Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health condition that can turn a person’s life upside-down. When caused by an accident, the impact of PTSD on a person’s daily functioning could be included in his/her personal injury claim.
It can be an uphill battle to win monetary damages for PTSD in a personal injury case. You will want to work with a Little Rock personal injury attorney if you develop PTSD after a terrifying event, such as an accident. This blog will explore how PTSD can affect your personal injury claim following a traumatic event.
An Overview of PTSD
According to the Mayo Clinic, experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event can cause a person to develop PTSD. Affected people might be unable to control their thoughts about the event and suffer from severe anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares.
Traumatic events like accidents often lead to the development of PTSD. People with PTSD can experience disruption in every aspect of their lives, including their relationships, jobs, health, and their ability to enjoy daily activities.
How PTSD Can Affect a Person’s Life
There are four categories of PTSD symptoms:
- Avoidance. A person with PTSD might not want to talk or think about the initial event that caused him/her to develop the mental health condition.
- Intrusive memories. Flashbacks of the accident, nightmares, unwanted distressing memories, and extreme physical or emotional reactions to things that remind a person of the traumatic event are some examples of intrusive memories.
- Changes in the way a person reacts emotionally and physically. PTSD victims might struggle to get restful sleep or concentrate. They might be unable to relax because they are always on guard for danger. They can be easily frightened, afraid, or have angry outbursts.
- Negative changes in a person’s mood and way of thinking. PTSD can cause a person to feel hopeless about the future, emotionally numb, detached from friends and family, and have negative thoughts about themselves and the world. These issues may make it difficult to maintain personal relationships.
These symptoms can rob a person of the joy he/she might have had in life before the traumatic accident.
Compensation for PTSD After an Accident
The severity of your symptoms will dictate the amount of compensation you might be able to pursue for PTSD in your personal injury claim. Potential PTSD money damages can include the following:
- Lost wages for unpaid time away from the job because of PTSD.
- Medical bills to treat the mental health condition.
- Future medical bills for PTSD treatment.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
You will have to prove that you developed PTSD from the accident or that your existing mental health condition was worsened by PTSD after the accident. Your medical records will be vital evidence to prove this aspect of your personal injury claim. Also, your employment records could be used to support your lost wages damages.
You will want to talk with an Arkansas personal injury attorney about additional documentation, like journals, that could help to make your case for PTSD damages in your personal injury case. We are happy to offer a free consultation. Reach out to our office today.
