In the aftermath of a serious car accident, victims tend to focus on the more obvious physical injuries they have suffered and any other losses they have incurred. However, even though this is usually overlooked, the emotional distress that victims can go through after such a traumatic event is something that needs to be talked about a lot more.
Oftentimes, the defense team will try to downplay the effect that the car accident has had on the emotional and mental health of the victims. However, this is not right. After a car crash, the victim has a right to sue for any injuries they may have sustained, including those that are not immediately obvious.
With a good motor vehicle accident lawyer by their side, victims in Nashville, TN, can walk away with fair compensation that covers both their physical injuries like bruised ribs from car accident and emotional distress.
Even though proving post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident can be difficult, Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is ready to go to war for the rights of the victims.
What Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) From a Car Accident?
After a car accident, victims can suffer from a mental health disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or simply PTSD. This condition affects millions of Americans annually, not just those involved in car accidents.
Unlike underlying physical injuries caused by car accidents, such as broken bones, burns, or lacerations, PTSD symptoms are not easily diagnosed. However, the danger posed by this harm means that it is very important for victims to seek professional help soon after the crash.
Only a licensed and experienced mental health professional can diagnose the full extent of the emotional and psychological effects that a traumatic car accident has had on the crash victim. While the physical body may seem unharmed to the untrained eye, it could be masking a serious mental health condition that requires urgent medical attention.
Common PTSD Symptoms
Post-traumatic stress disorder caused by car accident trauma can manifest in a wide range of ways. While some symptoms may seem obvious, car accident survivors still need to see a medical professional to assess the full extent of any trauma even minor injuries from car accident.
The following are some of the common symptoms of PTSD that can aid in the diagnosis:
Recurring, intense, and traumatic memories of the accident
Loss of appetite
Mental distress
Flashbacks and blackouts
Intense fear
Terrifying nightmares
Embarrassment
Avoidance of driving, riding in cars, or being close to a motor vehicle
Uneasiness
Chronic fatigue or exhaustion
Self-harm
Intense emotional trauma after encountering any reminder
Mood swings
Depression, emotional suffering, and withdrawal from society
It is clear from this list that the psychological effects of PTSD caused by motor vehicle crashes are quite diverse and difficult to predict.
This is why victims of motor vehicle accidents need to remember to address their psychological injuries as soon as possible before the symptoms worsen.
Treatment for PTSD
If PTSD treatment is administered quickly, the effects of any psychological distress may go away within a few weeks or months.
However, such emotional injuries can quickly degenerate into mental disorders that can last many years or even the rest of the victim's life.
As soon as PTSD is diagnosed after a traumatic incident, a doctor may prescribe the following types of treatment plans:
Various combinations of medication
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
Exposure therapy
Cognitive therapy
The Journey to Mental Health Recovery After a Car Accident
Depending on the severity of the car accident, survivors who experience PTSD symptoms may face a long and often difficult road to recovery.
In some cases, even when caught early, and with the best forms of treatment being administered, it may be a very long time before victims can resume their normal lives.
However, there are some things that victims of traumatic accidents can do to improve their chances of a full recovery, such as:
Taking action by learning to be a defensive driver
Working towards getting back to a normal daily routine one step at a time
Following up with their doctor and keeping up with their therapy
Talking about their feelings with therapists, family, or friends
Can Victims Recover Compensation for Mental Health Issues?
In the same way that serious injuries, such as having a damaged spinal cord, can prevent victims from going back to work, PTSD can also result in significant lost wages and other damages. The law in Nashville, TN, is quite clear on the rights of victims to receive compensation following a car accident.
As such, victims can recover compensation through an insurance claim or by suing the at-fault party in a personal injury lawsuit.
However, the cost of emotional recovery after an auto accident is not always easy to quantify, nor is proving the extent of the psychological effects of the crash.
Good Nashville automobile accident lawyers will have to fight tooth and nail for their clients to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.
Medical reports from a licensed doctor detailing the severity of the mental injuries, as well as all receipts of the medical bills the victim had to shoulder, will be great assets in the lawsuit.
If needed, a personal injury lawyer can even call upon the help of an expert witness to highlight the complex mental trauma and mental health conditions that the victim is experiencing. When all this is done correctly, victims can walk away with sizable damages for their emotional, mental, and bodily injuries.
How Much Can Victims of Car Accidents for Mental Trauma Claim?
When calculating the compensation that a victim can recover from the insurance company or at-fault driver, the law often looks at the following:
Medical bills and lost wages
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
This means each case will be different, and a good lawyer will need to prove the extent of the PTSD on the victim's life and the cost of the medical treatment that is required.
An Experienced Attorney Is Ready to Fight for Car Accident Victims in Nashville, TN
Victims who have suffered psychological trauma after a car accident in Nashville are not alone. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is dedicated to fighting for the rights of victims of car accidents and is ready to go to war for them. Victims can call their law offices and ask for a free consultation.
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