Whenever you are involved in a car accident, you are sure to experience a lot of physical pain. You are likely to have multiple doctor’s appointments and you are certain to miss time off of work. Psychological problems are also common after a crash.
A person will often go into shock right after an accident. They may experience anger, nervousness, or worry. They may even have trouble accepting that what happened is real.
People who are involved in or see a frightening event will often experience Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. If you have been in an accident and you are not coping with it well emotionally, it can be helpful to know how to assess PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD
Once known as “Shell Shock,” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has four basic symptoms. If you have any of them, you should see a professional psychotherapist or psychiatrist for a diagnosis.
Intrusive Thoughts
An accident victim may find themselves reliving the incident over and over again. It may be triggered by any number of things. They may experience flashbacks in which they behave as though the traumatic incident is happening again.
Emotional Numbness and Avoidance
Some people react to PTSD by becoming unfeeling and dead inside. They may avoid things that they used to enjoy in order to avoid being around people. They may also steer clear of going to places that they used to enjoy because it reminds them of the trauma that they have experienced.
Disturbing Dreams
A person with PTSD may have reoccurring nightmares in which they relive a traumatic experience. They may also have dreams that evoke the same feelings as the traumatic event.
Increased Arousal
A person with PTSD may suffer from insomnia. They may not be able to sit still and they may be irritable. A person with PTSD may also have problems concentrating on work or school.
Getting Compensation for Injuries and PTSD
If you are injured in an accident you should always call the police and wait at the scene for an officer to arrive. You should take pictures and get the names of witnesses if you can. Go to the doctor as soon as you can and save every medical bill you have. Save the receipts for medications and make sure to get a letter from your employer stating any hours that you have missed from work.
If you have PTSD you should ask your mental health professional to write a detailed diagnosis for you. In addition to saving the receipts for the visits, your therapist should be able to provide you with an estimate of how much future therapy might cost.
There are two different kinds of insurance rules in the United States; fault and no-fault. If you live in a fault state, the driver who caused the accident will be responsible for its associated bills. If you live in a no-fault state, your own insurance company will pay the bill no matter who was responsible for the collision.
New York is a no-fault state and insurance companies can be tight-fisted when it comes to settling on claims. They may try to get out of paying bills for something that is difficult to prove such as PTSD. It is important to have a trained attorney on your side who can negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf.
Choosing an Attorney
Car accident lawyer help is abundant in New York, but not all attorneys are of the same quality. The firm you choose should have an excellent reputation with the state bar and a staff that is dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve.
It can be hard to admit that you are having psychological problems, but PTSD is a medical condition like any other. The first step to mental wellness is to ask for the help you need.
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