Physical injuries are not the only impact a car crash can have. A traumatic car accident can seriously affect your mental health in the short and long term. You may experience emotional distress immediately following the accident, or could have a delayed reaction. Either way, it’s important to seek help for any emotional concerns. You should also work with professionals who understand what you are going through. This includes hiring a personal injury attorney who will take the emotional effects of your accident into account when fighting to get you the compensation you deserve.
Here are some of the emotional impacts a crash can have:
PTSD After a Car Accident
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after a traumatic event. It can include a wide range of symptoms such as hypervigilance, recurrent nightmares, flashbacks of the event, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and more. PTSD can impact many different aspects of your life and make it harder to perform day-to-day activities or connect with loved ones.
A study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that 39.2% of motor vehicle accident survivors developed PTSD. Car accidents are also the leading cause of PTSD among the general population. It’s important to understand that you could develop PTSD even if your accident was not severe. Research indicates that the likelihood of developing PTSD is more closely related to how an individual experiences and responds to a traumatic event than the characteristics of the event itself.
Fear of Driving
After a traumatic car accident, you may be fearful of driving and/or avoid getting on the road. This can have a large impact on your day-to-day life, especially if other forms of transportation are not an option. This can make it harder to seek help for your physical injuries or other emotional concerns, worsening the negative effects of your accident overall. If you need to drive to get to work, it can also result in lost wages.
Financial Stress
A car accident often comes with high medical bills. If you need to take time off work to recover or are unable to perform your previous job duties, this can make your financial problems even worse. Financial stress can impact your mental health and elevate other emotional distress you are experiencing.
Moving Forward After a Traumatic Car Accident
If you are experiencing any symptoms of PTSD or other emotional issues after an accident, it’s important to seek help. Addressing the problem sooner than later can increase the likelihood of a successful recovery. There are many different resources available for accident victims. If you are not sure where to start, our car accident lawyers will be able to point you in the right direction. Our attorneys are compassionate, experienced, and here to help.
Your Personal Injury Case
At Grabb & Durando, we will consider all of the different effects your accident has had on your life and will fight for you.
