Car crashes can be just as psychologically damaging as they can be physically harmful. Most people only think of the physical injuries and property damage resulting from a car accident, but accident victims know the enormous emotional trauma that collisions can bring.
If you experienced adverse psychological effects after being involved in a car wreck, you can seek financial compensation for emotional distress by filing a personal injury claim in Texas. A qualified personal injury lawyer in Houston at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD can help you prove this intangible loss.
Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress Following a Houston Car Accident
A car crash can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved, particularly for those who suffer serious injuries or watched loved ones die in a catastrophic collision. A car wreck can take seconds and still leave accident victims suffering from serious injuries and other damages. The accident itself can potentially contribute to psychological impacts, including anxiety about riding in a car, nightmares, and flashbacks.
If you were seriously injured in a car accident in Houston, your injuries may also contribute to emotional distress or mental anguish, including long-term injury and lost enjoyment of life. For some, the psychological impacts of surviving a car crash can be substantial enough to cause a diagnosable condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a psychological condition that occurs in people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. It is typically diagnosed among veterans who have been in war and combat zones, as well as survivors of sexual abuse. A car accident survivor may suffer PTSD if what he or she saw, felt, or experienced in the accident was traumatic enough to result in long-term mental distress.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that PTSD occurs in nearly 7% of the population, meaning around eight million adults have PTSD across the country. PTSD can come with many different symptoms for a car crash survivor, including the following:
- Fear or anxiety, especially about cars or driving
- Avoidance of anything that reminds the person of the accident
- Emotional and physical reactions to triggers
- Mood swings or personality changes
- Depression and withdrawal from others
- Nightmares or trouble sleeping
- Flashbacks (involuntary memories of the car crash)
- Suicidal thoughts or actions/self-harm
PTSD is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions following a car crash. Other common diagnoses include depression and anxiety. Emotional, mental, and psychological conditions following a collision can have a meaningful impact on a victim’s life. The accident victim may be unable to return to his or her normal life or job after being involved in a car accident. The victim may require psychological therapy or counseling. Nothing can completely remedy the immense trauma associated with a car crash, but a victim in Texas may be entitled to financial compensation to help cover bills and become whole again after an accident.
Compensation for Emotional Distress
You can recover financial compensation for emotional distress and psychological trauma following a car accident in Texas. If you experience any signs of emotional distress, including loss of enjoyment, mood swings, stress or anxiety, depression, nightmares, or phobias, you can seek compensation for emotional injuries with your car accident claim. You can potentially recover compensation for the following non-economic damages:
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Inconvenience or embarrassment
- Phobias or anxiety
- Psychological trauma
- Grief or bereavement
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Lost quality of life
- Loss of consortium
These will be considered as pain and suffering damages, for which you may recover a monetary award. However, this is only if you can prove the existence of emotional distress. You should work with an attorney immediately for a car accident claim involving psychological trauma to maximize your chance of a successful claim.
Houston Car Crash Attorneys
The team of Houston car wreck lawyers at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD can help you recover after being unfairly injured by a reckless driver. Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD, Nader A. Rabie, JD, and the rest of our team of experienced attorneys have over 14 years of combined experience, and we have the resources to pursue all possible avenues of compensation. Give us a call today at 713-840-7200 to discuss your case and see what we can do for you.
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