Disabilities happen for many reasons; some people are born with them, some develop them over time and some acquire them as a result of injuries suffered unexpectedly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that automobile accidents — crashes involving cars, trucks, semis, buses, taxis, motorcycles, etc — are one of the top causes of injury-related disabilities. They also provide a few examples of what these disabilities may look like. They are as follows:
- Psychological trauma
- Limb amputation
- Spinal cord trauma leading to paralysis
- Neurotrauma leading to either cognitive or physical limitations — or both
- Sensory disabilities
- Limb deformation
- Mobility impairments
The exact way that these things play out depends on a lot of factors. What type of crash was it? What protection did the person have or lack? For instance, motorcycle accidents are known to be far more dangerous than traditional car accidents, in large part because the rider’s body is exposed directly to the violence of the crash. For riders who do not wear helmets on their bikes, the odds of neurotrauma are higher than for those who do — although it can happen to either group.
In a lot of car accidents, people have multiple issues to deal with. Someone could have temporary paralysis, mobility impairments and head trauma all at once. Some of these issues heal over time, but others may not. It could become clear that it’s a permanent disability that they’ll have to live with for life.
Needless to say, this shows how a person’s entire life can change in just a few seconds. Those who suffer such serious injuries need to know what legal options they have.