Hasner Law | Car Accidents | June 7, 2021
You can sustain a variety of injuries in a car accident in Savannah, GA. A car crash may result in broken bones, neck injuries, and back injuries. You could sustain a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury.
Most of the focus after a car crash is on your physical injuries because they are visible harms. However, psychological injuries can be severe and debilitating. Individuals who develop PTSD after a car accident may be unable to work or perform daily activities.
Accident victims with PTSD can seek compensation for their economic damages, pain, and suffering related to a car accident.
How Does Someone Develop PTSD?
PTSD, or Post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition caused by exposure to a traumatic event or situation.
Examples of traumatic events that could result in PTSD include:
- Serving in active military combat
- Being involved in an accident, such as a motor vehicle accident, construction accident, or slip and fall
- Surviving a natural disaster
- Being attacked by an animal or bitten by a dog
- Being the victim of medical malpractice
- Surviving violent attacks, sexual assault, or other crimes
- Sustaining an injury because of a defective product
Some individuals develop PTSD because they witness violent acts or wrongful death. The symptoms of PTSD can severely impair your ability to work or perform activities required for daily living. In some cases, a person with PTSD is unable to care for themselves without supervision and assistance.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD After a Car Crash?
Research indicates that people involved in catastrophic car crashes have an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. Some studies have indicated that motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of PTSD.
Individuals who develop PTSD after a car accident in Savannah may experience several of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Signs of PTSD include sleeping problems, fear, anxiety, and mood swings. A person may also develop other psychological disorders or conditions with PTSD, such as clinical depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse, or an eating disorder.
Signs that you could have PTSD after a car accident include:
- Fear of riding in a car or driving a vehicle
- Nightmares or flashbacks of the accident
- Feeling on edge or tense
- Having trouble recalling details of the car crash
- Decreased interest in activities
- A desire to isolate yourself from family and friends
- Inability to focus or concentrate
- A desire to sleep more, including sleeping instead of working, socializing, or taking care of yourself, your home, or your family
- Refusing to go to places that remind you of the car accident
- Becoming agitated when you hear sirens
- Refusing to talk about the car crash
- Periods of crying, angry outbursts, and mood swings
Each person experiences PTSD differently. It is essential to seek medical care if you develop any signs or symptoms of a psychological disorder after a car accident. A medical professional analyzes your symptoms to determine if you have PTSD or another psychological disorder.
How is PTSD Treated After a Car Accident?
The treatments for PTSD include:
- Medications, including anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Counseling
- Psychotherapy
- Identifying triggers and learning coping skills
Some individuals may require admission to a facility to treat severe PTSD. However, most cases of PTSD are treated in an outpatient setting. The person may attend individual and group therapy and counseling, in addition to taking prescription medications.
Damages for PTSD After a Car Accident
PTSD is a psychological injury. If your PTSD was caused by a car accident, you could recover economic damages and non-economic damages associated with the condition.
Examples of damage you can recover for your PTSD include:
- The cost of diagnosing the PTSD
- Cost of treatment, including counseling, therapy, and medication
- Loss of wages, benefits, salaries, and other forms of income if you cannot work
- Cost of inpatient facility for PTSD treatment
- Loss of enjoyment of life or quality of life
- Cost of help with household chores
- Emotional distress and mental anguish caused by the PTSD
Valuing the pain and suffering caused by PTSD can be challenging. There is not a standard formula. Keeping a log of how PTSD impacts your life can help you establish how much your PTSD has affected your daily life.
Contact the Savannah Car Accident Lawyers from Hasner Law PC Today
Working with a car accident attorney in Savannah, Georgia can also help you recover the compensation you deserve. Your lawyer will assist with documenting your damages and calculate their maximum value based on the facts of your case.
For more information, please contact the Savannah car accident law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878
Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334
