PTSD in Car Accident Claims
Even a minor accident can be traumatizing. These accidents can cause serious injuries or death, but even minor ones can be scary. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in car accident survivors.
This condition comes with long-lasting systems of fear and anxiety long after the crash has happened. In the State of Texas, it is possible to seek compensation for those suffering from PTSD after having gone through a car accident. Here’s what you need to know about PTSD and your lawsuit.
PTSD Explained
Post-traumatic stress disorder can happen to those who have witnessed or lived through a traumatic event. It is more common in those who have been in combat or war zones. But PTSD can affect anyone who experiences a form of trauma, including car accidents.
Car accidents tend to cause PTSD due to the traumatic nature of the events. Whether it is the loud sounds associated with the collision, watching a loved one be injured or die, or suffering injuries of their own can all cause PTSD.
These symptoms tend to occur in the days or weeks following the crash. Those with this condition experience ongoing symptoms that persist for months, years, or even a lifetime after the crash.
Symptoms of PTSD After a Car Accident
It is important to note that everyone is different. There may not be any outward visible signs of PTSD, and the symptoms can vary from person to person. These symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Depression
- Anxiety or emotional distress
- Anger, irritability, or frustration
- Detachment
- Flashbacks or nightmares
- Fear of driving anywhere
- Strong reactions to loud noises
Visiting a psychiatrist or doctor can provide you with an official PTSD diagnosis. This can then be used by your Texas attorney for your PTSD car accident claim as proof of the condition.
Claiming Compensation for PTSD-Related Damages
If you do have PTSD because of the car accident you were in, you may be eligible for compensation.
In Texas, the symptoms of PTSD may be included in your general damages. These are non-economic or intangible losses that a person may suffer during a car accident. This type of damage includes pain and suffering or emotional distress, among others.
If you’re filing a lawsuit against the other driver that caused the accident, you can list the suffering you experienced due to PTSD as a compensable loss. However, before recovering any compensation, you have to establish that you have this disorder and its connection to the accident.
Proving PTSD often requires expert testimony. This expert is usually a psychiatric doctor that testifies that you’ve been diagnosed and it is connected to the accident, while also showing that the diagnosis is negatively affecting your life.
Having a successful claim for PTSD can pay for related expenses. This could be everything from therapy and medications to other psychiatric care.
Seek Help From an Experienced Law Office
It’s important to contact an experienced law office that can help in your particular case. We can provide you with more information about PTSD and the claim you want to bring up.
You have options when it comes to seeking compensation for your accident, so allow us to help you recover. Call us here at Chris Lewis & Associates P.C. by dialing 214-665-6930 or by filling out the online contact form below.
