When you get into an accident and you receive injuries because of that accident, you have a lot to deal with physically. You should not ignore the mental toll of everything that has happened to you. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, but mental health is much more likely to go undertreated.
Recognizing post-traumatic stress
First, every violent, painful experience can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.) There is even some evidence that you only need to be a witness, not a victim. Not everyone who lives through a terrifying experience does develop PTSD, but if you start to have such symptoms as:
- Powerful recurring memories of the accident
- Disturbing nightmares about your crash
- Highly distressing reactions to things that remind you of the accident
You may have PTSD. While there is some treatment for PTSD, it is a long-term situation, and you will want to speak with a medical professional for an official diagnosis.
You aren’t alone in this.
However, PTSD is a medical diagnosis that can be compensable as part of your non-economic “pain and suffering” damages.
Additionally, you may be able to get some compensation for the medical treatment you receive to manage your PTSD symptoms.
Get the help you need
Undiagnosed, ignored mental health issues stemming from traumatic experiences have a way of leading to a lot of pain later. If you need help, you should seek it out, and if it is partly caused by your accident, you can get significant treatment.
