Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Caused By Car Accidents

Did you know that car accidents are a leading cause of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Car accidents cause more than just physical injuries, as these events can lead to serious mental pain. If you were in a car crash, you should consider being evaluated for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, which is a syndrome that can impact your quality of life.

According to statistics, more than three million people are involved in car accidents every year, which can result in psychological distress. It has been estimated that 10 to 45 percent of those injured in car crashes will later develop symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. It is among very few mental disorders that are triggered by an outside event. To develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, you must have been involved in a situation where you were fearful for your safety or you must have experienced an event that made you feel fear or helplessness. In the situation of an auto accident, it is typical to have feelings of shock, nervousness, anger and even guilt, but these feelings often evolve into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder include the following:

• Insomnia
• Trouble with concentration
• Irritability
• Detachment from others
• Trouble maintaining friendships
• Persistent thoughts about the accident
• Fear of driving or riding in a vehicle

Psychologists Edward B. Blanchard, Ph.D., and Edward J. Hickling, Psy.D., authored the publication, “After the Crash: Assessment and Treatment of Motor Vehicle Accident Survivors.” They examined current research on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and described the experiences and symptoms of survivors of car accidents. Dr. Blanchard was quoted as saying, “We found that fear of dying in an accident, waiting for a court decision and the seriousness of an injury increased one’s risk for developing PTSD. Also, a large proportion of the car accident survivors who suffered from PTSD were more likely to have been in a previous motor vehicle accident or experienced prior trauma than the sample that had not been in an accident. This supports the fact that prior PTSD sensitizes individuals to develop PTSD when confronted with a new trauma.”

If you have been in a car crash and have developed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, you may be eligible to receive compensation. When an auto accident is caused by another driver and serious injuries, either physical or mental, occur, you can be compensated for pain and suffering, mental pain, lost wages, medical expenses and other costs associated with your injuries.

Contact us today. We can help determine if you are eligible for compensation. We offer a free case evaluation and can provide the legal representation you need.