Will I Experience PTSD after a Car Crash?
Car accidents can cause severe injuries and debilitating disabilities to victims. And it is not just about physical injuries alone because a car crash can also inflict psychological distress like PTSD.
This makes you wonder what exactly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is?
And if you can claim compensation for psychological disorders caused by a car crash?
Read on to know more about PTSD from car accidents and how you can claim compensation for it. Besides, contacting the best auto accident attorney in Burbank can prove helpful for your case.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is a psychological disorder that results from shocking, dangerous, or scary traumatic events.
Although it’s normal to feel scared or shocked because of some situations, the body may sometimes find it difficult to revert to its calm state. This is PTSD, a condition when a person stays in their traumatized state after the incident for a very long time.
For example, the life-threatening situation of an auto accident can trigger PTSD. Someone who sustains a permanent injury or disability from the accident experiences a worse case of PTSD. It’s because the injury or disability constantly reminds them of the traumatic event they had encountered.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories:
1. Avoidance
A person with PTSD will try to avoid things that remind them of the accident.
For instance, they may stay away from the car crash’s location. They may also avoid driving or riding particular vehicles.
2. Re-Experiencing
This type refers to symptoms that make a person remember the accident. It may include disturbing flashbacks, nightmares, and horrible thoughts.
3. Reactivity and Arousal
Some people with PTSD are prone to emotional outbursts like tension, anger, and easy startling.
These symptoms remain constant within a person with PTSD. That means it becomes a part of their behavior and doesn’t need any trigger to show.
4. Mood and Cognition
A person with PTSD may experience problems with their thought processes too. An example is when they experience difficulties remembering accident details.
Moreover, they may experience extreme mood symptoms like feelings of guilt. They may also lose interest in different activities they once enjoyed.
These four types of symptoms can end up disrupting a person’s routine, everyday functions.
For example, a person living with PTSD may experience difficulties at work because of anger issues and distracting thoughts. It may affect their relationships with loved ones.
What to Do if You Sustain PTSD from a Car Accident
Post-traumatic stress disorder can completely change your life in ways you don’t want. That’s why you must do something about it, especially if you know it was a consequence of someone else’s fault
1. Seek Psychological and Medical Help
You must first seek proper PTSD treatment. You can schedule an appointment with a reliable psychologist or psychiatrist to address the concern.
Moreover, consult a physician for a physical check. They can help treat your injuries from the accident. Physical treatment also decreases the pain and discomforts that remind you of the traumatic accident.
2. File a Compensation Claim
You can claim compensation for your PTSD regardless of whether you have physical injuries or not. You only need to prove that the other driver was at fault for the car accident and that you acquired PTSD because of it.
However, you need to hire a professional lawyer to optimize your claim and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Consult a Burbank Auto Accident Lawyer Immediately After Car Crash
Living with post-traumatic stress disorder from a car crash is a horrible experience. Thankfully, proper treatments can help you overcome that challenging period.
Moreover, consulting an auto accident attorney in Burbank helps you take legal action against the at-fault driver. They will handle your case and get you your rightfully deserved compensation while you recover.