Are You Suffering From PTSD After A Car Accident?
After being in a car accident, victims always worry about getting the right treatment for their physical injuries. But, many people don’t realize that car accidents also cause emotional distress and trauma. One of the most common types of trauma following an accident is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
When you have an experienced Texas car accident attorney on your side, you can get compensation not only for bodily injury but also for emotional distress caused by the accident. An attorney will be able to walk you through different options you could take to get compensated for emotional distress.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD is also known as post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a disorder that someone suffers after a traumatic experience, such as a car accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall accident, etc. The severity of PTSD could differ depending on the person.
PTSD is difficult not only for the accident victim but for the victim’s family members as well. Sometimes, those suffering from PTSD could lash out and have a difficult time containing their emotions.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?
The symptoms of PTSD may vary depending on the individual, but common symptoms include the following:
- Difficulty focusing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Having flashbacks of the Accident
- Being triggered by the accident location
- Nightmares
- Irritability
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Guilt
If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, it is critical to seek help immediately and consult an attorney.
Could I Receive Compensation for PTSD After a Car Accident In Texas?
After being involved in a car accident, accident victims can recover economic damages, which is compensation for physical injuries. But, besides physical injuries, you could also recover non-economic damages.
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.001 outlines the non-economic damages accident victims could recover.
Some damages include the following:
- Mental or emotional pain and anguish
- Disfigurement
- Inconvenience
- Loss of reputation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These damages are meant to compensate you for the emotional distress after an accident.
How Much Could I Recover in a PTSD Claim In Texas?
Texas law does not have a cap on non-economic damages recovered in car accident cases. But, there are caps placed on certain personal injury lawsuits, such as medical malpractice lawsuits.
How Long Does PTSD Last After a Car Accident?
Some individuals may be able to process their emotions quicker than others. Everyone generally feels anxious after an accident. But each person copes with paranoia differently. PTSD could last a few weeks to several months. Sometimes, many people have found it useful to seek help rather than push their emotions off to the side.
How To Cope With PTSD After a Car Accident In Texas
Since each person handles trauma differently, it may take trial and error until the victim decides what works for them.
Below are some examples of different steps an accident victim could take to cope with trauma and try to move on with their life after a car accident:
- Car accident victims need a lot of self-care. This means getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, working out, and eating a nutritious meal. Sometimes, all it takes is sticking to a schedule and keeping yourself busy. When you focus on yourself and your health, you may be able to cope with PTSD.
- Keep a journal. Keeping a daily journal will help you identify actions that help you cope. It also helps when describing the emotional distress you have experienced to your personal injury attorney.
- Speak to a mental health provider. A mental health provider will help you talk through the accident and cope with any traumatic experiences and memories that you may have from the incident. Oftentimes, many accident victims admit that it helps to talk it through with a third party that is not a family or a friend. A mental health provider could evaluate your anxiety and advise different ways to cope and deal with the trauma.
- Open up to your family and friends. Sometimes, people may be too shy to talk to a mental health provider. Instead, accident victims may feel more comfortable with talking to family and friends. Family and friends may be able to give more personalized advice.
- Consult an attorney. Having an experienced attorney taking care of your legal matters is very important. While you focus on healing from both your physical and emotional injuries, a personal injury lawyer can handle your case from beginning to end.
After a car accident, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Initially, car accident victims do not even realize that they could recover compensation for emotional distress. Schedule a free case evaluation today and see how an attorney can help you with your case.
Contact the Texas Personal Injury Lawyers of The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers to get a free initial consultation today at our offices in Friendswood & Galveston, TX.
We serve throughout Galveston County in Texas and surrounding areas.
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Galveston
2101 Mechanic St. Suite 253
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 207-9299
