We have all heard about various situations involving car accidents and the physical injuries they cause. It changes entire lives, hurting individuals and leaving them in a state of confusion regarding what to do next.
However, as serious as physical injuries are, there are also emotional damages that may be sustained after a car accident that can cause harm to a person. This can include post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Commonly associated with injured soldiers returning from home, PTSD is also something that can happen to individuals who have been hurt in a car accident. Here are some of the long-term impacts of developing PTSD after a crash.
How PTSD Impacts a Survivor
An individual who has PTSD may often feel anxiety and stress when a flashback arises or when a trigger is encountered. In terms of PTSD caused by a car accident, this can come in a number of different forms and leave individuals often feeling disconnected from themselves.
Some of the potential triggers that may exist include a car honking their horn, the sounds of tires screeching from braking abruptly, and loud impacts that remind the survivor of the same sounds they heard during the crash itself.
For the survivor, this often makes a difference in even the smallest things, like whether or not they will operate a vehicle and how their daily lives are impacted as a result. Understanding how you’re affected and what may be done is important.
Can Legal Action Be Taken?
Those suffering from physical injuries often seek what are called economic damages because there is a direct monetary value placed on their injury. For instance, they must have received medical care and they may have lost income as a result. These are economical losses.
Some situations, such as when a survivor develops PTSD, cannot always be quantified by an economic loss. The compensation that may be sought is called non-economic damages which the courts often use to help for pain and suffering.
However, most injured individuals seek both.
At The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC, our Austin car accident attorneys have a firm understanding of the various injuries that may be sustained, including emotional trauma. We work hard to help you from start to finish so you can feel peace of mind at all times.
Ready to discuss your potential options? Call us today.
