Suffering From PTSD After A Car Accident
After a car accident, the most important thing a person should do is visit a doctor. Injuries sustained in an accident are not always visible, and can sometimes take weeks or months to manifest. If a person finds out months after an accident that he is really injured, it becomes more difficult to connect the injury to the accident. Additionally, it is possible that the injuries that a person sustains are not physical and cannot be easily seen; this is the case with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, after an accident.
Most people do not associate PTSD with an event like a car accident; however, studies show that people who are involved in a car accident are at an increased risk of suffering from PTSD. After a car accident, a person suffering from PTSD may have trouble sleeping, experience feelings of anxiousness, stress, shock, or even have feelings of guilt and fear even when they were not responsible for the accident. The stress and anxiety may even cause some people to avoid going to the doctor or seeking medical help for injuries sustained during the accident. While more people may experience short term PTSD, the nature of the accident can also affect how long these effects last. Some people may also not want to drive again, or when they do, they may keep reliving the accident.
Seeking help for PTSD is very important, as is staying active and trying to get back on the road if possible. When seeking treatment from a primary care physician following a car accident, it is also important to discuss all PTSD-related symptoms. Even if the primary care physician may not be in a position to treat the patient for PTSD, he or she can make any necessary referrals to a doctor who can better treat psychological conditions through therapy, medication, or a combination of both. A formal diagnosis of PTSD can make a difference if the case proceeds to court.
Compensation for PTSD may be sought through a claim for pain and suffering. Unfortunately under Florida law, a person injured in a car accident has to have suffered serious injuries resulting in permanent injury, disfigurement, scarring, or death in order to be able to seek this kind of a claim. In most other states, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for PTSD and pain and suffering in the same manner as for physical injuries. Because PTSD is psychological in nature, it may be more difficult to prove than a physical injury, but it is not impossible. If a person seeks compensation for his injuries after a car accident by filing a personal injury lawsuit, he can prove he has PTSD by presenting evidence of his medical history and also through the use of expert witnesses.
Reach Out to Us for Help
If you were involved in a car accident as a result of another driver’s negligent driving, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. You should also consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that you get the compensation you need to take care of immediate and future medical expenses. Contact the experienced Jacksonville, Florida and Brunswick, Georgia personal injury attorneys at Gillette Law, P.A. for professional assistance.
