A car, truck, or motorcycle accident can change your life instantly. While some injuries heal over time, others leave victims with permanent disabilities that affect every aspect of their daily lives. Suffering a permanent disability after a car accident can be overwhelming, bringing not only physical and emotional challenges but also significant financial burdens.
When you or a loved one experiences a life-altering injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve fair compensation and legal support to secure your future. Our North Carolina car accident lawyers are dedicated to helping permanently disabled accident victims obtain justice and the financial recovery they need to move forward.
Contact us today for a free consultation!
Injuries That Can Cause Permanently Disabilities
Certain injuries from car accidents can result in long-term or permanent disabilities, significantly impacting a victim’s quality of life. Some common injuries that leave people permanently disabled include:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries occur when a sudden impact damages the brain, leading to cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments. Victims may experience memory loss, difficulty speaking, impaired motor function, and even personality changes. In severe cases, individuals require lifelong medical care and assistance with daily tasks.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, affecting mobility and independence. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, victims may experience paraplegia (loss of movement in the lower body) or quadriplegia (loss of movement in all four limbs). These injuries often necessitate extensive medical care, physical therapy, and modifications to living spaces.
Severe Burns
Burn injuries from car accidents can cause permanent scarring, nerve damage, and loss of mobility. Victims may require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term rehabilitation. The emotional and psychological toll of disfigurement can be just as devastating as the physical pain.
Amputations
The loss of a limb due to a severe accident can dramatically alter a person’s ability to perform daily tasks, work, and enjoy life. Prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation can help, but they come with significant financial costs, and many victims require ongoing medical care and therapy.
Organ Damage
Internal injuries from car accidents can lead to permanent organ damage, affecting a victim’s overall health and quality of life. Damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, or other vital organs may result in long-term medical complications and a reduced life expectancy.
Eye Injuries and Vision Loss
Accidents that cause trauma to the eyes or head can lead to partial or total blindness. Losing vision permanently affects a person’s ability to work, drive, and perform daily tasks independently, requiring significant adjustments and support.
Other Severe Injuries
In serious cases, back injuries, knee injuries, and broken bones can permanently affect a person’s mobility. This is especially true for older adults who often struggle to regain strength and range of motion after injuries like a broken hip, pelvic fracture, or ACL tear.
Common Accidents That Cause Permanent Disability
Various types of accidents can result in severe injuries that leave victims with lifelong disabilities. Some of the most common include:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are a leading cause of permanent disabilities. High-speed crashes, rollovers, and collisions with large vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries such as TBIs, spinal cord damage, and amputations. Even relatively minor crashes can lead to serious long-term complications and chronic pain.
Truck Accidents
Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, accidents involving these vehicles are particularly dangerous. Victims of truck accidents often suffer devastating injuries that result in permanent disabilities, especially when smaller passenger vehicles are involved. Truck driver fatigue, overloaded trucks, and reckless driving are common causes of these serious accidents.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are highly vulnerable. Even when wearing helmets and protective gear, riders can suffer life-changing injuries such as spinal cord damage, severe burns, and amputations. Motorcycle accidents frequently result in permanent disabilities that require lifelong medical care and rehabilitation.
Pedestrian Accidents
When a pedestrian is struck by a car or truck, the results can be catastrophic. Pedestrians have no protection from the impact, making them susceptible to severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and fractures that can lead to permanent disability.
Bicycle Accidents
Like pedestrians, bicyclists are at high risk when hit by a motor vehicle. Even with helmets and protective gear, cyclists can suffer TBIs, spinal cord injuries, and other life-altering conditions. Many bicycle accidents occur due to driver negligence, including distracted or reckless driving.
Compensation for Permanent Disability After a Car Accident
If you have suffered a permanent disability due to a car accident, you can seek financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and reduced quality of life. Our North Carolina auto accident lawyers can help you pursue damages in the following areas.
Medical Bills and Future Medical Expenses
A permanent disability often requires extensive medical treatment, including surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and long-term care. Compensation can cover current and future medical expenses to ensure you receive the care you need for the rest of your life.
Lost Wages and Lost Earning Potential
If your injury prevents you from returning to work, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages and future earning potential. A permanent disability can significantly impact your ability to earn a living, making financial support essential for maintaining your standard of living.
Home Modifications for a Disability
Many accident victims with permanent disabilities need home modifications, such as wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, and specialized equipment. Compensation can help cover home renovations to make daily life easier and safer.
Caregiving Costs
Caring for a permanently disabled person can be costly, whether hiring professional caregivers or relying on family members who may need to reduce their work hours or quit their jobs to provide full-time care. Compensation can help cover the cost of professional caregiving services or lost income for family members who take on caregiving responsibilities.
Pain and Suffering
A permanent disability can cause immense physical pain and emotional distress. You can pursue compensation for the pain and suffering you endure.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Many accident victims with permanent disabilities can no longer participate in activities they once loved. Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life acknowledges the impact of these changes and helps provide financial relief.
Loss of Consortium
A severe injury can affect relationships with loved ones, including spouses and family members. Loss of consortium damages compensates for the impact a disability has on personal relationships and the ability to maintain a normal family life.
Disfigurement and Scarring
For victims who suffer severe burns, amputations, or other disfiguring injuries, compensation may be available for the emotional and psychological impact of their altered appearance.
Punitive Damages
If the accident was caused by extreme negligence, punitive damages may be awarded to victims. These damages are intended to punish the responsible party and discourage similar behavior.
North Carolina law normally limits punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is higher. The cap on punitive damages doesn’t apply to drunk driving accidents.
Average Car Accident Settlement for Permanent Disability in North Carolina
Car accident claims involving permanent disabilities often result in large settlements. Typically, these settlements range from $500,000 to over $1 million. The final amount depends on factors such as the severity of the disability, its impact on the victim’s ability to work, and the cost of ongoing medical care.
The at-fault party’s insurance policy limits can also influence settlement amounts.
How a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Disabled Victims
If you or a loved one is permanently disabled after a car crash, truck accident, or motorcycle wreck, navigating the legal process can be overwhelming. Our law firm is here to help you.
Gathering Evidence
An experienced car accident attorney will carefully investigate the accident and collect critical evidence to support your personal injury claim. This may include obtaining police reports, interviewing witnesses, organizing medical documentation, and potentially working with accident reconstruction experts.
Negotiating a Settlement
Settling a car accident claim for a permanent disability in North Carolina can be a complex process. Insurance companies strive to minimize payouts. Your lawyer will handle all communications with the insurance company and negotiate for the full compensation you deserve.
Representing You in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Most personal injury cases are resolved outside of court. However, if negotiations with the insurance company do not result in a fair settlement, our lawyers are prepared to take your case to trial. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can advocate for maximum compensation and handle legal proceedings to ease the burden on accident victims and their families.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
Dealing with a permanent disability after a car accident is overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. The experienced attorneys at North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers understand the physical, emotional, and financial hardships that come with these life-changing injuries. We are dedicated to fighting for your rights and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.
Our legal team will thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if necessary, take your case to court to secure the best possible outcome. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you secure the justice and financial support you need to rebuild your life.
