When discussing injuries resulting from a Florida car accident, we usually refer to whiplash, broken bones, burns, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. But there are other types of injuries you can suffer after an auto accident. Mental and emotional trauma caused by a car accident can be just as damaging as physical injuries.
Mental and emotional injuries from a car accident can remain long after your physical injuries have healed. Since they aren’t visible and may take time to manifest themselves, mental and emotional injuries don’t receive the same amount of attention as physical traumas. In some instances, the victim may not be aware that the sadness and dark thoughts they’ve been experiencing could be connected to their car accident.
A Florida Car Accident Can Result in PTSD
Do you think you may have suffered mental or emotional trauma as a result of your car accident? Your physical injuries are healed, but you just don’t feel right. You may be experiencing:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Flashbacks to the car accident
- Angry, aggressive outbursts
- Fear of driving or riding in a vehicle
- Poor work or school performance
- Nightmares and trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating; intrusive memories and thoughts
- Emotional detachment
- Loss of interest in favorite hobbies and activities
- Suicidal thoughts
These are all symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD isn’t limited to soldiers who have been in combat; anyone who has endured a traumatic life event can develop PTSD. If you’ve been in a previous auto accident, you may be at a much greater risk of developing PTSD because of a second accident.
Treatment for PTSD Caused by Auto Accidents
Treatment for car accident-related PTSD can be a difficult and lengthy process. Psychotherapy is the most effective treatment for PTSD. Psychotherapies for PTSD can include:
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Exposure Therapy
- Stress Inoculation Training
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- Present Centered Therapy
Medications, including antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy.
Damages for Mental and Emotional Trauma Resulting from a Car Accident
If you’ve been experiencing PTSD or other mental and emotional problems after being injured in a car accident that was the fault of another driver, you have a right to seek compensation for these damages along with your physical injuries. However, can be a challenge; insurance companies are often reluctant to make settlements for what they call “subjective” disorders — medical conditions that can’t be proven through objective medical testing.
The representation of an experienced car accident attorney is crucial if you want to recover damages for your accident-related PTSD and mental anguish. A personal injury attorney will help you gather the medical evidence you’ll need to support your claim for emotional or mental trauma resulting from your car accident. They can also help you assign a dollar amount to your psychological damages as well.
Economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, are easy to calculate. They can be accurately established using receipts, pay stubs, bank statements, etc. It can be harder to come up with a dollar amount for non-economic damages, like pain, suffering, and mental anguish. Expert testimony and other types of evidence may be needed to establish subjective, non-economic damage dollar amounts in a personal injury claim.
Contact a Florida Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been struggling with the physical and psychological trauma resulting from a car accident, it’s important to know that you aren’t alone. Lutz car accident attorney Tania Clark and TLC Trial Team focus on providing their clients with personalized and compassionate legal services. Our goal is to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve for your accident-related injuries.
Tania has helped clients in Lutz and other Central Florida communities recover millions in compensation for the physical and mental damages caused by the actions of a careless driver.
Call us at (877) 299-5539 or contact TLC Trial Team through our website to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Tania accepts most car accident injury cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no retainers or other upfront fees. She collects her fee as a percentage of the settlement amount. Don’t wait to seek legal help! Florida has strict statutes of limitation laws — in most instances, you only have two years from the date of your accident in which to file a personal injury claim for mental and psychological trauma. If you wait too long, the courts may refuse to hear your case.
