Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a change in the body’s response to a stressful circumstance. Normally, after a stressful event, the body recovers and the hormones and stress chemicals that the body secretes due to such stress return to normal levels. The bodies of people experiencing this continue to secrete hormones and stress chemicals long after the event occurred.
Can you get PTSD from a car accident and subsequent injuries? Yes – PTSD can occur at any age and appear after events such as:
- Car Accidents
- Domestic Violence
- Natural Disasters
- Imprisonment
- Sexual Assault
- Terrorism
- War
PTSD and Car Accident Compensation Claims
Whenever you suffer a catastrophic injury in an accident that was not your fault, you are entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering. Auto accident recovery is hard enough, and if you develop PTSD, you are entitled to additional compensation to cover time away from work, loss of quality of life, and the cost of medications and treatment.
However, putting a value on PTSD and the impact on daily life can be complicated, which is why you should call Avrek Law for a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your claim. It will be necessary to prove your PTSD and closely related damages to ensure you get the best settlement possible.
How Often Do People Get PTSD After a Car Accident?
Each year, more than six million traffic accidents (head on, sideswipe, rear end, etc.) occur in the United States. If you have been in an accident, you could have experienced many different injuries and emotions at the time of the accident and in later days following it.
When it comes to aggressive driving accidents, most people think about injuries like broken bones, internal injuries, spine injuries, head injuries, whiplash, concussion, etc., but PTSD is another reality all together. Feeling shocked, not believing the accident happened, experiencing fear or restlessness when driving and just being enraged that you have been put in this situation are all “normal” when it comes to a PTSD diagnosis. You could also be reliving the accident over and again in your mind, which, coupled with the overwhelming feelings you have about the accident could prevent you from living a normal, productive life.
Risks Associated With PTSD
Early research on PTSD has demonstrated the harmful impact this disorder can have on families. Research has shown that Vietnam veterans diagnosed with PTSD have more marital problems and higher levels of family violence, their partners are more distressed, and their children have more behavioral problems than those of veterans without PTSD.
How does PTSD have such a negative effect? Probably because it is difficult for those who suffer from PTSD to feel their emotions. They may feel isolated from others, and this can cause problems in personal relationships and can even lead to behavioral problems in children.
What May Happen After the Accident?
Post-traumatic stress disorder can cause problems such as:
- Flashbacks or the feeling that the event is happening again
- Sleeping problems or nightmares
- Feeling lonely
- Bursts of anger
- Feelings of concern, guilt or sadness
PTSD begins at different times after the stressful event – disorder symptoms can begin immediately after the traumatic event and remain, or develop months, or even years, later.
Can PTSD Affect My Ability to Work?
Symptoms of PTSD usually manifest shortly after the traumatic event. However, in some people they may appear months or even years after the trauma. Various types of car accidents can trigger PTSD, like hit and run or motorcycle crash, and even drunk driving victims have certain things that spark their disorder’s symptoms.
Symptoms may appear and disappear intermittently for many years. Therefore, you should keep track of your symptoms and talk about them with someone you trust. If you have symptoms that last longer than four weeks and cause you great distress or interfere with your work or personal life, you may have PTSD. You should seek professional help from a doctor or consultant.
You may be nervous or always alert and defensive in normal situations. You may feel suddenly irritable or upset. Other examples of PTSD symptoms include:
- Dificulty sleeping
- Inability to concentrate.
- Uneasiness when you here loud sounds
- Need to have your back against the wall when in a restaurant or waiting room
Yes, PTSD can absolutely cause your work performance to falter and your ability to work to lessen.
Contact Avrek Law For Help
What are the chances of winning a personal injury lawsuit? If you were in an auto accident and have suffered from PTSD please contact us today – we kno how to answer the question “Can you get PTSD from a car accident?” and know how to help navigate your claim.
Avrek Law has over 50 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $2 Billion in 45,000 cases for our clients. Even in accidents that are considered low impact with minor injuries, the potential for PTSD exists and you need assistance to get the highest possible compensation for your damages and injuries. Schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers or learn more about our no win, no fee policy.