Family Lawyer
If you or your former spouse suffered a serious injury in a car accident, there may be repercussions that spill over into your alimony arrangement. In the United States, car accidents are responsible for three million injuries every year. Around two million people suffer a permanent injury as a result of a car accident. Any serious injury, even if it is not permanent, can impact a person’s ability to earn income. Whether it was you or your ex-spouse who was injured in a car accident, it may affect the alimony payments you pay or receive, as a family lawyer, such as from Daniel J. Wright, can explain. If you were the one who was hurt, in addition to hiring a family law attorney, you may benefit from seeking legal counsel from a car accident lawyer. Without a lawyer by your side, your chances of obtaining the maximum possible settlement are often reduced.
Alimony Agreements are Legally Binding
After the family law court judge makes the final ruling on your alimony agreement, from that point on it is legally binding. The individual who is responsible for paying the other party is obligated to meet their payment schedule. Under certain circumstances, temporary or permanent modifications to an alimony agreement may be approved by a family law court judge. However, as your alimony lawyer may tell you, certain criteria must be met before a judge will approve any changes. To ascertain whether or not your circumstances meet eligibility requirements, consult your family law attorney.
Car Accident Injuries
As mentioned above, millions of Americans are injured in car accidents every year. Though many of the injuries are minor, many are not; they may be fatal or permanent. If you or your ex-spouse sustained a serious injury, it may take some time before going back to work is a realistic scenario. In some cases, depending on the severity and nature of the injury, going back to work at all may be impossible if it is a permanent and debilitating injury. Alternately, the injury may require a reduction in work hours, or it may require changing careers because a permanent physical injury makes it impossible to fulfill one’s job duties. Here is a short list of injuries that can temporarily or permanently affect one’s ability to earn a living:
- Head trauma and brain injuries. The individual may experience what many would describe as a drastic personality change. They may exhibit sudden and unexpected bursts of anger, depression, or confusion. Their cognitive ability may be dramatically impacted. Their ability to focus, motor skills, and other abilities that are necessary to be productive in the workplace may be challenged. Though a person who sustained a brain injury might fully recover, their prognosis may be that they will never be the same person they were before the accident.
- Spinal fracture or complex bone breaks. These types of injuries often require short hospitalizations and long periods of recovery. Physical therapy is not uncommon during the recovery and treatment process. They may require the use of a wheelchair or walking device.
If you or your ex-spouse suffered a serious injury in a car accident, understand your rights and legal obligations—talk to an attorney.
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