Being the victim of a car accident may leave an individual with more than just physical injuries. A study found that 39.2 percent of car accident victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which may last for days, weeks, or even years to come.
Setareh Law is an award-winning California legal team with experience helping victims of car accidents. Whether you or the other driver involved was at fault for the accident, PTSD may be experienced by all individuals involved in a car accident.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Anytime a person witnesses or suffers from a traumatic or life-threatening event, like a car accident, a person may develop PTSD. A person may develop PTSD whether or not they have sustained physical injuries from an accident or life-threatening event. While it is normal to need to take a period of time to recover following a traumatic experience, psychological symptoms that linger for weeks or months may be an indication that you are suffering from PTSD and should consult with a medical specialist.
What Are Common Symptoms of PTSD after California Car Accidents?
While symptoms of PTSD may vary from person to person, the following are some of the most common:
- Flashbacks: Reminders of the accident as simple as seeing a car the same color as the one that caused the crash may trigger a flashback for a person suffering from PTSD.
- Nightmares: Sleep is supposed to be a time to rest and heal, but for individuals suffering from PTSD, nightmares of the accident may haunt them even while they sleep.
- Avoiding Reminders: A victim with PTSD may avoid anything that provides even a remote reminder of the accident.
- Agitation or Irritability: A person who has PTSD may become agitated or irritated more easily than they did before the accident.
- Depression: Feeling upset after an accident is normal, but when a person begins to show symptoms of depression or numbness, they may be suffering from PTSD.
- Misplaced Guilt: Whether you caused the accident to occur or not, you may find yourself replaying the moments before the accident over and over again, trying to think if there was anything you could have done differently to avoid it from happening.
If you feel you or a loved one is suffering from one or more of these symptoms, you may have PTSD. If this is the case, an experienced car accident injury attorney may be able to help you collect damages for your suffering.
Does PTSD Count as an Injury in a Car Accident Claim?
Emotional or psychological injuries are considered to be just as serious physical injuries. In fact, to claim an injury after a car accident, you do not necessarily need to have suffered a physical injury in addition to your emotional injuries. Just as a physical injury may cause you to have a limited quality of life after an accident, you may suffer from the same or similar damages due to PTSD. A California car accident injury attorney may be able to help you build a strong claim so you may get compensation for the damages you have suffered as a result of your PTSD.
California Car Accident PTSD Injury Attorney Is Here to Help
Car accidents are devastating and traumatic to the victims involved. Unfortunately, just as victims may suffer from physical injuries, it is common that they may suffer from emotional or psychological injuries as well. If you or a loved one is suffering from PTSD due to a California car accident, you may want to partner with an experienced car accident PTSD injury attorney to help you build your claim.
Setareh Law is a team of award-winning attorneys offering dedicated representation and personalized care as they help clients rebuild their lives. Our firm is determined to provide each client with the compassionate and knowledgeable legal services needed to build a solid claim. Offering 14 years of experience, Setareh Law may be able to help you understand California’s complex laws surrounding PTSD and car accidents. For a free consultation, contact us here or call (310) 659-1826.