Being involved in a vehicle accident is a terrifying event for anybody. Serious car accidents not only result in bodily harm, but they may also inflict mental anguish. After a car accident, many people experience worry, dread, and an ability to avoid thinking about the event. This is not unusual. These symptoms usually go away on their own with time. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, might last for months or years following an injury if the person has that illness. Recognizing the symptoms of PTSD and obtaining the therapy you need is critical to your recovery and ability to move on with your life after a car accident.
- What to do if you’re experiencing PTSD
- What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
- PTSD Signs and Symptoms
- Are you having a hard time locating a personal injury lawyer? Make a phone call to Ghaphery!
We will discuss what PTSD is and what you can do if you find yourself or someone you know experiencing symptoms of the disorder.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
As defined by the PTSD Alliance, PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that develops due to a traumatic event. Traumatic events, like car accidents, can trigger illness in survivors of military conflict or physical abuse. PTSD affects roughly 3% of Americans. One in every thirteen Americans will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime. However, in rare cases, a patient may not show signs or symptoms for years, according to the NIH.
Who can get PTSD?
People who have previously been recognized with anxiety or depression are more likely to acquire PTSD than those who do not have a history of mental illness. Women are statistically more likely than males to experience post-traumatic stress symptoms. There is additional evidence that the intensity of the trauma and the quality of a person’s support system might impact the probability of developing PTSD. Understanding these risk factors will assist you in recognizing the symptoms of PTSD and making it more straightforward for you to seek treatment.
What kind of accidents might result in PTSD?
PTSD can occur following any injury but is most likely following an accident wherein the victim perceived danger to their life and individual safety. This is common in serious accidents. The following are examples of accidents that survivors may find extremely hard to overcome:
Accidents involving a roll-over
Rollovers may occur due to a high-speed collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rollover accidents have the highest mortality rate of any type of collision. As a result, living through one might cause severe emotional distress. Rollovers are more likely in vans, SUVs, and compact vehicles, according to the NHTSA.
Collisions at high speeds
When one car diverges into the path of another vehicle moving in the other direction, a head-on collision occurs. These incidents can happen when a driver takes the incorrect route, swerves to escape hazards, or drives intoxicated. Head-on accidents may leave crash survivors with haunting recollections, especially if the accident killed others.
T-bone collisions
T-bone or side-impact collisions are the most common near junctions. These incidents can happen when there are insufficient directional signs or when a vehicle disregards traffic signals. The power of the crash may lead the cars to bump into additional vehicles or objects apart from the initial contact. When survivors of such incidents return to the road and encounter congested or complex junctions, they may feel severe stress and difficulties.
Accidents caused by drunk drivers
Driving while intoxicated impairs a driver’s ability to respond correctly on the road. Side-impact collisions, wrong-way accidents, and rear-end collisions are all common types of accidents. Many of these incidents occur at high speeds, raising the possibility of damage, trauma, and death.
PTSD Signs and Symptoms
In the case of sadness or anxiety, you might reject some of your emotions as usual. PTSD is distinct from anxiety or depression in both manifestation and endurance. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that PTSD symptoms must last at least a month following a stressful incident to be diagnosed. Also, people living with PTSD may draw a link between their symptoms and the accident’s conditions. Among the PTSD signs you should not overlook are:
Traumatic recollections, such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or dreams, of the accident that keep coming back.
Anxiety or depression following exposure to triggers like burning rubber or gasoline brings back bad memories of the event.
- Inability to talk about the accident or forgetting some details about it.
- Detachment, boredom, or wanting to isolate oneself from others are all symptoms of social withdrawal.
- Having an unfavorable view of oneself or feeling responsible for the disaster
- Insomnia, nightmares, and other sleep disorders.
- Easily irritated, easily perturbed.
- Inability to focus
- Prone to being shocked or having an elevated level of vigilance
- Avoid places that remind one of the accident.
People with PTSD may also have physical symptoms that aren’t related to the disorder. Children and adults alike may be affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms in youngsters include:
- Bedwetting
- Acting out
- Increased clinginess to a parent or adult
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for PTSD
PTSD’s consequences can go far beyond the person who is suffering from it. Being afflicted with PTSD, like every injury, can have a wide range of effects on your day-to-day activities. If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to an accident, numerous things will influence how much compensation you should get. These are some examples:
Expenses associated with treatment
Cognitive therapy and medications are two options for treating PTSD medically. If you need long-term care, you may be eligible for compensation for future medical expenses.
Loss of time
Due to the psychological effects of PTSD, it may be hard to concentrate or carry out your duties at your prior level of ability. PTSD is as significant an injury as one that prevents you from working. If you miss work due to illness or injury, time loss compensation will make up the difference.
Retraining for a new career
PTSD symptoms can sometimes make it difficult to return to work. The same is true for returning to a profession that involves driving if you had trouble navigating before your accident. Retraining may be necessary for this situation.
Lack of enjoyment
Anxiety and anxiety might prevent you from doing things you used to like. Driving is included in this. If post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly affects your quality of life, a skilled personal injury lawyer can assist you in pursuing monetary compensation.
Loss of consortium
There are consequences for those who aren’t directly involved in the disaster. PTSD may make people withdraw, restrict affection, and lose interest in doing things with their family and friends.
How much time do I have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Even while an injury may have immediate symptoms, they usually show up right after an accident. This is especially true for people suffering from traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people living with PTSD don’t know they’re having problems until some months following the event.
In West Virginia, you must submit all personal injury claims two years following the accident date due to the state’s statute of limitations. Even though two years may feel and sound like such an extended period, the longer you wait to get assistance, the more your insurance provider will work to discredit your claim. Any of the symptoms mentioned above, or difficulties moving on after your injury, should prompt you to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Consult a Wheeling Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
Even though PTSD affects millions of people daily, only half of those affected seek treatment. After an injury, your goals should focus on healing, whereas a lawyer seeks compensation for you. Just as each person’s needs are unique, so are each case’s.
Trying to handle the aftermath of a car accident alone can be overwhelming. Attorneys for car accidents can fight for a just settlement so you can focus on getting better.
We offer free consultations to people who have been injured in car accidents and have PTSD. For a free consultation, call (304) 230-6500. You can contact one of our Wheeling personal injury lawyers using our site’s live chat feature or contact page.
