Can I Get Compensation for Mental Health Treatment After a Car Accident?

 Posted on March 12, 2021 in Car Accident

When we think about car crash injury claims, most people picture broken bones and other physical injuries. However, not every injury that a car accident victim suffers is physical in nature. The emotional, mental, and psychological effects of a serious car accident can be profound. Many car accident victims are left with psychological symptoms that interfere with their ability to work and complete everyday responsibilities like maintaining their home or caring for children. If you have suffered psychological or mental health problems because of a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.  

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Other Mental Health Conditions

Anyone who has been involved in a serious auto collision can tell you how terrifying the ordeal can be. The psychological effects of a car crash are often especially severe if the victim feared for his or her life or witnessed other victims’ deaths. Car crashes are the leading causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD after a car crash is often characterized by:

• Fear of driving
• Nightmares and flashbacks of the collision
• Insomnia, hypersomnia, or other sleep disturbances
• Depression and lack of motivation
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Inability to concentrate
• Mood swings

Depression, anxiety, panic disorders, and other mental health conditions may also be caused or aggravated by a car accident.

Proving the Validity of Psychological Symptoms After a Car Accident

If you have suffered psychological consequences or mental health problems because of a car crash, you may be able to get compensation for your therapy costs, medication, and other medical bills. You may also be compensated for the mental anguish and emotional suffering you have experienced.

Unlike a traumatic brain injury or herniated disc, mental health conditions are often invisible to others. This can make proving your mental and psychological harm in a personal injury case especially difficult. Personal injury attorneys often utilize expert testimony or statements from mental health specialists to demonstrate the psychological impact the car accident had on the victim. Statements from friends and loved ones may also be used to confirm how a car crash affected the victim.

Contact an Arlington Heights Car Accident Lawyer

If you were the victim of a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for medical and psychological treatment. You may also be entitled to compensation for lost income, reduced earning potential, pain and suffering, and other damages. A Rolling Meadows personal injury attorney can help. Call Newland & Newland, LLP at 847-797-8000 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.verywellmind.com/risk-factors-for-ptsd-following-a-traffic-accident-2797197

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-are-symptoms-ptsd