You cannot predict accidents. By definition, accidents happen unexpectedly, without preparation. Individuals unfortunate enough to find themselves injured after an accident often have no idea what to do. As accidents can’t be prepared for, their aftermaths can be very complicated.
If your loved one has been injured in an accident that was not their fault then it is your responsibility to help them to recover. Facilitating your loved one’s recovery is not as difficult as you might think. Here’s what you need to do to help them out:
Legal Intervention
A lawyer’s help might be necessary, depending on the cause of your loved one’s accident. If they were injured because another person was behaving carelessly then a personal injury lawyer will be able to help you. Personal injury is the area of law that deals with accidents, like car accidents for example. Such lawyers tend more often than not to offer their services on contingency bases, meaning no payment is required until after your loved one’s compensation settlement is finalised and paid to them. Look around and find the most qualified lawyer that you can, to represent your relative.
Spending Time
After serious accidents, it’s common for people to be unable to return to work. Individuals without large friendship circles can find themselves alone and isolated during these periods of unemployment and isolation. You should make a proactive effort to visit your loved one several times a week, giving them company. Sitting alone in one’s home dealing with recovering from serious injuries is not a pleasant thing. Unless you give your loved one support and company, their recovery could be delayed. Studies show depression can inhibit a person’s recovery after an injury. Isolation causes depression.
Healthy Lifestyle
Serious injuries have a habit of putting people out of action, stopping them from exercising. Unless your loved one makes a concerted effort to get healthy again independently, you need to help them. Giving your loved one a push and encouraging them to get in shape will improve their recovery. A healthy diet is one of the best things for you to encourage your loved one to take up. Exercise is important too, but diet is of vital importance; without a healthy diet, your loved one will not be able to lead a truly healthy lifestyle.
Regular Exercise
As mentioned in the previous section, regular exercise is vital to your loved one’s recovery. Naturally, they might not be able to perform conventional exercises if their injuries are serious. However, there are likely still exercises they can perform, perhaps even from home. Spend some time researching and understanding the nature of your loved one’s injuries so that you can develop an effective workout plan for them. Then, exercise with them and give them support. Getting back into exercise after an accident can be nerve-wracking. You may even want to hire a personal trainer for your loved one.
Finding Employment
Not everybody is able to return to work after an accident. If your relative has had to quit their job or is unable to work as much, help them to find something they can do from home. The internet provides gives those with mobility issues the opportunity to earn money without going out. Your relative’s potential success as a remote worker depends largely on their experience with technology. Agencies regularly give content writing, editing, and procurement roles to individuals without much experience, however, if your loved one is not confident in these things then they will not achieve success.
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Occupying Time
As mentioned earlier, injuries can leave people isolated and homebound. If your loved one’s injuries have rendered them unable to go outdoors, then they need to find things to do to occupy their time. Sitting around alone all day and being unproductive is bad for mental and physical health. There are lots of different things your relative can do, from reading to playing chess and even taking online courses in subjects that appeal to them. If you can, spend time with your loved one engaging in these activities alongside them. This will build your bond with them and keep you entertained.
Disability Benefits
Individuals unable to find or return to work should apply for disability benefits. Disability benefits will ensure that for the duration of their recovery period, they are financially supported. As long as your loved one has paid taxes before and has injuries preventing them from working, they should qualify for disability benefits. The application process can be very confusing though which is why it’s a good idea to handle it for them. Having them complete their own application could cause them unnecessary stress, which will stunt their recovery. The disability benefit acquisition process is far from simple.
Medical Treatment
Healthcare in the United States can be expensive. For patients without health insurance, it can be downright unaffordable. If your loved one does not have health insurance and hasn’t received compensation for their injuries yet, then consider paying their medical bills for them. When your relative’s compensation is awarded, they will receive a full refund for their medical bills. If you give them the money to pay these, then when they receive compensation, they can pay you back. Medical treatment for injuries can be expensive though so you may have to take out a loan to help your relative pay their bills. Make sure that you only ever send your relative for treatment at a high-quality hospital or care centre. Do not compromise on the quality of their care.
Financial Support
Medical bills aren’t the only things your loved one will probably need help with, they may also need financial support, as in help with rent and bill payments. Providing financial support to your loved one is a highly effective way of strengthening your bond and relationship with them; it is unlikely they will ever forget the support you gave them when they were at their weakest, meaning for the rest of your life they will be there to support you in kind; if you are not able to support your loved one, then again, help them to apply for disability benefits.
Giving your relative support after a serious accident will make their recovery much easier. Moving forwards with one’s life after an accident of any kind can be hard to do. Take the steps here to minimise the anxiety your relative experiences following their accident.
