Car crashes in California can cause many different types of injuries. People sometimes suffer catastrophic injuries that forever alter their employment or lifestyle. Others may develop conditions that require medical care but which typically respond to treatment, like broken bones or whiplash.
There’s often an assumption that non-permanent injuries are minor concerns. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries, for example, often do not receive appropriate respect after collisions. People act as though whiplash is a minor inconvenience. In reality, whiplash could potentially lead to massive financial losses that necessitate a personal injury lawsuit.
Missing weeks of work
Some of the best-paid employees in California are blue-collar professionals. They must physically perform specific tasks in order to earn their paycheck. Someone with whiplash may not be able to use their upper body as they usually would. Reductions in strength, chronic pain and limited range of motion can all potentially impact how well someone performs their job. Therefore, some workers may require an extended leave of absence until their whiplash symptoms improve. They could lose out on thousands of dollars in income and might need to consider litigating to recoup those losses.
Needing expensive medical care
Mild cases of whiplash may only require over-the-counter pain medication and rest. People may use ice packs and heating pads to treat their symptoms. Other times, people require medical intervention. They may require muscle relaxants and prescription pain medication or even weeks of physical therapy to fully recover. In more extreme cases, doctors may order steroid injections or surgery. The cost of that treatment could quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars, which might then justify someone’s decision to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Having poor insurance coverage
California requires that drivers carry liability insurance. When someone causes a crash, their liability insurance policy helps pay for the losses that other people suffer because of the wreck. Unfortunately, some drivers have as little as $15,000 in bodily injury coverage. That may not be enough to pay for someone’s medical treatment or replace their lost wages. When someone has verifiable expenses related to a crash that insurance cannot cover, a personal injury lawsuit may be the only way for them to get the treatment and support they require.
Realizing that whiplash can lead to major financial setbacks may inspire people pursue financial justice after a California collision.