The fact that there’s an inherent risk involved every time you get behind the wheel of a car to drive in Ohio doesn’t keep you from going where you need to go. Most drivers simply do their best to adhere to traffic laws and act with caution, hoping to safely arrive at their destination. You just never know when a motor vehicle accident might occur.
If another vehicle hits you, it can have disastrous and far-reaching implications. You might suffer numerous losses, especially if a collision results in injury to you, your child or another loved one in your vehicle. If you decide to seek restitution, you’ll have the task of presenting a list of damages. Each item or issue on the list will have a monetary value.
A motor vehicle accident might result in loss of physical function
If you suffer a brain or spinal cord injury in a collision, you might lose the ability to function physically without assistance. Incapacitation can cause another loss — the loss of quality of life. If you were in relatively good health and physical condition before the accident, and now you need help just to feed yourself or practice personal hygiene, it can be frustrating, as well as devastating.
Loss of consortium
The legal term “loss of consortium” refers to the loss of the benefits of a relationship with a spouse or other family members due to injuries caused by another person. There is often a connection between this term and the loss of marital intimacy. It can occur because of a spouse’s incapacitation or because one spouse has died.
Did your injuries cost you your job?
Another great loss that might occur because of a motor vehicle accident is loss of employment. This might happen if your injuries have physically made it impossible to do your job. However, it might also occur if you have had to take extended time off work and your employer decides to let you go.
Was your car totaled?
Loss of a vehicle in an Ohio collision can spur many other problems in your daily life. Not having transportation can cause you to suffer the loss mentioned in the previous section — your job. If you don’t have a way to get around, basic errands like grocery shopping, going to the bank or mailing a letter might not be possible, unless you schedule a ride through a ride share service or ask a friend or family member to provide transportation.
Creating a list of damages (or losses) helps determine the maximum amount of compensation to which you may be entitled when another Ohio driver caused a collision that resulted in injury to you or a loved one.