When people experience a devastating car accident, they may get serious injuries, and the fear that they felt seconds before the accident and all that they experienced after the crash gets stuck forever in their minds. If you add the loss of a family member in the same car, then overwhelming feelings of guilt will soak that person, causing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Most people use car accident results to measure how much they got physically injured and how much property damage the accident caused. They diminish the fact that PTSD affects their lives to a great extent. The Ward Law Group is the place where people who suffer from this disorder look for help from car accident PTSD lawyers so they can seek fair compensation to pay for their client’s treatment.
Keep reading if you want to know how to find out if a person is suffering from PTSD after a car accident, what symptoms show a victim, and how a lawyer can help in such cases.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event. This condition can be generated by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Traumatic events that mark people, such as military combat, natural disasters, serious accidents, physical or sexual assault, or any other event that is perceived as life-threatening or causes intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
PTSD can be a chronic and debilitating condition that significantly affects a person’s daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. It is crucial for a person who is showing PTSD symptoms to receive the right treatment.
Individuals with PTSD are at an increased risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in suicidal behaviors. The emotional distress, intense psychological pain, and feelings of hopelessness associated with PTSD can contribute to suicidal ideation.
Can You Get PTSD From a Car Accident
When the car accident was pretty bad, most likely people will get serious injuries, they may lose a family member or a beloved person who was traveling with them in the wrecked car, they may get a serious traumatic brain injury, get an amputated arm or leg, several broken bones, etc.
All of those serious injuries, among others, are valid reasons why a person develops a lot of stress and starts to show signs of the disorder. The car accident event was a clear threat to their lives that suddenly changed their way of living. Moreover, some people may receive the news that they won’t be able to walk again. That news is devastating for many people if not all of them.
Just for a minute, think about how you or a person you may know enjoys physical activity; maybe you are an Olympic athlete, a football player with a brilliant career ahead, maybe you are young with your entire life just beginning, and suddenly, an accident that it was not even your fault attempts to your well being.
Anyone could think, “Oh no, my life is over,” even though they are still alive. Just the fact that they won’t be able to do the things they used to can develop PTSD and also depression that may lead to suicide. It is imperative to find help for people in this situation because they can get better, with treatment and physical therapy they can get back on their feet, those people need our social support.
Nowadays, with the advances in technology, people who get amputated limbs can recover the ability to walk again by using artificial limbs that are comfortable for them, and some athletes even have the chance to compete again and do what they love.
PTSD Car Accident Symptoms
All car accidents have consequences; when a car accident is at a high speed, there is a higher chance that a person could die or have a serious injury. Besides the physical injury and damage to the property, a victim and survivor from a traffic accident may develop emotional injuries like PTSD.
Here is a list of symptoms that people involved in car accidents may develop and that are clear signs of PTSD.
Flashbacks
Vivid and intrusive memories or re-experiencing of the traumatic event. For example, a car accident survivor may have sudden, intense flashbacks of the crash, feeling like they are reliving the event, complete with sensory details like sounds or smells.
Anxiety
Persistent and excessive worry or fear are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or a sense of impending doom. People experiencing anxiety believe for a moment that they can not breathe and that they are having a heart attack. For instance, a person with PTSD may experience intense fear and restlessness when driving or even just being in a car.
It is important for a person living with anxiety to know how to address the anxiety attack so they can get better in a few minutes. In extreme cases, people may need to take pills to avoid situations related to anxiety.
Depression
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that persist over time. This may include loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, changes in appetite or weight, difficulty concentrating, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Social support and professional assistance are needed in such cases. Depressed people may find their way out of this condition.
Pervasive Fear
A constant sense of danger or a general feeling of unease, even in non-threatening situations. This could lead to hypervigilance, being on guard, and being easily startled or jumpy. Pervasive fear can contribute to the development of panic attacks in some individuals.
Nightmares
Disturbing and recurrent dreams related to the traumatic event. For example, a car accident survivor may have nightmares involving moments before the collision, screaming tires, busting glass, and painful screams of their loved ones.
Sleeplessness
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep due to heightened arousal, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts. Insomnia or restless sleep can further exacerbate other symptoms of PTSD. They may spend hours rolling in their beds without sleep.
Altered Personality
There are significant changes in one’s behavior, beliefs, or sense of self following the traumatic event. These may include feelings of detachment, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities or hobbies, withdrawal from social interactions, or a diminished sense of future prospects.
Heightened Reactions
Another symptom that people get is an increased sensitivity to stimuli and exaggerated emotional or physical responses. For instance, a sudden loud noise might trigger a strong startle response or a person with PTSD may become easily overwhelmed or emotionally reactive in situations that remind them of the traumatic event.
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships are often characterized by emotional distance, trust issues, irritability, or a tendency to withdraw. PTSD can affect one’s ability to connect with others and may lead to conflicts or strained interactions with loved ones.
Can I Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?
PTSD is considered non-economical damage, inside the pain and suffering category. People who want to pursue compensation for non-economic damage must, by law, fulfill some requirements to do so.
They need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other party. Before doing it, they must know and have proof that such a person is indeed at fault for the accident, that they have incurred a monetary loss above $50,000, or must establish that as a result of the car accident, he/she has suffered “serious injury”.
Serious injury is defined as a personal injury which results in one of the following:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- Fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of a body organ or member
- A significant limitation of the use of a body function or system
- Any determined injury or impairment that prevents the victim from doing daily activities for at least 90 days during the 180 days after the accident.
Damages Available in New York for PTSD
When it comes to the damages available for PTSD, it is essential to know that they need to receive professional treatment to overcome the traumatic event. That treatment has a significant cost of time and money.
To know that a person has PTSD, this person needs to be diagnosed by a doctor, where they apply a clinical interview to assess the individual’s symptoms, experiences, and history related to a traumatic event.
A car accident PTSD lawyer can help you build a solid case to receive the compensation you deserve. You must seek professional assistance.
Contact Our New York Car Accident Lawyers
Something that distinguishes car accident PTSD lawyers in New York from The Ward Law Group is the compassion and human warmth with which they listen to clients. They know they are having a hard time and need full attention.
All our lawyers are experts in personal injury lawsuits. They can present a forceful case that will result in the best compensation you are entitled to. Call us now at 855-DOLOR-55 for a free consultation on your case.