Accidents can change your life in a split second. While physical injuries are the most obvious and immediate concern, the emotional and psychological impact is just as important. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the worst psychological conditions that can come from an accident and is often overlooked. If you or a loved one is suffering from PTSD after an accident, you need to know your rights and how to claim for this invisible but very real injury.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a car accident, workplace injury, or any other significant incident. Symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Flashbacks or reliving the accident
- Nightmares or distressing dreams about the accident
- Severe anxiety or panic attacks
- Emotional numbness or avoiding reminders of the accident
- Irritability or sudden outbursts of anger
- Hypervigilance, can’t relax or feel safe
These can have a lasting impact on your personal and professional life, relationships, and overall well-being.
PTSD and Accidents: How Are They Connected?
The link between PTSD and accidents is well established. Accidents, especially sudden, violent, or life-threatening ones, can be very traumatic. Survivors of car accidents, construction accidents, falls, and other traumatic events often suffer psychological trauma long after their physical injuries have healed.
For example, a car accident victim may avoid driving or even riding in vehicles because the thought of being in another accident gives them extreme anxiety. A worker injured on the job may have nightmares or flashbacks that make them unable to go back to their workplace.
Identifying PTSD After an Accident
The first step to claiming for PTSD is to identify it. Often, victims focus on physical recovery and downplay or ignore the psychological symptoms. You need to pay attention to your mental health and seek professional help if you notice any of the following:
- Can’t concentrate or remember details of the accident
- Fear of doing activities that remind you of the accident
- Feeling disconnected from loved ones
- Mood swings or changes in behavior since the accident
- Can’t sleep or frequent nightmares
A licensed mental health professional can provide a formal diagnosis of PTSD, which is a crucial step in making your claim.
Proving PTSD in a Personal Injury Claim
Proving psychological injuries like PTSD in a personal injury claim can be harder than physical injuries, but it’s not impossible. Here’s how to strengthen your claim:
- See a Doctor: Early diagnosis and treatment from a psychiatrist or psychologist can support your claim. Documentation from mental health professionals is key evidence in your case.
- Document Your Symptoms: Keep a journal of your PTSD symptoms and how they affect your daily life. Include notes on emotional difficulties, the impact on your work or social life, and any therapy or medication prescribed.
- Witness Statements: Friends, family members, and colleagues can provide valuable testimony about the changes in your behavior and emotional state since the accident.
- Expert Evidence: Mental health experts can explain the severity of your condition and link your PTSD symptoms to the traumatic event.
- Ongoing Treatment: Showing you are actively seeking treatment and your symptoms persist over time can further demonstrate the seriousness of your condition.
Claiming for PTSD
In a personal injury claim, victims are entitled to compensation for the psychological damage as well as their physical injuries. Compensation can cover:
- Medical expenses for psychiatric treatment, therapy, and medication
- Lost wages due to time off work or reduced ability to do your job
- Pain and suffering, which includes emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium if PTSD affects your relationship with a spouse or family member
At Steinberg Injury Lawyers, we specialize in PTSD claims and know the legal strategies to get you full compensation.
How Steinberg Injury Lawyers Can Help You
Recognizing and claiming for PTSD can be a difficult and emotional process, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Steinberg Injury Lawyers, we are here to support accident victims with compassion and expertise. Our team will work with medical experts and fight for the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. We believe your psychological injuries are just as important as your physical ones, and we’re here to guide you through the process every step of the way.
If you or a loved one has PTSD from an accident, you have a claim. Psychological trauma can have a lasting impact on your life, and you deserve to be compensated for the pain and suffering you’ve been through. Call Steinberg Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation and get started on your road to recovery.
Your mind matters—get the compensation you’re entitled to.
