The Impact of Personal Injuries on Family Members and Caregivers in Louisiana
When you think of personal injuries, you generally think of how they impact the injured party. However, the effects of an accident go beyond the individuals who are directly involved. When someone is seriously injured, it has a ripple effect that shoots out from them to their friends, family members, coworkers, and the community as a whole. By understanding how personal injuries can affect loved ones, we can get a better understanding of the true fallout of an injury and the type of compensation a victim deserves.
If you’ve suffered an injury due to another person’s negligence in Louisiana, find out if you’re entitled to compensation. Call the team at Trainor Law Firm at 985-900-2250 to schedule a consultation now.
The Emotional and Psychological Toll of an Injury
Personal injuries take a profound emotional and psychological toll on the victim’s loved ones. Even when the victim survives, their friends and family members often experience significant trauma. They may become anxious about the possibility of a similar accident in the future, become depressed due to their loved one’s loss of independence or quality of life, and take on a greater emotional load as they support the victim.
It’s common for serious injuries to shake up the relationships and familial roles of a family unit. This is true regardless of what role the injured victim played prior to their injury. For example, consider a stay-at-home parent who becomes seriously injured in a car accident. Although their injuries may not cause them to lose out on income, they may make them unable to care for their children for an extended period of time.
This puts the other parent in the role of primary caretaker and may force them to bring in outside help to meet their children’s needs. The children must relearn who to go to for help, changing their relationship with their parents.
Financial Demands of an Injury
There’s no question that personal injuries can put enormous financial strain on family members and close friends. From the very beginning, the costs of an injury begin adding up. The victim gets hit with the medical bill after medical bill, the immediate effect of lost income, the costs associated with repairing their damaged property, and the equipment they need to navigate their home safely.
Whether the person injured was the sole breadwinner or one of two working adults in the home, their loss of income can be financially devastating. Their partner may need to take on extra hours to bridge the gap, limiting their ability to provide emotional and physical support. They may even need to ask family members or close friends for financial assistance, which can shift the boundaries in a relationship and make the victim feel guilty or ashamed.
Family members and caregivers may experience a permanent shift in their future plans due to their loved one’s injury. If the victim is permanently unable to work, that may limit their family’s ability to move into a new home, save for college, plan for retirement, or otherwise become more financially stable.
Physical Challenges of a Loved One’s Injury
An injured victim’s loved ones may even experience physical side effects and challenges. If the victim is unable to walk, feed themselves, care for themselves, or otherwise meet their basic daily needs, family members may step in to fill that role. The demands of providing direct care can put a lot of physical strain on loved ones, particularly if they must lift the victim, help them walk, and clean them.
If the victim needs ongoing care, it may be necessary for an outside caregiver to step in and lighten the load. Otherwise, there’s a very real chance of their family members developing caregiver burnout and suffering physically and mentally. Caregivers should work closely with the medical team from the very beginning to make long-term plans.
Reach Out to Gardner Law Group for Help with Your Claim
When you’re ready to start your personal injury claim, the team at Trainor Law Firm is here to support you. Schedule your consultation with our team in Covington, LA now by contacting us online or giving us a call at 985-900-2250.
