Emotional trauma can have a significant effect on your quality of life after getting injured because of someone else’s carelessness. Because of this fact, emotional distress damages can be a substantial portion of the financial recovery in a personal injury claim.
This blog will discuss invisible injuries: understanding the impact of emotional trauma in personal injury cases. A Little Rock personal injury attorney could help you seek compensation for your emotional trauma, as well as medical bills and lost wages.
Emotional Distress as a Component of Pain and Suffering Damages
Sometimes, people refer to all types of emotional distress as “pain and suffering” in personal injury claims. Pain and suffering means the physical discomfort and mental anguish that comes along with getting hurt in an accident that was not your fault. Mental anguish may encompass a variety of emotions, from frustration and anger to stress and depression.
Pain and suffering monetary damages are in addition to getting your medical bills paid. Merely getting paid back for your out-of-pocket losses does not adequately compensate you for the terrible experience you endured.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Personal Injury Cases
Many people who experience horrific crashes later develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can cause a person to go to great lengths to avoid getting hurt in another accident. The individual might become unable to ride in a car again, which could affect his/her ability to be employed, travel, run everyday errands, or any other number of freedoms we enjoy.
PTSD can adversely impact a person’s capacity to maintain gainful employment or personal relationships. People with this severe disorder often experience social isolation and require prolonged treatment.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
When catastrophic wounds cause permanent limitation of activities, the injured person might suffer a loss of enjoyment of life. Spinal cord damage that causes paralysis is one example of this situation. When the individual knows that they will never again walk on their own or play with his/her child, happiness is likely diminished.
Chronic Depression and Anxiety
After suffering devastating wounds in an accident, some people develop new or worsening depression or anxiety. They might worry that another collision will happen at any moment. They might feel down because it seems that bad things always happen to them. They could feel hopelessness or despair if they face a bleak future.
Sleep Disturbances
Disturbances of sleep are common in people who have experienced emotional distress, particularly if the injured person was not at fault in the incident that injured them. They might have nightmares or night terrors when they go to sleep. They might have insomnia, meaning either that they are not able to go to sleep or stay asleep.
Some sleep disturbances involve sleepwalking, which can be quite dangerous in terms of safety to the sleepwalking individual if he/she walks outdoors when asleep. A highly vulnerable person could fall prey to opportunistic criminals, extremely cold temperatures, fall injuries, or get struck by a motor vehicle.
You will want to talk to a Little Rock personal injury attorney about your case, including the emotional distress aspects of your claim. Your lawyer can provide guidance on how to document your emotional distress for your personal injury claim. Get in touch with our office today for help with your case.
