PTSD is characterized by many different symptoms, including anxiety, flashbacks to the event, nightmares and sleep terrors, and negative changes in thinking and mood.
If you’re looking to get help from a St. Louis car accident lawyer after you’ve been involved in a car wreck in St. Louis, you may be wondering if you can be compensated for the stress caused by your injuries and traumatic experience.
What Is PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition that’s typically caused by a person experiencing or even just observing a seriously traumatic and stressful event.
This disorder is characterized by many different symptoms, including anxiety, flashbacks to the event, nightmares and sleep terrors, and negative changes in thinking and mood that are similar to depression. PTSD affects about 3.5% of the population at any given time, and it’s estimated that about 1 in 11 people will experience PTSD at some point in their life.
Can a Car Accident Cause PTSD?
A car accident in St. Louis can definitely cause PTSD, particularly if you are seriously injured, or you witness one of your family members or close friends being injured or even killed due to a collision.
As a matter of fact, car accidents are a leading cause of PTSD among the general population. If you or a family member has been involved in a serious accident, you should definitely seek the help of an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney to get the compensation you deserve.
Can I Get Compensation for PTSD and Mental Health Issues Caused by a Car Accident?
Yes. Typically, compensation for PTSD and other mental health issues and trauma are awarded to you as part of your “general compensation” package after a car accident.
However, it can be more difficult to prove PTSD than it is to prove a serious physical injury, such as a broken bone or whiplash. You must definitively prove your diagnosis, usually with the help of a mental health professional, and prove that the PTSD was caused directly by the car accident.
Mental and psychological damage is more difficult to prove in a court of law, so you will benefit greatly from the help of an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Speak With an Experienced Lawyer ASAP
If you or your loved ones are experiencing significant psychological trauma after a serious car accident in St. Louis, get help from a lawyer right away. An experienced St. Louis car accident attorney can help you get the compensation you are legally entitled to and protect you from the tactics insurance companies used to minimize your claim.
