Can You Develop Symptoms of PTSD After an Auto Accident?

A car accident is a major traumatic event that can have a serious mental and emotional impact. You can develop symptoms of PTSD after an auto accident, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nervousness and anxiety after a car accident can be normal responses. Because they can be expected, they might also go undiagnosed as possible symptoms of PTSD and untreated.

PTSD extends beyond normal anxiety and includes intense and lingering feelings of fear and depression. Its symptoms can be pervasive and persistent and disrupt your everyday life. Without treatment, symptoms can increase in intensity and become debilitating. PTSD is treatable with help from a mental health care professional. If you are pursuing compensation from the at-fault driver, your treatment costs can qualify.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Many symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can mimic other conditions. They can also be easily overlooked or ignored at first. You should seek medical attention if one or more of the following persist for a month or longer:

• Invasive memories
• Troubling nightmares
• Anxiousness or depression
• Disturbing flashbacks
• Self-imposed isolation
• Difficulty concentrating

Loud noises and sudden movements can lead to overwhelming memories of the accident. They can also cause intense emotional and physical reactions, including startling you, making you jump, or inciting fear. You might also be afraid to resume driving or be unable to continue driving after the car accident.

A law firm in your area can help prove the cause of your PTSD. For example, one of the important things a car accident lawyer does is determine the scope and value of your recoverable damages. They also help you prove the toll PTSD, and its symptoms take on your life and lifestyle.

How is PTSD Diagnosed?

PTSD can have both physical and psychological reactions. Symptoms can vary widely from one car accident victim to another. When your health care provider diagnoses your PTSD, they may rely on the following methods to do so:

• Avoiding places and sensations that remind you of the accident
• Making yourself too busy to recall the accident or its aftermath
• Feeling on your guard or unusually anxious or skittish at all times
• Repeatedly reliving the accident when you would prefer not to do so

Symptoms like these are diagnosed with a comprehensive mental health exam. A thorough physical exam and a series of imaging exams may also be used as diagnostic tools. Cleveland Clinic research cites all these symptoms. You should seek medical attention for any that linger a month or longer.

What PTSD Treatments Are Available?

Without appropriate treatment, PTSD worsens over time, and treatment begins with a definitive diagnosis. Because symptoms can vary widely, so can treatments. The possible treatment you might receive include:

• Prescribed medications that assist your body in managing stress
• Cognitive processing, prolonged exposure, and other forms of trauma-focused therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
• Ongoing group and individual support and therapy sessions

Your health care team will ensure you receive the appropriate treatment for your PTSD and its accompanying symptoms. Your legal team will ensure you receive appropriate compensation.

Is the At-Fault Driver Responsible for My Treatment Costs?

The driver whose negligence caused your accident is responsible for all resulting costs, including current and ongoing PTSD treatment. To help you hold the at-fault driver responsible, your lawyer will prove they:

• Owed you a duty of care
• Breached their responsibility
• Caused your accident and injuries
• Caused your financial consequences

After proving negligence, you can recover the costs of prescription medications, individual and group therapy, and other PTSD treatment options. Your car accident lawyer can also help you recover a wide variety of additional damages.

What Other Monetary Damages Can I Recover?

You can recover the cost of treating your physical injuries. These will include all medical care. In addition, you can recoup the following economic costs:

• Current and future wage loss
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Property damage or destruction
• Diminished property value

You can also recover the following non-economic damages:

• Physical disability
• Physical disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Your right to recover car accident damages is limited by the statute of limitations in your state. Misunderstanding or misinterpreting the statute could mean leaving you unable to obtain compensation. When you work with a local law firm, their legal team will ensure your potential car accident lawsuit is filed on time.

Contact Our Law Firm Today for Immediate Help with Your Car Accident Case

Were you or a loved one involved in a car accident? If you developed symptoms of PTSD after an auto accident, our law firm could help. We will collect evidence that documents your PTSD. We will also document your PTSD treatment plan and the at-fault driver’s responsibility to cover these costs.

Find out the other accident-related damages we will help you recover. Contact one of our case review team members at the Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers today.