Can You Get PTSD from a Car Accident?

If you’re wondering, “can you get PTSD from a car accident?”—the answer is yes. Motor vehicle accident post-traumatic stress disorder (MVA-related PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing trauma, like serious road traffic accidents. Not everyone will develop it, but recognizing the signs early and seeking help is important.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle collision caused by someone else’s negligence and are suffering from PTSD, the experienced car accident attorneys at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, are here to help.

Can You Get PTSD from a Car Accident? More Insights From Andrew Kryder, Esq.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing some kind of traumatic event. This serious mental trauma, producing emotional symptoms, can include an auto accident, military combat, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or sexual violence. For some people, the trauma may be ongoing (such as in cases of child abuse).

How Large Is the Problem in the U.S.?

Según el Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos de EE.UU., la mayoría de las personas que sufren un accidente o acontecimiento traumático tienen pocas probabilidades de desarrollar un TEPT. Se calcula que alrededor del 6% de los estadounidenses padecerán este trastorno en algún momento de su vida.

¿Qué tan pronto después de accidentes de vehículos de motor pueden las víctimas experimentar TEPT?

Un profesional de la salud mental puede diagnosticar síntomas de TEPT por accidente de coche pocas semanas o meses después de sufrir lesiones graves o un incidente traumático.

How Is PTSD Diagnosed After a Traumatic Event like a Car Crash?

El TEPT es diagnosticado por profesionales de la salud mental que realizan entrevistas en profundidad y evaluaciones, centrándose en criterios específicos definidos en el DSM-5(Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales).

5 Common Symptoms of PTSD After a Car Accident

According to Mayo Clinic, five common symptoms of PTSD after a car accident include:

1. Flashbacks y pesadillas

A hallmark PTSD symptom following a car accident is recurring nightmares and flashbacks, even when awake, causing victims to repeatedly experience the emotional trauma.

2. Comportamiento de evitación

PTSD sufferers often try to avoid anything that reminds them of their traumatic experience. In the case of car crashes, many car accident victims experiencing PTSD may avoid driving, riding in a car, or even discussing the incident.

3. Hiperactivación

La hiperactivación en el TEPT es un estado constante de ansiedad y nerviosismo. Es una mayor sensación de peligro tras un accidente, que provoca irritabilidad, dificultades de concentración y una mayor respuesta de sobresalto.

4. Adormecimiento emocional

El adormecimiento emocional, un síntoma prevalente del TEPT, deja a los individuos desconectados de sus sentimientos, reduciendo el placer, induciendo a la desesperanza y afectando negativamente a las relaciones personales.

5. 5. Ansiedad y depresión

PTSD can disrupt daily life and create anxiety and depression, resulting in constant edginess, panic attacks, sleep disturbances (preventing a good night’s sleep), a looming sense of doom, sadness, hopelessness, intrusive thoughts, and a dwindling interest in activities once enjoyed.

¿Qué opciones de tratamiento existen para el TEPT?

Once a physician reviews your mental health, they will recommend various therapies to help your healing process, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Cognitive processing therapy
• Terapia de exposición prolongada
• Entrenamiento en inoculación de estrés
• Terapia de grupo
• Desensibilización y reprocesamiento por movimientos oculares (EMDR)

Apart from these cognitive therapy treatments, your doctor or therapist may also give you a prescription to manage some symptoms. For example, anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed, depending on the severity of your condition.

Coping with PTSD After a Car Accident

Aunque es imposible borrar los recuerdos traumáticos o la experiencia de un accidente de coche, hay formas de afrontar el TEPT y controlar sus síntomas.

Some helpful coping strategies following psychological trauma include:

• Therapy—seek professional help from a therapist who can help with appropriate psychological treatments.
• Manage PTSD triggers—recognize and avoid situations, places, or people that cause flashbacks or anxiety.
• Join a support group—connecting with others with similar experiences can help in managing PTSD.
• Relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can reduce anxiety and promote calmness.
• Stay healthy—exercise, a balanced diet, and enough sleep are key to managing PTSD symptoms.
• Contact a car accident attorney—if your PTSD is caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation.

Can I Seek Compensation for PTSD After a Car Accident?

When you develop PTSD after a motor vehicle accident, it can make your life less enjoyable and affect your relationships. It can also interfere with your concentration and productivity. Filing a claim for damages for a personal injury when your accident was caused by the negligence of someone else can compensate you for the impact on your mental health.

¿Qué pruebas necesita mi abogado de accidentes de tráfico?

To prove someone else was responsible for the crash, you can use evidence such as photos of vehicle damage, images of your injuries, police reports, and witness testimonies.

Once liability is proven, you must demonstrate that the event caused your PTSD. This can be supported with medical reports and receipts for treatment.

Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, for Help

Our law firm The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, is committed to ensuring you get the compensation you deserve to aid your recovery process after a serious car accident. Our experienced team understands the emotional distress that comes with PTSD after a car accident, and we work tirelessly on your behalf.

Creemos que los supervivientes de accidentes de tráfico no deberían tener que soportar la carga financiera de tratamientos y terapias de TEPT por una afección que ellos no causaron.

Llámenos para una evaluación gratuita de su caso

Durante una consulta gratuita, un abogado con experiencia en accidentes de coche revisará los detalles de su caso para determinar la viabilidad de su reclamo. Trabajamos en base a honorarios de contingencia. Esto significa que sólo nos pagan si ganamos su caso o asegurar un acuerdo.