Georgia Injury Law Blog
The term “PTSD” or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is typically associated with veterans returning from combat duty. However, the vast majority of Americans who suffer from PTSD attribute the symptoms to non-combat causes. In fact, statistics indicate that as many as a quarter of all Americans have experienced some degree of PTSD after a car or truck accident.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that typically arises after a person has been involved in a frightening or life-threatening situations such as catastrophic car and truck accidents, train accidents, plane crashes, or natural disasters. Being involved in any of these can trigger PTSD. Victims of robberies, rapes, shootings or other crimes may also suffer from mental trauma that can severely impede their ability to lead a normal life.
Truck accidents are very common in the Atlanta and North Georgia area. We see them all the time on the highways. These accidents are typically devastating and very serious. They often involve loss of life, and are very likely to cause serious injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. All of these factors combined can cause serious mental or emotional trauma which can manifest itself in symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Talk to an Atlanta truck accident attorney about claiming damages after a big-rig accident to see how you can recover in a claim for emotional distress.
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may not begin immediately after the accident. Sometimes, these appear weeks after the life-threatening event has occurred. When you consult with a doctor, be sure to mention any emotional or mental symptoms you may be suffering from. This includes anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks of the incident, feelings of hopelessness and other symptoms. These are early signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional for treatment of your condition.
Some amount of anxiety and depression is normal after an accident. However, if the symptoms continue to persist for a month or more after the event, you should seek help. Don’t simply assume that the anxiety and nightmares will go away on their own. If your mental health professional has prescribed medication for your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, be sure to take these regularly. If he recommends cognitive behavioral therapy, counselling or prolonged exposure therapy, make sure you take his advice. And if you have hired an attorney to represent you in your claim, make sure that your lawyer knows that you are undergoing treatment for your condition.
Suffering from PTSD can also cause you economic damages. Persons who suffer from PTSD admit to feeling like they are constantly alert and on guard. The slightest noise can trigger panic. These types of symptoms can make it difficult for a person to work and function normally.
A diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be challenging to obtain, but is critical to your recovery of damages for this stressful and debilitating mental condition. It’s important not to ignore any mental symptoms that you may experience after an accident but to make a note of these and consult your doctor. Remember, your insurer will try to prove that your symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are imaginary, thereby attempting to limit your damages.
If you have recently suffered a truck accident, and are suffering symptoms of anxiety, sleeplessness, fatigue, flashbacks, severe nightmares or other symptoms, get help from a mental health professional. Consult with an Atlanta truck accident attorney at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers about how you can add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to your claim for damages.