Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident isn’t easy. You need reliable transportation to get to and from necessary doctor’s appointments and for your daily errands. But, if you haven’t purchased a vehicle in a while, you might not even know where to begin. Check out these tips to learn how to choose your next vehicle after you’ve been in a car accident.
Think About Your Physical Needs
Expert lawyers from fightingforyou.com suggest that if you were injured in a car accident, you should think about getting behind the wheel immediately after that. Be sure that you are ready both physically and mentally, and be sure that if you are still injured, what car should you opt for.
Of course, injuries might also make it difficult to get up into a vehicle that sits high. So you might want to consider choosing a good mid-range option like a four-door sedan. If you have limited mobility, the car you choose should be at a height that keeps you as close to sitting position as possible.
It’s absolutely important to know what to do when car accidents and injuries happen. You will need immediate medical help, also, you need to know basic of first aid. To learn more useful tips about this topic visit this link: https://www.aicaorthopedics.com/we-treat/injuries/car-accident/.
Is Your Car Still Safe to Drive If Repaired?
Insurance companies deem vehicles a total loss if it costs more to fix the damage than the vehicle is worth. Often, cosmetic damages cost a lot to repair and cars that are still safe to drive are rendered total losses.
Before you decide to purchase a new vehicle, have a professional mechanic inspect your car. If it only has a bit of cosmetic damage, it might be cheaper for you to keep it for a while. You would still receive your settlement amount, but you wouldn’t be eligible to carry full coverage insurance on the vehicle anymore.
Consider Your Income
If your car accident had a direct effect on your income, your personal injury settlement might include some money to make up for lost wages. However, it’s important to remember that personal injury settlements are typically a lump sum payment. You only receive it once. So if you need that money to cover your living expenses for the next five years, you don’t want to spend it all on a vehicle.
In this case, it might be a better option to purchase a less-expensive, used vehicle than it is to purchase a new one. Also, you should consider purchasing a model that’s known to be reliable, like a Chevy Malibu or a Toyota Camry, because you’re less likely to have to spend a fortune on repairs when you purchase one of those.
If you can swing it, you might even want to pay cash for your used car so you don’t have to worry about having a payment each month. The bottom line is, you need to make sure you can afford to pay and care for the vehicle you choose based on your regular monthly income, not your settlement amount.
Think About How Your Insurance Rates Are Affected
Even if you weren’t the at-fault driver in an accident, it could still affect your insurance rates. Insurance companies consider several factors when determining your premium, and accidents and violations are factored in. Because of this, it’s a good idea to see how your insurance rates are affected before you start shopping for a new car.
If your rates are increasing due to the accident, you might want to purchase a vehicle that’s cheaper to insure — the Honda CR-V, the Chevy Equinox, and the Subaru Outback are all good options. Vehicles that are considered sports cars or luxury models tend to cost more to insure because they cost more to repair.
The fact is, car shopping isn’t fun when you have to do it. But that doesn’t mean you should let it stress you out. Instead, consider your physical and financial limitations and choose a vehicle that fits all your current and future needs.
