​The idea of being in a car accident is the stuff of nightmares. Even the thought of colliding with another vehicle in a supermarket parking lot is enough to make most of us rethink our driving habits.
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Sadly, you can be an incredibly diligent and cautious driver and still end up in the wrong place at the wrong time with another driver who isn’t as careful as you are.
A car accident usually means an insurance claim and several weeks or months of inconvenience whilst everything is sorted out. However, if the crash is much more serious and there’s injuries and property damage involved, a car accident that wasn’t your fault could still end up costing you. You can find a car accident lawyer (West Palm Beach) by clicking the link provided.

Here we’ll explore why a car accident could cost you more than you think.

Medical bills
Not everyone has medical insurance and even those that do may not have sufficient cover in the event of a serious accident and subsequent injuries. This means that from the moment you're looked at by a medical professional, the cost is rising. Call out fees, pain relief, ambulance use, x-rays, medication, overnight stays, consultant fees, operations, anesthesia etc - it all very quickly adds up. Not forgetting the possible need for further treatment down the line, such as rehabilitation or physiotherapy. This is why speaking with a lawyer could benefit you. If you were in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, don’t delay and make a call to a PI lawyer as soon as possible.

The cost of your mental health
After a traumatic experience, it's common for our mental health to take a hit. Sleepless nights, flashbacks, anxiety, mood swings even PTSD. The cost of a car accident isn’t just one to your bank balance, it could cost your quality of life. This is another reason why it’s so important to speak with a PI lawyer as soon as possible after a collision.

You’re unable to work
If your injuries mean that you can’t work and provide for your family, then you could have even more financial pressure placed upon you. Rising bills, empty cupboards - not forgetting those extortionate medical bills. If you’re unable to earn a living then you could fall into debt just trying to make ends meet.

Transport
Whether you can work or not, you’ll still need to get around, get to the store, take the kids to school and get on with your life, however doing so without a car can cost you. If your car has been totaled, then you could be looking at the cost of a new vehicle as well as public transport costs and vehicle rental fees. Not forgetting the potential rise in your car insurance premiums!

Final thoughts…
If you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t be facing financial hardship. Why you should pay for someone else’s mistake? Speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your next steps and to get your finances back on track.

Congratulations on passing your driving test. You’re now self-reliant and looking forward to a future of independent driving and freedom! However, passing your test is also a time for reflection and time to get serious about the incurring costs of finally getting your license. Funding your lessons and your test is one aspect you’ve
overcome, but the surprising cost of subsequently purchasing and running a vehicle along with all the other hidden extras might leave you in a financial quandary.

To give you some guidance and to help you limit your financial expectations, we’ve compiled a list of costs you should consider now you’ve passed your driving test in Australia.

Your insurance
Many new drivers are initially shocked at the price of their insurance premiums, which is why it’s always a good idea to shop around and compare online car insurance with Qantas. As the driver of a new vehicle, you’ll need to establish what kind of cover you think is best for your requirements –third party, fully comprehensive or third party fire and theft.

If you want the highest level of cover then fully comprehensive is probably best for you and it's the type of cover that's mostly recommended to new drivers. You may also want to look at ways you can reduce your premiums. Try not to be intimidated by all the jargon and specific terms that come with car insurance, conduct plenty of research and reach out to friends and family if you need guidance.
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Registration and licensing
Owning a car in Australia means that you need to have your vehicle registered with the Department of Transport in your territory or state. You'll have to pay an upfront fee as well as ongoing costs which can be paid annually, every six months or quarterly. Depending on where your vehicle is registered the costs may vary greatly, as each state or territory has its own methods of calculating the costs. Cars in metropolitan areas could cost more than those in rural areas, while South and
Western Australia are cheapest overall.
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Repairs
Not everything goes to plan and even your brand new car could need some emergency repairs, or a replacement part. Your car needs to be in a roadworthy condition for your safety and to insure your car insurance is valid. So, bear in mind that the cost to repair a brand new vehicle may be more than repairs to one that is older. Repairs, VAT, the labour, parts, you may have to find other transport...all
of these costs quickly add up.

And finally, fuel
You won't get far without it, and it's not always budget-friendly. The amount you spend on fuel might surprise you, so always budget for it generously. The best way to save money on fuel is to shop around for it. Find out where has the cheapest gas and always try to fill up your tank there. Driving with efficiency in mind and ensuring your tires are always pumped up will also be kinder to your fuel tank.

Most of us cannot wait to sit behind the wheel and feel the freedom of hitting the open road. What most of us don’t bank on, however, is being involved in a car crash (you may wish to check out what to do when you've been in a car crash if you are yet to experience a crash).
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​Let’s look at some common types of car crashes that could happen to any of us each time we take a car journey.

