And what you can do if your loved one was involved in a wreck in Iowa and can’t afford the expenses they have incurred.
Driving has become a part of our everyday lives. We drive to work, school, to pick up our kids from soccer practice, the grocery store, etc. and often forget to acknowledge how risky the task is because it has become such a common practice. But driving is dangerous and with more distracted and careless drivers occupying the roads, it has become even more unsafe for people to do. Did you that in 2017, 34,247 fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred in the U.S. resulting in 37,133 deaths [Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)]?
With figures like this, there has never been a better time to start taking precautionary measures that could help reduce your chances of engaging in an accident.
Car Crashes May Not Only Result in Physical and Psychological Suffering but Also Financial Hardship as Well
We often hear about the devastating injuries car crash victims suffer after an accident, but rarely do we hear much about the financial hardship most go through which only contributes to making the recovery process more difficult on a victim. The truth is, car accidents are costly occurrences, especially if the person suffered serious injuries and can no longer work. In 2013, “crash deaths resulted in $44 billion in medical and work loss costs in addition to the immeasurable burden on the victims’ families and friends,” and this doesn’t include those who suffered injuries in a crash.
To give you some perspective of the types of costs many auto accident victims and their families incur, below is a list of those one family must find a way to pay after their loved one suffered catastrophic injuries in a crash:
- A catastrophic injury deductible that must be satisfied before the family’s insurance will begin to cover treatment. If you plan on filing a claim through your own insurer in an effort to recover compensation to make up for your losses, you may have a deductible that needs to be satisfied before your insurer will pay you anything. If you purchased a policy with a high deductible, this amount must be satisfied before your insurer is going to take any sort of action.
- Travel expenses. We often don’t take into account how costly it can be to travel to and from the hospital, to doctor’s appointments, therapy, etc. but the reality is, gas is expensive, especially if you are having to refuel every few days.
- Food expenses. If you are constantly traveling back and forth between your home and the hospital while your loved one is being treated, you likely are having to eat out as you don’t have the time to prepare a meal, and this can become rather expensive.
- High parking fees at the hospital.
- Lost wages.
- Modifications that may need to be made to a victim’s home to accommodate their condition.
- Additional support the family might need.
- Other medical expenses that are not covered by insurance.
These are only some of the expenses a family might incur and there could be many others. It all depends on how long it takes a victim to recover and what their condition is like once they go through the recovery process.
What can an Iowa car accident lawyer do for my family if a loved one of ours was involved in an accident?
Car crashes not only lead to victims suffering physically and psychologically, but also financially. And the truth is, you don’t know what expenses you are going to incur, especially when the person involved in the accident suffered a catastrophic injury. Because there are many expenses insurance companies don’t want to pay, you are encouraged to hire a car accident attorney in Iowa after a car wreck has transpired to see how they can help you and your family recover the money you need.
You may have already incurred travel, food, and lodging expenses you can’t really afford and still haven’t paid any of the medical bills that you have received. Although insurance policies are supposed to serve as a form of protection for instances like these, many often find that companies don’t want to pay a victim what they are actually entitled to. To ensure your insurer doesn’t undervalue your accident claim or deny it, we recommend that you contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. to find out what our team of dedicated IA car accident lawyers can do for you and your loved ones.
If you are entitled to more money than what your insurer has offered or there was another party involved in the wreck that played a role in causing it to transpire, our lawyers will be sure to get you and your family the money you deserve. If you are ready to speak with an attorney now don’t hesitate to contact our office at (319) 393-1020.
You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000
Website: www.eellsandtronvold.com
