PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from Car Accidents

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, refers to the anxiety that can result from a traumatic event. People often associate PTSD with men and women in the military who risk their lives for our country and may witness a distressing event. However, many are unaware that symptoms of the condition often resonate in victims of car accidents. If you suffer from PTSD after a crash, contact a Rhode Island car accident lawyer at Tapalian Law. Although PTSD is not a physical injury, you may still be entitled to compensation for your psychiatric treatment, and pain and suffering. At Tapalian Law, our personal injury team understands that post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious injury and should be treated as such.

Symptoms of PTSD After a Car Accident

Research shows that an estimated 9% of people who survive a motor vehicle accident will develop PTSD. The rate is higher for those with certain pre-existing risk-factors. The most common symptoms of PTSD after a car accident include:

• Reliving the traumatic car crash through flashbacks and nightmares. This includes dark thoughts about what you could have done to prevent the collision, even if the accident was not your fault.
• Avoidance of anyone/anything that reminds you of the car accident. Meeting people that resemble the other driver in your accident, or seeing the same model of a car that hit you may be triggering.
• Difficulty sleeping, limited concentration, and feeling jumpy or easily irritated. After a car crash, you may feel detached or estranged from others, even your loved ones.
• Physical manifestations of symptoms like night sweats, inability to sleep, tremors, and nighttime urination. Physical symptoms are nothing to be ashamed of, and physical evidence can be more viable proof than emotional symptoms when it comes to seeking liability in a personal injury claim.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms after an accident, seek medical treatment immediately. Rhode Island Car Accident Attorney David Tapalian helps accident victims who suffer from PTSD and can refer you to trusted medical experts in the Rhode Island area that are experienced with both physical and emotional car crash injuries. Left untreated, PTSD can become a chronic problem that causes you to suffer unnecessarily and relive the terrifying events of a traumatic event every day. Some common treatments prescribed for PTSD after a car accident include behavioral or cognitive therapy, medication, and psychiatric therapy.

What to Do if You Suffer PTSD After a Motor Vehicle Crash

When a catastrophic car accident puts your life in jeopardy, you may suffer from anxiety long after your physical injuries heal. If you suffer from PTSD after a car crash, it’s important to seek professional help. Even months after an accident, when you physically look normal, you may continue to relive the event and feel unprepared to return to your regular life. Recovering from a traumatic event is stressful, and you may be afraid to treat your post-traumatic stress disorder due to the expense of psychiatric treatment. However, timely treatment is vital to your recovery and by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your treatment as well as the emotional distress that you have to endure. The Rhode Island car accident lawyers at Tapalian Law can help you seek compensation for your losses after an accident, including treatment for PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very serious car accident injury and can affect your ability to work, perform basic tasks, and even enjoy life. It may even have a more detrimental effect to your health than a broken bone or neck injury due to the emotional stress that takes a toll on your well-being. It can also have a damaging effect on the person’s family, especially young children, who bear witness to the stress and anxiety it causes their parent or loved one.

No one should have to endure the emotional shock of PTSD as well as the stress of how to pay for medical help to treat the condition. By seeking compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim, you may receive money for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the cost of future treatment necessary to treat the condition. Let the RI injury law experts at Tapalian Law remove some of stress from your situation. Attorney David Tapalian has over 20 years of experience helping victims in Rhode Island recover losses from their auto accident injuries and will aggressively fight to get you justice.

Contact Tapalian Law in RI for a Free Consultation

If you experience PTSD from an auto accident, an experienced attorney can advise you on how to proceed with a personal injury claim. Filing such a claim for a car accident can be complicated and many cases take months to settle. To ensure that you have the strongest legal representation on your side, consult with a Rhode Island car accident attorney experienced with helping accident victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. With offices in Providence, Warwick, and Seekonk, MA, Tapalian Law is easily accessible for anyone in the Rhode Island area and our dedicated team of personal injury professionals will help create a legal plan to strengthen your claim. David Tapalian will personally guide you through the steps to receive the compensation you deserve and handle all insurance negotiations, so you can focus on getting better. Call Tapalian Law at 401-552-5000 or contact us online today.