Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can manifest in anxiety, nightmares, panic attacks, and uncontrollable thoughts about an event. You can get PTSD from a car accident. PTSD can be triggered by a “terrifying event.” A car accident can qualify as such an event.
What Are Some Effects of PTSD?
According to Mayo Clinic, other symptoms and effects of PTSD may include:
- Intrusive thoughts
- Severe emotional distress
- Flashbacks
- Avoidance of topics or locations related to the accident
- Negative changes in mood
- Lack of previously enjoyed interests
- Emotional numbness
- Memory problems
- Self-destructive behavior
- Insomnia
- Guilt or shame
- Being easily startled
You may only experience some of these symptoms. You may also present other symptoms that are not listed here. Do not feel discouraged. Your experience with your mental health condition is unique. However, if you have suicidal thoughts, you should call 911 or a national crisis hotline.
How to Cope With PTSD After a Car Accident
Coping with and treating your PTSD after a car accident may be different than how someone else might treat their PTSD. Speak with a mental health professional to find the treatment plan that works for you.
Both talk therapy and medicines may help. You can discuss your triggers and potential coping mechanisms with a psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Antidepressants may also help you with your symptoms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization can help people living with more persistent PTSD. Resilience factors can help reduce the risk of developing PTSD. Presumably, these factors may help you if you have already been diagnosed. They include:
- Looking to friends and family for support
- Adjusting your response to fear
- Reframing how you feel about your actions when you face danger
It is important to meet with a medical professional after your accidentif you have not done so already. It is also important to follow your doctor’s orders and adhere to your treatment plan so that you can heal. This may also help in your pursuit of compensation.
If you pursue compensation via an insurance claim or lawsuit, you can no longer pursue any further damages once you accept a settlement. If your PTSD and related conditions do not improve after accepting your settlement, you would need to pay for your treatment out of pocket.
If Your Child Developed PTSD After a Car Accident
Children can also display symptoms of PTSD if they were involved in a car accident. The National Institute of Mental Health states that children may:
- Wet the bed
- Forget how to or simply do not talk
- Act out the traumatic event while playing
- Cling to their parents (or other adults) more than they did before the accident
George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Can Help You Pursue Damages
If you want to pursue damages from the party responsible for your PTSD, you may have the right to do so. Speak with a member of the George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers team today to learn more about your options. There may be damages that you can secure, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and medical care.
You will have to prove that the responsible party is liable for your losses to collect damages. To do this, you will have to present the following facts:
- That the other party had a duty of care to you
- That the other party breached this duty of care
- That this breach caused your car accident
- That your car accident resulted in your PTSD, your injuries, and other related costs
A car accident lawyer may be able to prove these facts for you and present them to the other party and their legal representatives or the court if the case makes it to trial.
You do not have to walk alone. We can help you wade through any confusing legal jargon and form a plan. If you have any questions about how you can get PTSD from a car accident, speak to our team. Call us or fill out our online form today to request a free case review.