When people think about the consequences of a collision, they probably think about the damage to their vehicle or the potential for an injury. They may not stop to think about how a car crash could impact their career and finances for the rest of their lives.
There are several ways in which a crash could leave you particularly vulnerable to the loss of your employment afterward. Understanding these issues can make it easier for you to predict the impact of a wreck on the rest of your life.
You might miss work because of your injuries
Many people have to miss work on the day of their accident. Between waiting for law enforcement to arrive and seeking a medical evaluation, they may not ever make it to their job that day.
For quite a few people, the medical consequences of a crash will persist for many weeks or even months after the collision. For some people, such as those with spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries, the effects of a motor vehicle collision may wind up lasting for the rest of their lives.
The more days of work you will miss because of your injury, the more likely it is that your employer will replace you or terminate your position. If you know it is going to be three or four months before you can return to your job, you may have to find a new job when the time comes.
Returning to work may be harder than you think
Thanks to excellent trauma care and the combination of physical and occupational therapy, you may feel ready to return to the workforce when your wounds have mostly healed. However, the pain from your injury may make tasks that were once simple prohibitively painful and difficult.
It is hard for people to accurately assess the way that a lifelong injury will impact their job until they attempt to return to work. From hand cramps that prevent you from typing to back injuries that make both standing and sitting for more than a few minutes painful, the physical consequences of a crash may make it difficult for you to continue working.
Getting a job with major injuries is harder
Certain employment fields are highly competitive, due to a glut of available candidates or because the work is so demanding. When you have injuries that limit your stamina, range of motion or function, employers may not want to accommodate those injuries.
Although federal law mandates that employers should offer reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities and medical issues, many companies will simply pass over hiring someone with a known or obvious medical condition.
The long-term financial impact of an accident is often much more than just the damage to the vehicle or the cost of your medical care. The loss of your wages or your decreased earning potential will also impact the rest of your life.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
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