Although the fact car accidents are relatively common occurrences, few people are ever fully prepared for them. No matter how small the collision, a crash can be jarring, terrifying, and disorienting. After an accident, most people focus on the physical injuries people might have sustained, such as whiplash or broken bones. However, these aren’t the only potential injuries that could occur after a car accident.
Mental and emotional health still isn’t taken as seriously by the general public as it should be, although the attitude toward this type of treatment has improved over the past few decades. Because of this tendency to dismiss the emotional or mental repercussions of people in general, few consider the trauma of the collision itself, even the individuals who experience the accident.
Emotional distress after any traumatic event should be expected. Symptoms of this distress could include anxiety, mood swings, crying, fear, feelings of anguish, feelings of humiliation, sleep issues, appetite loss, and depression. These symptoms can also affect an individual’s day-to-day life and could cause problems at work, at school, or at home. Some can sustain such severe emotional damage they are too fearful to get back into another car, something severely limiting in a city with few options for public transportation.
Occasionally, a car accident could cause a more severe issue called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although this condition is usually connected to people who have returned from active military duty, it can also develop in ordinary citizens after any type of traumatic event. Car accidents, especially dangerous or violent ones, can be traumatizing enough to trigger episodes of PTSD for months or years to come. According to research done by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, around 9% of car accident survivors later suffer from PTSD as a result. Symptoms of PTSD after a car accident can include the following:
- Recurring, intense, and involuntary memories of the accident
- Flashbacks resulting in periods of “blackout”
- Terrifying nightmares/ trouble sleeping
- Avoidance of anything that reminds them of the event
- Intense emotional or physical distress after encountering a remainder
- Depression
- Withdrawal from society
- Self-harm
In order to recover from PTSD, people will often need regular therapy for as long as needed to improve. They may also require medications and other aids to help them return to daily life. This treatment could be expensive, as it could last for years.
If your car accident was caused by the negligence or carelessness of another driver, make sure to seek compensation for these rehabilitation costs. Our skilled San Jose car accident attorneys can help. Habbas & Associates is a firm with more than 200 years of combined legal experience. We are dedicated to helping the victims of negligence seek compensation for their injury. Over the course of our history, we have recovered more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Let us provide the compassionate and skilled guidance you and your family deserve.
Contact us at (888) 387-4053 or fill out our online form to schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation with us today. We look forward to speaking with you.
