If your spouse has been involved in an accident and is pursuing a personal injury claim, you may think the only impact this will have on you will be having him or her off work and at home, or attending physical rehabilitation and medical appointments, and perhaps dealing with his legal representative. In reality, depending upon the seriousness and severity of your spouse’s injuries, the personal injury claim may impact you in ways you could never contemplate.

Financial
If your spouse is going to be off work for an extended time, how much – if any – of that time will be covered by insurance?  If it’s not, you may need to look at cutting household expenses in order to make ends meet, including paying the out-of-pocket expenses that you’ll be paying out for prescriptions, therapy and other recovery and rehabilitation services. In some cases, spouses need to take on second jobs to help with bills.

Physical
Should your partner suffer debilitating injuries requiring constant care and assistance with tasks such as grooming, dressing and eating, the physical effort needed to undertake those everyday tasks can be significant. Many people are not physically suited for this role and it often means a third-party provider, such as homecare, has to be hired, or special equipment rented or purchased to assist.

Mental/Emotional
In addition to the financial and physical stresses that come with serious injuries, there is also a mental and emotional toll. Stress, anxiety and tension can cause emotional upheaval and strained relationships. Worrying about how to make ends meet and what the future will hold can further add to your distress.

To make sure both of you are on track for recovery together, take an active role in your partner’s personal injury claim by working closely with his or her legal representative.