Compensation for PTSD After an Arizona Car Accident
Have you been experiencing upsetting symptoms after surviving a car accident in Arizona? If you’ve been having flashbacks or recurring dreams about what happened, avoiding the place where the accident occurred, or having trouble falling asleep, then you may be suffering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A car accident is a traumatic event that can trigger PTSD symptoms in many survivors. If you’re suffering from emotional distress after an accident, you should seek the help of a mental health professional as soon as possible.
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What Is PTSD?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem that many people develop after experiencing or witnessing a dangerous or scary event. People usually suffer some emotional distress after a traumatic event, but this distress becomes PTSD when it continues to interfere with their relationships or work over time.
Why do some people develop PTSD while others do not? Risk factors for developing PTSD include:
- Lack of social support after the accident
- History of mental health problems
- Childhood history of previous traumatic events
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?
The NIMH lists four categories of symptoms for PTSD:
- Re-experiencing symptoms, like flashbacks and upsetting dreams
- Avoidance symptoms, including staying away from the place where the accident occurred
- Arousal and reactivity symptoms, such as insomnia, trouble concentrating, or irritability
- Cognition and mood symptoms, like feeling isolated or losing interest in favorite activities
Some of these symptoms may vary based on the specific details of the event that triggered your PTSD. For instance, if you developed PTSD as a result of a car accident, you may find yourself avoiding driving or riding in cars at all.
To get a diagnosis of PTSD, you must display at least one re-experiencing symptom and one avoidance symptom, along with two arousal and reactivity symptoms and two cognition and mood symptoms, for at least one month.
How Long Can PTSD Last After a Car Accident?
According to the NIMH, PTSD symptoms usually emerge within three months of a traumatic event such as a car accident. They can last a year or longer before resolving. If untreated, PTSD symptoms can last for many years and, in some cases, even for the rest of a person’s life. If you’re suffering emotional distress that’s interfering with your work, relationships, or life after a car accident in Arizona, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Get the help you need and pursue compensation for your pain and suffering.
How Do You Prove PTSD in a Car Accident Case?
Proving PTSD in a car accident case can be challenging. It’s usually harder to quantify the harm you’ve suffered from a mental health condition than from a physical injury because it is not easily visible. The insurance company won’t want to pay the claim if they can avoid it. They will most likely try to deny that you have PTSD or that the condition was caused by the accident.
So how can you go about proving PTSD in a car accident case? First, don’t settle too quickly after an accident. The insurance company may make you an offer before you fully understand how the crash has affected you. Hold off, seek medical and mental health attention, and get a lawyer’s opinion before you agree to a settlement.
To prove PTSD after a car accident:
- Seek the help of a skilled Arizona car accident lawyer.
- Ask a mental health professional to check you for the symptoms of PTSD. To file a claim with the insurance company, you must have an official diagnosis.
- Ask your therapist to confirm that the accident was the cause of your PTSD.
- Keep a journal documenting what you have been experiencing and the effects the PTSD has on your life.
Once you have an official diagnosis of PTSD, you can treat the condition with a combination of therapy, medication, and good self-care practices. Your attorney can help you pursue compensation for pain and suffering to cover the cost of your recovery.
What Factors Can Affect a PTSD Claim After a Car Crash?
Every PTSD case is different, so it’s difficult to predict how much compensation you might receive after a car crash in Arizona. Several different factors can affect compensation amounts, including:
- How extreme your PTSD symptoms are and what your prognosis is
- The extent to which your symptoms impact your daily life and relationships
- The severity of your physical injuries from the car accident
- Whether you are partially liable for the accident
- Whether you had any pre-existing mental health conditions
These factors can all complicate your PTSD case, which is one reason why it’s difficult to assess your possible compensation ahead of time.
Contact an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer
The first thing you should do after seeking medical attention for a collision is contact an Arizona car accident lawyer to manage your PTSD case. We will speak with you about your situation, listen compassionately to what you have to say, and give you the honest and straightforward guidance you need. If it turns out that you do have PTSD, we will help you file a claim against the other driver to pursue compensation for your pain and suffering.
You shouldn’t have to face the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder alone. At Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., we have more than 50 years of combined legal experience to dedicate to your claim. We will pursue your PTSD claim with the personal attention of a small legal firm and the resources of a large one. Contact us today to get started with an initial consultation.
Visit Our Arizona Car Accident Law Offices
About the Author
Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive…
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