Someone driving, while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is apt to exceed the speed limit and remain unaware of traffic signals. That same driver could plow into the rear end of a vehicle that has stopped at an intersection. Even if the driver were wearing a seat belt, the resulting injuries could be severe.
Expected losses: Medical expenses and loss of income.
Added losses: Need for attendant care and rehabilitation treatment; this could call for performance of a long series of treatments.
The road to recovery might be long and hard, especially for someone with a pre-existing condition. An elderly passenger would also face a long, hard road to recovery, even with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Medicine Hat.
What losses might be suffered by any of the younger passengers?
The extent of such losses could be kept to a minimum by arranging for the younger passenger to visit a doctor just as soon as possible. During the first visit, the physician ought to be told about any small medical problem that might have been made worse by the force of the crash. If the child gets taken to a familiar pediatrician, that same specialist needs to get all the details, regarding what happened at the time of the collision.
Depending on the nature of the young person’s injuries, it may be necessary to speak with a lawyer. An injury lawyer could help with assessment of the injured youth’s future earning potential. That same injury lawyer could consult with various experts. A medical expert could review the likelihood that the injured youth might develop a chronic medical condition. An economist could estimate the amount of money that could be lost, due to a loss of earning potential.
It might be a good idea to have the appropriate pediatric specialist speak with the parents. Otherwise, that husband and wife team might feel reluctant to seek legal action, especially if the child or teen seems perfectly healthy. The child’s or teen’s good health would mask the dangerous nature of the situation.
Symptoms of a whiplash-associated disorder or a traumatic brain injury show up gradually, over an extended period of time. Frequently, symptoms such as difficulty concentrating get blamed on a child’s inattentive nature. If a pediatrician or family doctor did not see the affected young person soon after the accident, he or she could not assess the full meaning of any new symptoms.
For example, the affected young person might experience an episode of dizziness. If a family doctor or pediatrician had never learned all the details, regarding the recent accident, he or she might not connect the dizziness and the collision’s forceful impact. Then the drunk driver’s actions might affect the future life of that one innocent child or teenager.