Head-on collisions
Typically, and especially where speed is involved, head on collisions present a heightened risk of serious injury or even death. As the name would suggest, this type of road accident occurs where two vehicles collide in a head-on impact that presents both vehicles with an immediate stopping force. Aside from the threat to life, head-on collisions also commonly present serious mechanical issues, in that most vehicles have a ‘front engine’ layout, meaning the engine is housed at the front of the vehicle. In many cases, both vehicles will have to be scrapped.

Rear-end collisions
Rear-end collisions are perhaps the most common road accident. Although factors such as low sun, wet surfaces, and sudden braking from the vehicle ahead may be claimed by the driver at fault as reasons for the crash, the fact remains that if the rear vehicle had observed an adequate stopping distance for all eventualities, the accident could have been avoided. Drivers who are being tailgated may wish to avoid the chance of a rear-end collision by changing lanes or find a turning to allow the negligent driver to pass.

Side impact collisions (also known as T-bone collisions)
This type of collision typically occurs at junctions, where one vehicle attempts to pull into traffic without checking if it is safe to do so. The result can be a side impact by the front of an approaching vehicle. Where side impacts occur, serious injury may be caused to the occupants of the turning vehicle seated on the side of impact, with the outer leg, arm, and ribs bearing the brunt of the crash.

Sideswipes - side contact from a car in the next lane
This type of injury typically presents less of a concern in terms of injury to the occupants of either vehicle involved, and more of a concern in terms of damage to the vehicle. Sideswipes occur where two vehicles come into contact while travelling side by side in the same direction (i.e. in adjacent lanes). Drivers who fear that the erratic driving behaviours of a motorist travelling in the next lane may result in a side swipe should drop back to reduce the risk of any such impact.

Single vehicle impacts
Not all road accidents involve more than one vehicle. In the case of single vehicle impacts, the driver is normally held accountable for having left the road or for having caused a collision between their vehicle and a static object such as a parked car. However, situations such as oil spills that have not been dealt with could mean that the driver is not at fault for the single vehicle crash.

Think of personal injury cases, and it’s easy to imagine someone being hit by a car, slipping in a supermarket or experiencing an injury at work. Broken bones, torn muscles, sudden disabilities, whiplash etc - injuries like these are commonplace in personal injury cases, and while these injuries are debilitating, what many victims fail to value is the damage to their mental health.

Psychological trauma is just as likely when you've experienced a frightening and painful event. And considering how debilitating a psychological injury can be, it's vital that victims like you speak with personal injury law firms about the additional suffering you’re experiencing.

The stigma that still surrounds mental health often makes it difficult for victims to come forward, but when it’s the result of an accident that wasn’t your fault, speaking about your mental health concerns can potentially gain you access to treatment and therapies that may aid your recovery. You’re going to need medical assistance and treatment to get your physical health back on track, so why not do the same for your psychological health?

What are the most common circumstances?

Those who have suffered a psychological injury due to an accident are usually victims of violence, have been involved in near-miss incidents or where life-changing physical injuries have occurred. Of course, mental trauma can manifest for several reasons, but in personal injury cases, you may find that those who have been involved in car, motorcycle or truck accidents are more likely to suffer. In addition, those who have experienced criminal or violent acts against them or those that have
experienced injuries and terror whilst at their most vulnerable (e.g. during birth) also often find themselves struggling mentally.
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These kinds of circumstances can cause anxiety, panic attacks, profuse sweating, irritability, mania or strong aversion to particular situations such as getting in a car or visiting the hospital. These kinds of symptoms can severely impact the victim’s quality of life.

Understanding primary and secondary victims

After an accident, there are two kinds of victims. These are defined as primary and secondary:
- Primary Victim: The person who was directly involved in the accident. They have sustained
physical injuries and additional psychological trauma as a result of what happened. Their
injuries/trauma is well documented.
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- Secondary Victim: This person was NOT directly involved in the accident, however witnessing what occurred has left them with a psychological injury such as anxiety, depression or other emotional trauma. Secondary cases of psychological trauma are common, however, they will only be considered when the primary victims' case has been proven. They'll also need their own evidence and also need to prove a connection to the primary victim.

What kind of psychological injuries are common?

There is a broad spectrum of mental injuries, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, specific phobias, a growing reliance on drugs etc.

Any kind of traumatic injury that impacts your ability to work, provide for your family, enjoy life and just go about your daily life should be brought to the attention of your personal injury solicitor.