Can You Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?
Did you know that 6% of the population suffers from PTSD? You may not realize you suffered some psychological trauma after an accident if you aren’t able to see it, but it’s there, and it could lead to some very long-term issues. The question we will cover in this article is whether you can sue for PTSD after a car accident.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a disorder that people develop after experiencing a traumatic event. For PTSD to be diagnosed, the traumatic event must have been experienced firsthand, or the event must have been witnessed.
Symptoms of PTSD
Keep track of your symptoms. If you’re noticing some symptoms and having trouble getting back to normal, it’s important to reach out to your doctor.
Symptoms can include the following:
- Flashbacks to the traumatic event
- Nightmares
- Avoiding situations that remind you of the trauma
- Feelings of detachment from others
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Being on constant alert
- Feeling irritable or angry
- Extreme difficulty concentrating
- Feeling depressed
- Fear of re-experiencing the trauma
PTSD After a Car Accident: What Does It Look Like?
If you are suffering from PTSD due to a car accident, you will likely experience some combination of the symptoms of PTSD listed above. For example, you might find that you’re having nightmares about the accident, avoiding driving at all, feeling extremely depressed, and being very irritable.
If you do suspect that you have PTSD after a car accident, it’s important to remember that this is a very normal psychological reaction to a traumatic event.
Can You Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?
If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above and believe you may have PTSD due to the car accident, there are options.
First, you can reach out to your primary care physician and ask them to refer you to a psychiatrist or another mental health professional who can diagnose and treat PTSD.
Once you’ve received your diagnosis, you will want to hire legal help to build your case.
They will recommend that you track damages such as medical bills, including rehabilitation costs, property damages, as well as any missed salary due to your inability to work.
Once you have the evidence to support the claims, you need to determine how long it will take you to reach full recovery.
This allows an attorney to prepare the lawsuit for the maximum damages allowed by law.
Accident Lawyer: Getting the Help You Need
Of course, you can pursue a lawsuit on your own. But it is a better idea to work with an attorney who has experience in handling these sorts of cases.
They will be able to help you prepare the proper documents and evidence, they will know the maximum amount you can receive in a settlement, and they will know how to negotiate with the insurance company.
Take a look at how a professional car accident lawyer can help you.
Objectivity
There is a lot of emotion involved with both parties when an accident occurs. This is a natural phenomenon, so it is nothing to worry about.
However, you will need to have someone with an objective point of view on your team. This is where a lawyer comes in.
They can provide you with clear instructions that will provide you with the best income.
Negotiation
One of the skills that a lawyer needs to have is the art of negotiation. When dealing with insurance companies and attorneys, it is extremely helpful to have a negotiator that can get you the best payout possible.
They will help you get a payout that includes all of the damages you have suffered, as well as interest, attorney’s fees, and court costs.
Knowing the details of your case, they will be able to present this information in a clear way that the insurance company will have no choice but to accept.
Let’s say you were in a two-car accident, with you being the accident victim.
Your insurance company calls you and explains that they are willing to pay you $10,000 to drop the case.
You think this is a good offer, but your friend tells you to get a lawyer.
The lawyer reviews the case and is able to negotiate with the insurance company. In the end, you receive $25,000.
Decision Making
In a car accident case, you will have to make some important decisions.
These decisions include whether you want to go to full trial or make a settlement offer, as well as whether you want to seek damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
A lawyer will be able to provide you with the most accurate advice to help in making the best decision possible.
Faster Compensation
Lawsuits are notorious for being lengthy, especially when you have to go to court and drag out the process.
Between the time you have to wait for the court and any appeals, it could take years to receive what you deserve.
A lawyer will be able to help expedite the process and get you the compensation you deserve faster than if you were to try and handle the case on your own.
Peace of Mind
Finally, knowing that your case is in the right hands is a great way to know that you are getting the best help possible.
Having a lawyer helps you remain confident in the case and know that your interests are being protected.
PTSD Treatment
During this time, you will need to learn how to cope with PTSD. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to alleviate the trauma you experienced.
However, with therapy and the help of your doctor, you can work through it in a healthy manner.
Sue for PTSD: Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Today
The best thing that you can do right now is to find a legal team that specializes in helping victims of personal injuries and traffic accidents.
PTSD after a car accident is difficult to deal with, but with the help of a car accident lawyer, you can alter the consequences of this life-changing event.
Need legal advice? Give Alpha Accident Lawyers a call today.
