Call Us!16 Hidden Costs Of A Car Wreck
The hidden costs of a car wreck may surprise you. It can be hard to know what to look for when it comes to totaling up all of the damages from a car accident. Our Colorado personal injury attorneys explain the hidden costs of a car wreck you need to know to get the maximum compensation for your claim
1. Vehicle Rental
You may need to rent a vehicle to get by while your car is in the shop for repairs. Unfortunately, the cost of a rental can add up quickly and your insurance may not cover it.
2. Vehicle Titling and Registration Costs
If your vehicle is totaled, the accident may prompt you to get a new car. Of course, any time you get a new car, you have to pay for vehicle title transfers and registration costs. The costs and time involved in titling a vehicle after an accident can be a hidden cost.
3. Surprise Car Repairs
It may seem like just a minor car accident, but the vehicle may need more repairs than you expect because some damages are not immediately visible. Even cosmetic damages can require the replacement of an entire panel or vehicle component. Retouching paint can be expensive, too. You may be surprised at just how much it costs to get your vehicle back in working condition.
4. Diminished Vehicle Value
While you may be able to repair your vehicle in the shop, you still remember that it was in an accident. Even with the best repairs, your car still has an accident history. That may change the vehicle’s value and make it less attractive to potential buyers in the future.
5. Towing Service
After an accident, a vehicle may not be drivable. You may need to use a towing service to take the car for repairs. Of course, this towing service comes at a cost. The costs of towing may be a hidden expense associated with a car accident.
6. Traffic Tickets
Many traffic accidents occur because one or more parties violate a traffic law. The police may issue a traffic ticket. For most traffic tickets, the court expects the offender to pay a fine and court costs. These fines can be steep.
7. Being a Witness in Court
Even if you’re not the person who receives a traffic ticket after a crash, you may still need to go to court. If the other party contests their ticket, you may be called as a witness. You may be paid a nominal fee to be a witness, but it’s unlikely to make up for what you lose in lost work or child care expenses in order to attend court.
8. Increased Auto Insurance
Being in a car crash can cause your auto insurance rates to increase. If you’re considered at fault for the accident, your car insurance company may use the opportunity to increase your rates. You may be able to go to traffic school to address some of the points that can lead to a hike in your rates.
9. Property Damage and Lost Items
A car crash can cause more damage than just to the vehicle. There may be important items and documents in your car that suffer damage. There may even be damage to structures alongside the road. Property damage can be costly and unexpected when you’re in a car crash.
Why Choose Our Car Accident Law Firm?
Bachus & Schanker is led by top-rated car accident attorneys recognized among the best in Colorado. With decades of experience and thousands of cases handled within Colorado and nationwide, our team brings a proven track record of results to every case. They have represented clients in complex car wreck cases across Colorado and nationwide.
At our firm, hands-on case management and personalized attention are central to how cases are handled. Attorneys remain directly involved throughout the process, with a focus on responsiveness, attention to detail, and clear communication at every stage of the case.
The benefits of working with our legal team include:
- Car wreck cases taken on a contingency fee basis – no legal fees unless we win your case
- Support of our victim advocates team
- Personalized attention from attorneys who understand car accidents law
- Proven track record of maximizing settlements and verdicts for clients
- Experience handling cases in Colorado and across the United States
When you need experienced legal representation after a car wreck, choose Bachus & Schanker, recognized as some of the best car accident lawyers in Colorado.
10. Auto Loan Payments
Being in a car crash doesn’t change your auto loan. Those payments that were due before are still owed after the accident. Except now, you don’t have a vehicle to drive. A hidden cost of a car accident can be having to make payments on a vehicle that you no longer have available to use. You may need to roll the balance into a new vehicle loan or otherwise make arrangements to meet your loan obligations.
11. Repair Deductibles
Even when you have excellent car insurance, you are likely to still pay some kind of deductible. The amount may be several hundred dollars or more! Even if you’re not at fault, you may need to meet your deductible before your insurance pays on a claim. This hidden cost of the deductible may be something you include if you work with a car accident attorney to claim compensation.
12. Medical Bills and Insurance Copays
Medical bills from a car accident can quickly add up. Even with health insurance, you may still have co-pays, deductibles and maximum amounts to meet. These expenses may not be immediately apparent when you’re in a crash, but they may be costly for a car crash victim.
13. Rehabilitation Costs
Medical treatment can include rehabilitation efforts and expenses. Rehabilitation can speed healing and significantly improve the quality of life for a car accident victim. These costs should not be overlooked in a calculation of the costs of a car wreck.
14. Lost Wages
A car accident can make it impossible to continue to work in a normal capacity. Even though lost wages are not a direct loss from a car accident, it can make a bad situation worse to not be able to work when you have medical bills and vehicle damage. Lost income can occur in the short term when you can’t go to work. It can also happen long-term if your career path is changed because of your injuries.
15. Mental Health Costs
A car accident can cause extensive mental health injuries. Anxiety, PTSD and depression are just a few examples of mental health injuries that can occur from a wreck. The cost to treat these injuries is a hidden cost of a car wreck. In addition, the personal loss that a person experiences because of mental health injuries is a hidden cost to their way of life.
16. Missed Opportunities and Unfulfilled Plans
A hidden cost of a car wreck is the missed opportunity and unfulfilled plans that the victim experiences. At the very least, a car wreck can make you late for work or make you miss your evening plans. In the long term, an accident can change your entire life. The personal impact of an accident can continue for years to come.
Have you been injured in a car wreck? Contact our Denver car accident lawyers to talk about your case and claim the maximum compensation available to you under the law.
Kyle Bachus & Darin Schanker
Top-rated Colorado-based personal injury lawyers and co-founders of Bachus & Schanker, Kyle Bachus and Darin Schanker, have represented car accident victims and families across Colorado for more than 30 years, earning a reputation as some of the best car accident attorneys for serious injury cases. The firm is structured to handle car accident cases of all types and severities, with a team organized to provide focused support and guidance throughout the process. Kyle and Darin guide victims through the legal process with the support of a dedicated team of car accident specialists and Victim Advocates, ensuring care and advocacy from start to finish so clients can stay focused on healing.
Both Kyle and Darin are nationally recognized for their trial skills and leadership in the legal community. They are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have achieved million and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers. In addition, they have been named Colorado Super Lawyers every year for nearly two decades, included in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Lawyers in America, named Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in Colorado by America’s Best Advocates, and recognized as top civil plaintiff attorneys by The National Trial Lawyers. Beyond the courtroom, they support the Colorado community through the Bachus & Schanker Cares Foundation, which sponsors local nonprofits and initiatives. See Kyle Bachus and Darin Schanker on Super Lawyers.
Notable Colorado Car Accident Settlement Results
$20 Million
$15 Million
$7 Million
Related Car Accident Resources
Bachus & Schanker Client Testimonial: Auto Accident Case
Legal Support Across Colorado and Nationwide
Serving Clients Nationwide
#1 Amazon Best Seller in the Legal Industry
Attorney Kyle Bachus knows first-hand how difficult it can be to suddenly lose a loved one in an accident. It’s also devastating when you or a family member suffers severe injuries that forever change your lives. Kyle wrote this book as a resource from his personal experience for families who have suffered a traumatic loss.
A Spanish edition of the book is also available, offering the same support and guidance to Spanish-speaking families.
You Deserve Fair Compensation
Don’t let the insurance companies intimidate you into accepting less than you deserve. We’re ready to fight for you.