Car accidents can leave victims with not only physical injuries that could take years to heal but mental health issues as well. However, car accident victims tend to focus on their physical injuries more.
The trauma and emotional distress that can arise from a car accident can have long-lasting effects. The impact on a person’s mental and emotional health is often just as devastating as the physical injuries.
At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, we work with car accident victims to recover from both physical and emotional injuries. If you have suffered from mental health issues as a result of a car accident, you deserve compensation that will cover these damages and future treatment.
Symptoms of Mental Health Issues Following a Car Accident
After a car accident, a victim may receive a diagnosis for physical injuries but not for mental health issues. However, emotional distress following a car accident can lead to symptoms such as:
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Feelings of humiliation
- Sleep issues, nightmares, or insomnia
- Mood swings
- Feelings of distress
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Inability to focus
- Feelings of anger or irritability
- Feeling down
- Fatigue
- Relying on mood-altering substances such as alcohol or drugs
- Feeling overwhelmed, helpless, or hopeless
These types of symptoms can severely disrupt a person’s life and the lives of their family and loved ones. Depression, sleep issues, and other symptoms of mental distress can prevent you from going to work, attending class, or attending other important events.
Many car accident victims report feelings of fear and distress at even the thought of getting into a car following the crash. This fear can intensify over time and lead to even more disruption to your life.
For some victims, mental health issues may last only a short time. However, for others, these issues can persist and even worsen as time goes on. This is why it is critical that car accident victims get the help they need to recover from their accident, both physically and mentally.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following a Car Accident
Many car accident victims are diagnosed with anxiety or depression following the accident. Others are diagnosed with a condition called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Although PTSD is commonly associated with war veterans, this condition can develop following any traumatic experience including car accidents.
Car crashes, especially violent and chaotic ones, are a common cause of PTSD. According to the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of PTSD in the general population and 39.2% of vehicle accident survivors develop PTSD.
PTSD can have a severe and negative impact on a person’s life when symptoms manifest such as:
- Self-harm
- Nightmares and sleep disorders
- Avoidance behavior towards anything that could trigger memories of the accident, including driving, riding in vehicles, or being near other vehicles
- Withdrawal from society
- Intense emotional distress
- Flashbacks that lead to blackouts or memory loss
PTSD often requires ongoing therapy and possibly other medications and treatments that can help victims regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. Treating PTSD and other types of mental health conditions can be just as expensive, if not more expensive, than treatment and recovery efforts for physical injuries.
Recover Damages for Mental Health Issues with a Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a car accident and suffered mental health issues, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Whether you need the help of an experienced West Palm Beach car accident lawyer, Boca Raton car accident lawyer, or a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer, you can seek the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
Suffering from mental health issues can cause serious problems in all areas of your life. You must work with a skilled lawyer who understands the long-lasting effects mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety can have on a person’s life.
Schedule your risk-free case evaluation today with the auto accident attorneys at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath by calling 561-655-1990.
