Car Accidents and Mental Health

Car accidents can be traumatic events that result in very serious injuries such as broken bones, organ damage, whiplash, and brain injuries. Unfortunately, many people tend to overlook the psychological trauma, which can be as serious as a physical injury and often harder to treat.  

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may already be experiencing some of the issues listed below. However, it’s important to keep in mind the psychological effects of a car accident may not be immediately obvious. Don’t ignore the symptoms – talk to your doctor, seek counseling, or confide in a loved one. Keep in mind that you may be entitled to compensation for damage to your mental health, just like you may be entitled to compensation for your physical injuries.  Car accidents and mental health sometimes go hand and hand.

Depression

Car accident victims often report lingering feelings of sadness after the accident. These feelings can last for weeks, months, or even years in cases of severe injury. Everyone is different and experiences the pain and suffering that results from an accident differently. For many people, an uncertain future changed by new limitations can lead to depression.  

Anxiety

Many car accident victims find themselves unable to work or simply unable to do everything that they used to do. The possibility of financial struggles, lost wages, or being unable to care for your family can lead to a great deal of anxiety, resulting in an anxiety disorder.  

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD may look very similar to depression and anxiety, and can often include the same symptoms. PTSD typically manifests itself in one or more of the following four ways:

1. Intrusive/Re-experiencing: this is where the victim relives the accident or cannot stop thinking about it.  
2. Avoidance: the victim avoids anything that reminds him of the accident.
3. Hyper-arousal: the victim suffers anxiety-like symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, or shortness of breath.
4. Negative thoughts and moods: similar to depression, the victim feels persistently sad and/or is plagued by negative thoughts.

Symptoms of Mental Trauma

If you’ve been in a serious car accident, you may already be experiencing the following symptoms:  

• Loss of appetite
• Loss of sleep
• Lack of energy
• Persistent feelings of sadness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Even if you don’t understand these feelings or understand why you’re experiencing them, they are no less valid and deserve professional medical treatment.  Please seek treatment from a physician or counselor.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

A personal injury attorney can help you assign a value to your claim – the amount of compensation that you may be entitled to result as a result of your injuries, lost wages, pain, and suffering. As part of this evaluation, a personal injury attorney can help you identify those non-economic losses like the pain and suffering caused by mental health issues. From there, he can help you get the treatment you need and assemble the evidence you need to prove your claim.  

Contact an Orlando Personal Injury Attorney   

The personal injury attorneys at the Armour Law Group work with car accident victims in Orlando and across the state of Florida. If you’re hurt from an accident and worried about your future, we can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a consultation.