Living with a Disability After Being Involved in a Trucking Accident: A Guide

A trucking accident is a violent affair. Your car stands no chance in front of a truck hurtling down its way. No matter how advanced your vehicle is, it will get folded up like a tin can when it comes face to face with a truck. Due to the sheer difference in weight, your car can sustain substantial damage.

In such circumstances, it can be hard for you to escape unscathed. More often than not, you will end up seriously injured in the event of a truck-related accident. A trucking accident can be fatal as well, so even if you lose a limb, it can be lucky just to survive a truck-related accident.

However, life can get particularly challenging if you end up with a disability from your truck-related accident. The medical bills can be enormous, and your ability to earn can diminish. The following discussion will try to point out the things that you can do if such a misfortune befalls you.

1.      Dealing with the Pain

After you wake up in a hospital bed, you can be in a tremendous amount of pain. This pain can be due to the various types of injuries that you have suffered. If you have lost a limb and it has been amputated, your level of pain will be indescribable.

Dealing with this pain can be difficult. You will have to rely heavily upon painkillers and sedatives just to get through the worst part of the pain. A trucking accident can leave your body in a battered and bruised condition, which can take a long time to heal.

You have to realize that you will have to deal with the pain for a long time. You might have to spend months or years in recovery, depending on the severity of your injuries.

2.      The Emotional Turmoil

In addition to the physical pain that you will have to endure, there is also the aspect of emotional pain. After you wake up in a hospital bed and realize that you are missing a limb, it can leave you in horror and shock. You can break down over the fact that you do not have the use of a limb anymore.

There is also the possibility of suffering from spinal injuries, which can leave your whole body in a vegetative state. This can make your life a living hell, and your dependence on others can increase tenfold. All of this can leave you in a dark place, which can make recovery even more challenging.

In such circumstances, it can be crucial to rely on someone for emotional support. You can consider seeking professional help in order to deal with your emotions properly.

3.      Seek Help from an Attorney

The financial burden that you will have to face in case you get disabled in a trucking accident can be substantial. The medical costs alone can be astronomical, which can make sustenance even harder when you are unable to work anymore.

In such circumstances, it can become impossible for you to get the care that you need. This can lead to a further decline in your condition. In order to avoid such a state of affairs, you will need to get in touch with skilled truck accident attorneys. These specialist attorneys will be able to help you out.

With the help and guidance of such attorneys, you will be able to get back most of the medical expenses incurred by you. You will also be able to get compensation for the lost wages, which can help substantially.

4.      Claim Disability Benefits

Facing disability as a result of a truck-related accident can take away your ability to work for a living. This can seriously diminish your source of sustenance, and you will have to rely on a secondary source for a living. The government can support you in such trying times.

You can file for disability benefits to get support from the government. You will be able to get a cheque in the mail, which will offset some of your living costs. You can also seek relief in your medical bills on account of your disability and diminished ability to work.

This way, you will be able to support yourself until you are able to establish another source of income or get a job that you can manage along with your disability.

5.      Try to Get Compensation

Another thing that you have to consider is that you need to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions. They are the ones who are responsible for all of your medical costs. In addition to that, due to their actions, you are left unable to work.

Similarly, all the lost wages and the pain and suffering that you had to suffer are due to their carelessness. They are also responsible for your emotional trauma and the mental effects of the accident, which they need to pay for.

In order to make them pay for their actions, you will need to seek compensation for all of the accounts mentioned above. By seeking compensation, you will be able to make sure that no one else has to suffer the same fate as you.

6.      Consider Home Modifications

In case of a disability, you will need to make modifications to your home. If you have lost a leg in the incident, it can become challenging for you to access the stairs. Similarly, if you are in a wheelchair, going to the bathroom can be tricky. To accommodate your condition, you will need to modify your home.

You might have to modify your bathrooms, or depending on your situation, you might end up installing a lift in your home to access the upper floor. Either way, you will have to modify your home, which will also require some funds. These funds will have to be included in your claim for compensation.

Similarly, you will have to modify your means of transportation. You will need to make your vehicle wheelchair friendly. You can even get vehicles made specifically for use with a wheelchair.