Even though there were less drivers on the road due to the pandemic, the National Safety Council reported that there were about 4.6 million serious injuries caused by car accidents in 2020. These statistics are alarming enough as it is, but these unexpected calamities cause more than physical damage. In fact, some damages can’t be identified at first glance like broken bones and totaled vehicles. According to a meta analysis that involves different studies regarding the prevalence of PTSD in car accident victims, nearly one fourth of all survivors suffer from this disorder.

What is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event or experience. Those who suffer from this disorder must endure a plethora of hindering symptoms. In car accident victims, some common symptoms of this type of personal injury include:

  • Vivid nightmares that feel so real that they cause the person to wake up sweating, shaking, yelling, or struggling to breathe properly.
  • Many people who struggle with PTSD develop depression, which can be recognized by irregular sleep patterns, over or under eating, poor hygiene, social isolation, and disinterest in things that were previously enjoyed such as hobbies.
  • Flashbacks bring the victim right back to the scene of the accident, varying in intensity. Flashbacks can occur with or without triggers such as hearing a car horn, seeing an accident on the side of the road, or even certain smells or weather conditions associated with the crash.
  • PTSD frequently causes car accident victims to avoid anything that may trigger a flashback or cause anxiety such as driving, being on the highway, or letting someone else drive.
  • Anxiety and irritability are symptoms of PTSD that are commonly overlooked.
  • Victims with PTSD experience intrusive negative thoughts, excessive alertness, and in some cases, hallucinations.
  • People diagnosed with PTSD can also experience something called the Flat Affect, which is a term that means there is no response to emotional stimuli. They may also experience the Blunt Affect, which means that there is very little response to emotional stimuli.

These symptoms have a massive effect on the lives of those who struggle with PTSD. They can push loved ones away, prevent the victim from working, and make previously enjoyed activities impossible.

Why Pursue Compensation?
PTSD can last for years, or even a lifetime after experiencing the trauma of a car accident. The condition is treatable, but the treatment options are incredibly costly. Some of these treatment methods named by the American Psychological Association are as follows.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy.
  • Cognitive Therapy.
  • Prolonged exposure.
  • Medical prescriptions for insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
  • Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).
  • Narrative Exposure Therapy.

Solution Granted
If you suffer from or suspect that you suffer from PTSD because of a car accident caused by another party’s negligence, you need to be compensated in order to cover lost wages, pay for treatment, and make future functional living possible.

By hiring the right personal injury attorney, this compensation will be within your reach. An experienced lawyer can gather the necessary evidence to prove your condition, guide you through the legal process, and ensure that you are compensated fully for your pain and suffering as well as your expenses.

Call our law firm at 314-252-9937 to schedule your initial consultation, where you will receive free legal advice from an attorney that cares. Let us handle the stress so you can focus on what matters most – your well being.