Final answer:
The character's behavior changes after an accident, becoming irritable, temperamental, and lazy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given passage, the character is described as a hardworking and amiable man before the accident. However, after the accident, his behavior changes drastically.
He becomes irritable, temperamental, and lazy. Although some accounts may have been exaggerated and the use of alcohol as pain medication may have contributed to his behavior, it is clear that certain aspects of his personality have changed.