Serious physical injuries caused by car accidents can be immediately apparent, but mental trauma is often harder to detect and can worsen significantly over time. Once the initial shock of a crash wears off, people can develop PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues that make it impossible to return to work or complete daily activities.
The costs of lost wages, treatment, and hired help for the home can be overwhelming. However, car accident survivors who experience this kind of mental trauma may have the option of obtaining compensation for their losses.
How Do Car Accidents Trigger Mental Trauma?
Whether or not the body is injured in a car accident, mental trauma can be triggered by the event. Crashes can create a sense of panic. This can last long after the body stabilizes, creating a devastating impact on one’s psychological health and well-being. Some people do not experience mental trauma after a car accident while others do – it is hard to predict the kinds of symptoms and who will have them.
Here are some of the most common signs of mental trauma from a car accident:
- Depression.
- High level of anxiety and stress.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Insomnia and nightmares.
- Mood swings.
- New fears, like being afraid to ride in a car.
- PTSD diagnosis.
- Unable to enjoy everyday activities.
- Withdrawing from human contact.
These conditions are best treated by a mental health professional who may prescribe virtual, in-patient, or out-patient therapy, medication, or both. The treatment is often long-term, so it is important to follow through because therapy and medicine take time to work.
Proving an Accident Caused Mental Trauma
As with proving physical injuries related to car accidents, you will need to get a diagnosis from a medical professional and details of your treatment. The documentation has to show a link between the crash and your symptoms and how they have impacted your daily life. A court will also want to know if the treatment is working, so you should obtain access to records of your progress. It is also important to have provider invoices and payment receipts.
You (your lawyer) may also need to provide specific details about how the injury has affected your personal life. For example, you might be unable to focus at work or be experiencing nightmares that keep you up every night. The symptoms can also be present with physical injury symptoms, making it even more difficult to get through each day.
It can be easier to prove that a plaintiff has mental trauma related to a car accident when there are serious injuries, like brain or spinal trauma. Still, it is possible to prove mental trauma without these physical issues. Eyewitnesses in these cases can provide testimony about the severity of the crash and how it affected your behavior.
Expert witnesses can also be brought in for these kinds of personal injury cases. A professional could explain how the type of accident you were in often causes mental trauma, how the symptoms present, and how they affect daily living.
Living with chronic physical or mental pain is challenging. Plaintiffs who experience ongoing pain and suffering are often unable to enjoy life.
The key to seeking compensation for mental trauma after car accidents is to seek treatment as soon as possible. You might not be experiencing debilitating anxiety or depression that same day, but it makes sense to be evaluated by a mental health professional as soon as possible. That way, they can note your symptoms and establish a baseline. The goal is to prove how severely the crash negatively impacted your mental health over time.
My Insurance Provider Denied My Claim. What Should I Do?
Unfortunately, even though mental trauma is real, insurance companies will not hesitate to question the authenticity of your claim. Since people experience mental trauma symptoms in various ways, getting compensation can be an uphill battle. For this reason, it is critical to contact a lawyer if you have mental trauma from an accident.
In Ohio, car accident victims can seek compensation for the psychological symptoms they have experienced. You should not be ashamed to speak up about your condition.
Loveland Car Accident Lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office Are Experienced With Mental Trauma Cases Stemming From Car Accidents
You may be able to get compensation for the medical bills and pain and suffering related to mental trauma from a car accident. Contact our Loveland car accident lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office for legal advice. Call us at 513-488-1135 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Loveland, Ohio, we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.