of experiencing long-term effects. Sometimes these types of injuries are referred to as residual injuries. Below is a list of common injuries that result in long-term consequences.
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Back injuries
• Internal injuries
• Sensory loss
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Toxic exposure
• Disfigurement
• Burn injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
How are Damages for Long-Term Consequences Calculated in Sugar Land?
The long-term consequences of an injury must be considered when calculating damages in a personal injury case in the Sugarland area. The award should address expenses that the victim already incurred (i.e., medical expenses to date and lost wages) and expenses that the victim expects to incur in the future. Future damages can be difficult to calculate but that doesn’t mean they should not get the serious consideration they deserve. If you have suffered an injury with long-term consequences, it is critical to reach out to a Sugar Land personal injury attorney, like Adam Capetillo, who is experienced in dealing with these types of personal injury cases. A qualified attorney should know how to factor in long-term effects when calculating damages.
The amount of compensation that you will be entitled to be dependent on a variety of factors. For example, if there is visible disfigurement, especially on the face, the award will typically increase to compensate for the emotional distress of being disfigured. Another main factor is how much future care the individual is expected to need. Will you need round-the-clock nursing care, or can you complete most daily living activities on your own? The age of the victim will also heavily affect the damages. The younger the plaintiff, typically, the higher the award because the damage will affect them for a longer amount of time.
In terms of loss of income, your attorney can hire an expert to determine the amount you would have earned throughout your life had you never been injured. The expert will consider several factors, including your education, skills, profession, how many working years you had left, inflation, and raises. Additionally, you may need to be compensated for education costs should you now need to train for a new career.
To ensure that you receive the maximum amount you are entitled to, it is important that you keep all medical records and have an opinion from a qualified medical professional that your injuries will be long-term. The simplest way to have your doctor make a notation in your records about the permanent or residual effects of your injury is to ask. There is no issue with telling your doctor that you are asking because you plan to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Your Sugar Land Personal Injury Attorney
Adam Capetillo is an experienced Sugar Land attorney passionate about protecting the rights of his clients and working for them to get the needed financial award to recover immediate and long-term costs. If you suffered an injury, we encourage you to call our office today at (346) 249-5544 to schedule a free consultation.
