Performing physical labor can be a rewarding way to support yourself and your family. You could potentially get a job while you are still finishing high school and stay with the company for decades, working your way into a supervisory position. Your employer might train you to expand your skill-set to include more complicated tasks like wiring or welding.
Unfortunately, working as a blue-collar laborer means that your stability and security directly depends on your physical well-being and health. Anyone can suffer serious injuries if they get into a car crash, but the consequences of those injuries could be more devastating for a blue-collar worker than for others.
You might lose out on income for months after a crash
The first and most obvious concern after you get hurt in a car crash is the inability to work while you recover. The more severe the injury is, the harder it will be for your employer to accommodate you and help you stay on the job. You could go months without any income if your injuries are significant enough.
Your earning potential might decline if you don’t fully recover
Some car crash injuries, like spinal cord injuries and brain injuries, can have lifelong consequences. Other injuries often heal, like soft tissue injuries and broken bones. However, even when the human body repairs itself after a traumatic injury, there can still be lingering consequences. A fracture or sprain could permanently diminish your strength or range of motion. You may also lose out on endurance, making it impossible to work for a full shift at your job.
If you can’t stand, grip, twist your torso or lift heavy items, you may not be able to go back to your job. If you can’t find a job that doesn’t aggravate your injuries, you might face permanent financial consequences. You might wind up in an unskilled position, like an entry-level retail job, where you make minimum wage.
In theory, the motor vehicle insurance policy for the person who caused the crash will help cover your medical costs and lost wages, too. You need to understand the long-term impact of those injuries on your income and finances before you accept a settlement offer or make any other lasting decisions about your rights after a car crash.