According to the American Psychological Association (APA), up to one-third of people who have been involved in car accidents will develop some type of mental health effects. Nine percent of these people could develop what is considered to be full-fledged Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These symptoms can show up immediately, or there may be a delayed effect of the car accident. If you have suffered physical and mental health injuries from a car accident, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. You should seek legal help from an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you prove liability for the crash and quantify and fight for your full financial damages.
Can You Get Post-Traumatic Stress After a Car Accident?
Being involved in a major car accident can result in post-traumatic stress. You may be reliving the actual accident itself or the immediate aftermath. In some cases, your PTSD may go away within days or weeks after the accident. In other cases, you may be looking at a long-term mental health issue based on how you have responded to the crash. If your mental health symptoms from the car accident last for one month or longer, you would be clinically considered to be dealing with PTSD.
Mental Health Effects After a Car Accident
You may also experience other mental health effects from a car accident that can include the following:
- Fear of getting behind the wheel, or even into a car in the first place
- Insomnia
- Nightmares from the car accident
- Effects in other areas of your life due to your mental state
Anxiety can impact much more than just your fear of getting into a car. It can permeate your daily life, making it much more difficult for you to function. You may find that your relationships are affected. Further, anxiety can harm your ability to earn a living.
The rule in a car accident case is that the negligent party “takes their victim as they find them.” It does not matter that you may have been susceptible to experiencing mental health effects from the car accident. The responsible party needs to pay for all of the damages that they have caused, including mental health issues that their careless actions may have exacerbated.
What Should I Do if I Have Anxiety From a Car Accident?
It is natural to suffer from anxiety after a car accident, but you should not try to go through it alone. You should seek help from an experienced mental health professional if you are dealing with any effects of a car accident. They can address the issue with you in the hopes that you may eventually be able to drive again in the future. Not only can a mental health professional address the direct effects of a car accident, but they can also help you deal with the ways that your life has been affected.
You may also consider other means of assistance, such as a support group. You may also seek medication for you to take on a daily basis. However, it is essential that you not take medication prior to driving that could make you drowsy behind the wheel.
Make Sure to Stick With Your Treatment Regimen
Not only must you have your injuries promptly treated and diagnosed, but you must also follow up with your treatment. If you are claiming emotional distress and anxiety after the car accident, the insurance company is not only going to look to see that you have sought treatment, but they will also review your records to ensure that you have followed all recommendations. It is incumbent upon you to take all steps necessary to mitigate your damages and seek treatment. If the insurance company sees that you have not stuck with your treatment, they may challenge the damages that you are claiming. They may try to reduce the amount of money that they pay you, or even question your diagnosis in the first place.
How Can I Document My Anxiety After a Car Crash?
Since you may be seeking compensation for your post-accident anxiety, it is crucial that you have it fully documented for when you file a claim with the insurance company. When you seek help from a mental health professional, they will document their treatment. A mental health professional would give you a diagnosis, and it would be there in writing. They would also document the fact that you have sought treatment and followed up with all of your appointments. This documentation can be crucial when you need to prove that you are suffering anxiety on account of the accident.
Can I Be Compensated for Anxiety After a Car Crash?
Car accident anxiety is one aspect of the damage that you can sustain in the wake of the crash. There may be numerous effects in your life that stem from your inability to drive. Thus, you may be compensated for the lost wages that you are not able to earn since you do not have transportation.
Further, you may also be paid for the emotional distress that you have sustained from the car accident. This type of damage is subjective in nature, and you would need to be able to prove that you have suffered it to the insurance company. You can expect that they may challenge your damages, either claiming that you are still able to drive or minimizing the effect that the anxiety has on your life. You should be prepared to fight to receive full compensation.
Contact the Belmar Car Accident Lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC to Get the Compensation You Deserve for Your Car Crash Injuries
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, get legal help from the experienced Belmar car accident lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC. To schedule a free consultation, contact us online or call today at 732-920-8383. With office locations in Manasquan and Brick, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients across New Jersey.