Understanding PTSD Symptoms After a Serious Car Accident

Understanding PTSD Symptoms After a Serious Car Accident: Seeking Compensation : Going through a severe car accident can be a terrifying experience, leaving survivors with damaging physical and mental health consequences. One of the most lasting – and prominent – effects associated with being involved in an automobile accident is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In addition to the physical injuries resulting from a car accident, victims can also suffer psychological wounds that are just as serious as their physical counterparts. PTSD can cause long-term difficulty adjusting to life after the incident, even if the individual was not physically harmed during the collision.

In this article, we will try and understand what PTSD is, how it manifests, and how you can claim the justice owed to you with the help of accident lawyers and take the first step to get your life back on track after a car accident.

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing or witnessing it. Sufferers may experience relentless flashbacks, agonizing nightmares, issues with intense anxiety, and obsessive thoughts about the incident.

People with PTSD often feel emotionally numb, which can interfere with their work and personal relationships. Sometimes, people might experience a dissociative episode, temporarily losing touch with reality.

PTSD symptoms after car accidents are often overlooked because they don’t manifest immediately after the incident like a broken arm or dislocated shoulder would. They also don’t show up on an X-ray or MRI scan like a brain injury does. Instead, PTSD symptoms develop over time as your body deals with what happened during the accident.

Symptoms of PTSD After a Serious Car Accident

People living with PTSD involved in a car accident should consult with a car accident lawyer, as your state’s no-fault insurance laws may allow you to receive compensation.

Your South Carolina car accident lawyer can also help guide you through collecting your settlement and ensure that you are getting what is rightfully yours.

You may check the following symptoms if you are unsure whether you have PTSD:

Flashbacks: Images from the past that come back to you at unexpected times and places. These images are like movie clips that play over and over again in your mind, so you feel like you’re reliving the event.

Nightmares: Bad dreams about what happened during the traumatic event. Typically these dreams involve being chased by someone or something that causes fear and anxiety when awake.

Panic Attacks: Intense fear and terror that seem out of nowhere. They can be highly frightening and often happen when you least expect them — such as while driving on the highway or shopping at the mall.

Avoidance Behaviors: You may try to avoid things that remind you of the traumatic event because they trigger memories or emotions associated with it — such as avoiding situations where someone could threaten your safety again.

Anxiety: You become extremely anxious when reminded of the event and worry about it happening again or having another similar experience.

Hyperarousal Symptoms: These include a racing heart rate, trouble sleeping, irritability, and being easily startled by loud noises or unexpected movements around you.

Intrusive Thoughts: The traumatic event keeps repeatedly playing in your mind, which can be extremely upsetting and debilitating. You may feel like you’re reliving the event when you have a flashback or painful memory, even though you know it’s not happening again.

How to Prove Psychological Trauma After an Accident?

Psychological trauma (PTSD) is a common result of car accidents, but victims may have trouble proving it. PTSD signs and symptoms are frequently disregarded. Both medical practitioners and victims often attribute first-time worry and anger to shock. It is imperative that you do not disregard your symptoms and consult a medical professional immediately. PTSD compensation will be complex without expert evidence.

Have an initial evaluation before seeing your doctor, and don’t say you’re fine. Even if your thoughts seem unimportant, share them. Be honest about your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if you suspect it exists. An evaluation and testimony from a medical professional will be required to prove that you have PTSD following an accident. The longer you wait to be tested, the harder it will be to prove.

The compensation for PTSD is also influenced by the severity of the incident, as well as the assessment of medical and therapeutic factors in the car accident case review. The event’s severity determines how likely an individual is to experience long-term psychological repercussions following post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Witness testimony, camera footage, and evidence of the victim’s (or other drivers’) injuries are all acceptable methods of demonstrating an accident’s severity.

What Is the Treatment for PTSD?

PTSD is a disorder that requires help from a mental health professional. No medication can cure PTSD, but some medications can help reduce symptoms. Some people benefit more from psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy).

Treatment for PTSD includes but is not limited to:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This type of therapy focuses on changing negative patterns of thinking and behaving. It helps people with PTSD learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Exposure Therapy. This treatment involves slowly exposing someone to the things that cause fear or anxiety. For example, suppose you were in a car accident and had a panic attack while driving. In that case, you might be asked to drive again in small steps with your therapist or doctor supervising until you feel comfortable being behind the wheel again.

Your doctor may also prescribe medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs to combat depression or anxiety alongside PTSD.

How Do I Get Compensation for PTSD Due To Car Accident?

Car accidents can have devastating and long-lasting effects. In addition to physical injuries and property damage, many people suffer psychological trauma due to accidents.

Suppose you have been involved in a serious car accident and developed PTSD due to your injuries. In that case, you may be able to sue the person responsible for causing your accident for compensation. The amount awarded will depend on the severity of your mental health problems and how they affect your life daily.

Mental health claims related to PTSD following an automobile accident are rarely taken seriously by insurance companies. The insurance company will say that your symptoms are just a natural result of being in an accident and that they will go away on their own in time. Having a competent auto accident attorney on your side can ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Your attorney can work with an insurance company or adjuster to determine appropriate compensation for your case. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may also be eligible for back pay if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job or any other job that requires similar skills and abilities.

Conclusion

No matter the circumstances, a serious car accident can have devastating effects for years to come. Sufferers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder must be aware of the symptoms that follow and remember to practice self-care in order to heal from their trauma.

Victims should also seek legal advice if they believe their trauma was caused by negligence or recklessness on the part of another driver. With proper care and legal representation, individuals can learn to cope with PTSD and experience better mental health outcomes.

If you have PTSD after a car accident, seek help from a car accident lawyer to get compensation for your medical bills and other expenses. By doing this, you can ease some of the financial burdens of treating PTSD and have peace of mind knowing that you won’t be paying out of pocket for it. You can receive the help you need to get better by asking for compensation.