The Impact of Psychological Injuries After an Accident
Not all injuries resulting from an accident are physical; psychological injuries occur as well. After any type of accident, it is well-known knowledge that individuals injured in a car accident qualify to seek compensation for their injuries.
But what if you suffered a psychological injury in an accident? You may qualify to receive compensation for this type of injury as well. Let’s discuss compensation for psychological injuries…
Don't lose out on your well-deserved restitution! Call our accident attorneys in Orlando at (888) 979-4941 or contact us online today.
What Is a Psychological Injury?
A psychological injury is a mental condition that sometimes occurs as a result of a traumatic event. The condition is often severe enough to impact an individual’s ability to perform routine tasks.
The types of traumatic events that give rise to psychological injuries usually occur at a time when the individual is unprepared and/or unaware, leaving them feeling a loss of control over their circumstances.
What Types of Trauma Can Result in Psychological Injury?
- Motor vehicle accidents in which the individual has suffered a traumatic injury or has witnessed someone else suffering a traumatic or even fatal injury
- Childhood sexual or physical abuse
- The sudden death of a loved one
- Violent crimes, such as assault or rape
- Nursing home neglect or abuse in which an elderly or infirm resident is subjected to mistreatment
- Product defects causing an individual injury
- Injury or worsening of an illness due to medical negligence (ex: misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis, injuries related to the birth process, wrong-way surgery, medication errors, or lack of adequate follow-up care)
What Are the Most Common Forms of Psychological Injuries?
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a psychological response to trauma that is characterized by hyper-vigilance, nightmares or flashbacks, and uncontrollable fear or anxiety. The symptoms of PTSD may show up immediately or months after a traumatic event. They may fade in time, depending on the severity and longevity of the traumatic event.
- Concussion: Caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head or body that causing damage to the brain. Concussions can result in long-term psychological injuries that include mood swings, difficulty remembering events, and fatigue. These may not appear immediately, but over time behavioral changes may occur in people who have experienced a blow to the head.
- Chronic pain: Chronic pain may seem like a physical injury, but even mild continual pain can lead to debilitating mental effects making it hard to focus thusly making the simplest task a challenge. This can lead to a sense of worthlessness or apathy over time.
After a traumatic event, it is within normal limits for people to experience feelings of fear, anger, and loss of control. However, there are instances where the symptomology of psychological injury worsens over time creating any number of challenges in completing average daily tasks.
It is imperative to receive treatment for psychological injuries as soon as you become aware of the effects they are having in your daily life. Some of the most effective treatments involve talk therapy and other more tactile treatments in order to learn new ways of coping.
Doctors may prescribe short-term medications to address emotional trauma, providing the individual with the ability to function more effectively, allowing them to recover from the trauma over time without re-traumatizing themselves with the guilt and shame associated with limitations.
As the symptoms of emotional trauma are often similar to or related to depression or anxiety, many of the same medications used to treat those conditions are also used for psychological injuries.
How To Obtain Compensation for a Psychological Injury
If you have suffered a psychological injury as a result of a traumatic physical injury or event that was caused by the reckless and careless actions of another person, you can likely obtain compensation for the expenses and impacts of your injury through a personal injury lawsuit.
The personal injury claims process allows an individual to recover both economic and non-economic damages following an injury.
To prove liability, you must show there was a breach in the duty of care by the at-fault party which caused your accident and physical/psychological injuries.
Duty of care is defined as a requirement that a person act toward others and the public with watchfulness, attention, caution, and prudence.
The fiscal amount you are able to receive due to injuries caused by the carelessness or intent of others is called damages.
Damages Consist of Various Elements…
The value of your case is determined by many factors. The financial expenses you have incurred or will likely incur due to your injury are added together to provide a total economic damage claim.
The more severe your injury, the higher your non-economic damage claim. The total of the economic damages is then added to the total of the non-economic damages to establish the value of your case.
Why Do I Need an Attorney? Isn’t That Kind of Stuff Just Obvious?
Psychological injuries are terrifying to experience and cause impacts not only to the sufferer but also to family members and any extended emotional support system.
If you have sustained injuries as the result of someone else’s careless behavior it is imperative to have an attorney by your side to navigate the labyrinth that is the personal injury arena. Failure to implore the assistance of an attorney may result in a lower yield on your return.
Legally Pink Law is a female-owned personal injury law firm in Orlando, FL. We are ready to support you in getting the highest yield for your injuries, be they physical or psychological. Call (888) 979-4941 or contact us online today!