• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

  • Whiplash
    • What is Whiplash?
    • How Long Does Whiplash Last?
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
    • Exercises
    • Physiotherapy
    • Surgery
  • Compensation
  • Car Accident
    • What to Do When You Get in a Car Accident
    • The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
    • Wrong Way Car Crash
    • Why Hire a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer?
    • Injuries
      • Brain Injury
      • Delayed Injuries
      • Head Injury
      • Leg Injury
    • T-Bone Accident
    • Uninsured Motorist
    • Who Pays My Medical Bills?
  • Whiplash St. Louis Blog

Can PTSD Be Caused by a Car Accident?

December 9, 2020 by Christopher

Ignoring worrying signs and changes in your emotional state can affect your life for years to come. 

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be more complicated than you expected. Besides suffering from property damage or personal injuries, you might be affected emotionally and mentally by such trauma. Many car accident victims have PTSD, a condition previously thought of being an exclusively military problem. 

The problem with PTSD is that its symptoms generally don’t appear right away. So, can you link it to your car accident and collect benefits? 

PTSD

What Is PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder triggered by a traumatic event that endangered the victim, putting them at risk of death or catastrophic injury. Symptoms of PTSD after such an event include: 

  • Re-living the event over and over
  • Avoiding triggers or situations that might be similar to the event
  • Emotional numbness and unresponsiveness
  • Physical manifestations like insomnia, irritability, mood changes, and so on 

It’s easy to understand how PTSD can dramatically affect one’s quality of life since it can be hard to control, and it’s so intense in its manifestations. It can also be hard to diagnose, especially if the victim needs some time to acknowledge the symptoms and connect them to the car accident.

Is It Difficult to Include PTSD in Your Car Accident Claim?

If you need compensation for your PTSD following a car accident, it’s crucial to provide evidence to support the diagnosis and its connection to the car accident. 

You should mention any emotional distress to the doctor you will see after the accident and follow their recommendation if they refer you to a specialist. Describe your symptoms to your doctors in detail and avoid exaggerating them or making them seem less than they are. 

Keeping a diary of your PTSD episodes is also very helpful, as it will prove how your life has been affected by the car accident. Avoid being too subjective in your diary entries and describe the signs you feel with accuracy. 

Based on such evidence, your St. Louis car accident attorney can make a case that your quality of life has been greatly diminished by PTSD and the other damages you have suffered. It might be included in the “pain and suffering” category or treated separately. What’s important to remember is that mental health is crucial and should undoubtedly be addressed by any victim. Ignoring worrying signs and changes in your emotional state can affect your life for years to come. 

How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Get Compensated for Your PTSD

To ensure your claim will bring you fair compensation, speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who has dealt with PTSD cases before. They can guide you and build a strong case to support your claim, and you can start putting the ordeal behind you.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Related Posts:

  • St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
    St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
  • When to Get a Lawyer in a St. Louis Car Accident
    When to Get a Lawyer in a St. Louis Car Accident
  • Pre Existing Injury Aggravated in Car Accident
    Pre Existing Injury Aggravated in Car Accident
  • When Is It Too Late to Hire a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney?
    When Is It Too Late to Hire a St. Louis Car Accident…
  • How to Obtain Compensation for a Soft Tissue Injury
    How to Obtain Compensation for a Soft Tissue Injury
  • Signs of PTSD After a Car Wreck
    Signs of PTSD After a Car Wreck

Filed Under: Whiplash St. Louis Blog Tagged With: ptsd

Footer

The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C.
130 S Bemiston Ave # 603
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 361-4242

Free Consultation Request

    RSS Car Accident Lawyer & Auto Accident Attorney St. Louis

    • Yellow Light Accident Lawyer St. Louis
    • How Cold Weather Can Increase Your Risk of a St. Louis Car Accident
    • Receiving Medical Care After a Car Accident
    • 3 Common Brain Injuries That Occur in Car Accidents 
    • St. Louis Pile-Up Car Accident Lawyer
    • St. Louis Car Accident Cause by Failing to Use Turn Signals
    • Can Car Safety Features Cause Accidents and Injuries?
    • 5 Face Injuries Common in Car Accidents
    • 3 Types of Evidence to Prove a Drowsy Driver Caused Your St. Louis Car Accident
    • Leg Injuries from Car Accidents

    Copyright © 2023 The Hoffmann Law Firm L.L.C.
    The images included on this site are not actual attorneys, events, or clients. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Attorney Chris Hoffmann handles car and truck accident claims throughout Eastern Missouri and Western Illinois. He represents injured clients in St. Louis, St. Charles, St. Peters, Clayton, East St. Louis, Alton, Hillsboro and Belleville, and other cities in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson Country, MO, and St. Clair County and Madison County, IL.