The Role of Family: Supporting a Loved One After a Truck Accident in Virginia

Truck accidents can cause severe and painful injuries. The physical and emotional distress they cause is a lot for anyone to handle. No one should have to go through this alone, especially because injuries can last for months or even years. 

Having strong family support post-accident is a significant first step to recovering from a traumatic truck accident. Friends and family can provide much-needed support during a challenging time. Here are some of the most essential ways loved ones can help after a truck accident.

Assisting with the Physical Impact of Truck Accidents 

Trucks are designed to carry large amounts of supplies and materials, making them larger, longer, and heavier than a typical passenger vehicle. Because of their weight and size, the physical injuries after a truck accident can be life-altering and more severe than those of a car accident. 

Some common physical injuries include: 

• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Concussions or other head injuries 
• Neck and back problems
• Injuries to internal organs
• Joint issues

Many of these injuries create long-lasting physical effects. Daily care is sometimes needed to help out during truck accident recovery. 

Family members can assist with this newfound struggle by taking on an active role in coordinating critical parts of their loved one’s recovery, including keeping track of appointments for any rehabilitation and counseling. 

Sometimes, the extent of a physical injury isn’t fully discovered until days or weeks after the accident. Attentive family members can note changes in their loved one’s body or behavior to help provide further support. 

Family members can also help their loved one navigate the aftermath of the accident by offering help with tasks around the home. There’s a high likelihood that your loved one’s mobility and motor functions are impaired, which can keep them from participating in their day-to-day lives as they’ve previously been able to. 

You might need to help with specific household tasks requiring agile joint movements, like washing dishes or folding laundry. 

Providing Emotional Support

Strong emotional support after an accident makes a huge, positive difference on the road to recovery. The mental journey back to health can be taxing and isolating for truck accident victims to embark on alone. With an encouraging, loving family, it’s much easier to begin. 

Your loved one might not be able to keep up with their routines because of their accident, which may be difficult to accept. They might have to make targeted lifestyle changes to their daily routine, and they could be heavily resistant to this.  

Building new habits alongside your loved one can help them associate positive things with their new lifestyle. You can help motivate them by focusing on a new approach to their regular regimen. 

Your loved one may struggle emotionally because of the injuries they have suffered and the trauma of the accident. Victims of truck accidents often suffer from anxiety and depression, even developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some cases. The mental anguish can cause further delays in their recovery. 

Hobbies they’ve previously engaged in may not be able to bring as much joy as they once did. Your loved one could disengage with old, productive habits and refuse to make post-accident adjustments. 

It can be challenging for them to adapt to drastic changes in their lifestyle. Accepting these changes can be the hardest step for them to take. You can be there for them, lending them a sympathetic ear and helping them adapt to their new lifestyle.

Navigating Legal Processes in Virginia 

If your loved one was injured in a Virginia truck accident that someone else caused, that person could owe them compensation for their:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost income
• Diminished earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Lost quality of life

A lawyer can help your loved one seek this compensation and potentially ease the financial burden post-accident. Your encouragement can help them take the first steps towards physical and financial recovery.

According to Virginia law, the deadline to file a truck accident claim in the commonwealth is two years. It’s a good idea to meet with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible if your loved one is considering filing a claim after a truck accident. 

Knowing a qualified personal injury attorney is handling critical deadlines can alleviate the mental stress of dealing with a truck accident claim. 

Financial Support and Compensation

Medical expenses following a truck accident can put a financial burden and stress on the victim and their family. It can be painful to watch a loved one dealing with serious medical bills, lost wages from time missed at work, and the many incidental costs of a serious injury. A truck accident lawyer can assist by helping gather and organize the necessary information to support their claim.

You can help your loved one by collecting evidence from:

• Medical professionals 
• Your loved one’s insurance company
• Law enforcement or first responders’ reports 
• Eyewitness statements

Keep this information together and in a safe place. Your loved one’s lawyer can use it to start building their case. By collecting facts about the accident and its medical impact, you can effectively demonstrate the damaging extent of the aftermath. 

Insurance companies typically require as much documentation as possible about the accident and subsequent injury to flesh out the claim. Because of this, it’s necessary to extensively document all losses associated with the accident. Being as thorough as possible is crucial to building a solid claim – especially if a trial becomes necessary to get your loved one the money they deserve.

Contact Kendall Law Firm for Help for Your Loved One 

Receiving love and support from family members is crucial during the distressing time after a truck accident. Your loved one may be hesitant to reach out to an attorney. Encourage them to explore their legal options, especially if they want to pursue compensation. Knowing that their family is fully behind them every step of the way can motivate them to advocate for their legal rights. 

At Kendall Law Firm, we focus solely on personal injury cases. We don’t represent insurance companies or other big corporations. We have over 30 years of experience representing people like your loved one. We’re eager to fight for the money they’re owed. Contact us today for a free consultation.