Friendships and Your Social Life After Your Accident
Severe physical injuries over time can impact far more than how well your body functions and the level of pain you experience. They can affect all aspects of your life, including your relationships with friends and your social life. Depending on several issues, you may be back to normal or feel isolated and alone.
If you have a severe injury after an accident, compensation can cover the adverse effects it may have on friendships and social activities. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you deserve. Orange County personal injury lawyer Aaron Hicks has helped thousands of clients suffering from injuries caused by others, and he can help you too. Call 949-541-9944 or fill out our online contact form to learn more about your rights and what you should do next.
Accidents’ Effect on Friendships is a Real Thing
Your ability to be with friends and family depends on many things, including the following:
- Physical limitations may make leaving your home and being with others more difficult. You may be unable to drive, or paralysis forces you to use special transportation
- Your injury may cause pain, and medications can result in fatigue, two things that won’t make you sociable
- The psychological impact of a severe injury may result in depression, so you won’t want to see people. You may feel shame or embarrassed if you think physical changes make you less attractive
- If you can’t work, or you work much less than before, you’ll miss contact with friends at work and have less money to spend going out
- Some people fall into substance abuse after a severe accident. Abusing alcohol, prescription, or illegal drugs can make you withdraw from family and friends. You may also become so impaired and out of control that they may not want to be with you
- Your pre-injury social life may have involved going out for drinks and perhaps having too much to drink. Depending on your medications, alcohol consumption may no longer be an option, affecting who you see, when, and where
A significant variable is the type and degree of injury. Something that’s severely disfiguring but less physically impactful than another type of injury could be a bigger problem for your social life.
Survey Shows Social Issues Impact a Large Number of Accident Victims
Welldoing reports on a survey of 1,000 people by the United Kingdom’s National Accident Helpline commissioned to learn about accidents’ after-effects. They found:
- 38% stated their injuries strained relationships with children, partners, friends, and family. Nearly half of those with a spouse or partner reported it caused problems in their relationship.
- 72% said they experienced mental health issues after their accident. A third reported they were stressed, one in five had problems sleeping, and a third dealt with anxiety. Respondents stated they were depressed (18%), had nightmares (13%), suffered from panic attacks (13%), and experienced PTSD (7%). These issues have a direct impact on relationships with others, especially for those worried about leaving their homes (55%) or walking around their neighborhood (63%)
- 47% reported adverse effects at work. The main concern was feeling anxiety and stress about returning to work. Many reported relationship problems with their manager (32%) and co-workers (22%)
Even after accident victims fully recover or recover as much as possible, these emotional, psychological, and social challenges can remain for some time.
Aaron Hicks is an Orange County Personal Injury Attorney You Can Trust
We help our clients get their lives back together by obtaining the most compensation possible for their injuries and the negative effects on their lives. This includes how their friendships, social relations, and ability to enjoy life with others have suffered. If you or a loved one are injured because of another party’s negligent or intentional acts, Aaron Hicks at the Hicks Law Firm will aid you in any way we can. Our law firm helps clients with personal injury claims throughout Orange County, including Costa Mesa, Irvine, Tustin, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and throughout Southern California. A knowledgeable California personal injury lawyer can provide the expertise needed to navigate your case effectively.
Thanks to our years of experience, we can help you through this challenging period. We will do our best to make the insurance and legal processes as easy as possible so you can focus on your family, returning to work, and recovering from your injuries. We have assisted many Orange County clients and look forward to helping you. Call 949-541-9944 or fill out our online contact form so we may discuss your case.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
