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As a person who cares about what you look like, getting into an accident can drastically alter your life. Your job as a fashion director may be put on hold while you recover. While the physical pain you have endured is bad, the long-term effects of what this injury means for your career are altogether different.
The doctors tell you that you will get better if you listen to their advice and follow the treatment plans, but your account is running low on cash, and your family’s bills are not getting paid on time. How long will it take for you to accept that things will be different moving forward? Take a look at some ways you can help yourself move forward after suffering a life-altering injury.
Get a Second Opinion
Doctors are not always right. They are human, and their opinions differ. Your doctor may be recommending a course of treatment that you do not necessarily understand or agree with. If your questions seem unanswered and your concerns are ignored, it may be time to consider a second opinion. You have the right to see as many doctors as you want to confirm a diagnosis. With your fashion career hanging in the balance, you want to ensure that aggressive surgery and treatment are the only options you have. Another doctor may recommend less rigorous treatment plans first. Since you were healthy and fit before the accident, there is a chance your body could heal with the right medication and treatment. Thus, asking another doctor their opinion may lead to a less invasive treatment protocol.
Find Legal Support
The accident was a severe one. The first responders on the scene pulled you out and told you how lucky you were to be alive. After your recovery begins, you find out that the person who caused the crash was driving erratically due to intoxication. A person driving drunk is negligent and therefore responsible for the crash. Negligence, as a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer will tell you, is the basic component in a lawsuit. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs goes against the duty of care that every person who gets behind the wheel must subscribe to. Negligence in your accident will be easier to prove. Find an attorney who can help you go about filing a lawsuit.
Ask for Compensation
A personal injury action goes through civil court. During the case, your attorney will present the accident’s details, how the defendant was responsible and how you have suffered. Your career is now in limbo due to the severity of your injuries. The damage to your body is permanent, and you will not be able to return to your normal life. You need money to help your family stay afloat and to compensate you and them for what you lost because of what the defendant did. Compensation in a personal injury case comes in the form of damages. These are usually broken out into three distinct categories. Special compensatory damages are meant to repay you for the money you paid because of the injury and the money you failed to get because you could not work. Compensatory damages are awarded to help you cope with the suffering and pain you endured. The last category, punitive damages, is discretionary and only awarded by the judge. These often result in a high dollar amount that is meant to reprimand the defendant in the case of serious negligence.
Find a Support Network
Your mental health is just as important to repair. Dealing with all the changes to your life from now on is something you will need help doing. Utilize the services of a psychologist or other mental health professional. Counseling can be a great way to work out your feelings. Group therapy is beneficial in making you feel like you are not alone in fighting these battles. Make your mental health a priority in the healing journey. When you do not deal with your emotions, you will not move forward.
Learning to cope with an injury takes time and patience. Coming to terms with the accident can help you get closure and move on confidently.