One of the most serious injuries a person can suffer after a road traffic collision is a spinal cord injury. In severe cases, these injuries can be fatal and even in situations where they are not, injured parties may require lifelong care and treatment.
As the loved one of someone who has been injured, you may be at a loss in terms of what to do. Feeling helpless in these circumstances is a common reaction, but there are a number of things you can do to support your family member.
Learn as much as you can
While you can’t fully understand what your loved one is going through, you can certainly empathize. The first step in this process is learning as much about the injury as possible. For instance, you may want to find out how their daily life will be impacted as well as what treatment options are available.
You may also want to look into the prospects of recovery, so you can make accommodations to the home etc. However, it is important to note that spinal injuries can be complex and rarely is anything 100% certain. The outcome could be a lot better than you had initially anticipated.
Try not to be overpowering
When someone suffers a catastrophic injury, they may lose their feeling of independence and sense of self-worth. While you may have the best of intentions, you do not want to take these from them by doing absolutely everything. Your injured family member needs to know that they still have plenty to offer, even while they are making a recovery.
Protect their legal rights
While compensation cannot undo the injury, it can provide a source of comfort in terms of justice and finances. Your loved one should not go without because of an accident, and you can help them to explore all of their legal options.
