Few personal injuries do not just leave visible wounds and scars. They also result in anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems that can affect a victim for many years. Moreover, the psychological impact of injuries caused by someone else’s negligence has tangible effects on a person’s overall well-being. The effects can undermine relational health, earning potential, everyday functioning, and quality of life.
When calculating expenses associated with a claim, a personal injury attorney factors in psychological damages because of the negative toll someone else’s carelessness can have on the victim’s emotional health and well-being. Although not as quantifiable as physical injuries, psychological damages play a significant role in settling a case.
Adverse Effects of a Personal Injury
Many accident victims suffer crushing anxiety along with their physical injuries. While some amount of stress is normal after an accident, worrying about medical bills, getting back to work, or mentally reliving the trauma can only increase a person’s anxiety. The effects may worsen when a victim faces the prospect of navigating the legal process surrounding their personal injury claim.
Depression is another psychological effect of a personal injury, and it is quite common. Depression and anxiety are often two sides of the same coin. While a person may feel anxious about coping with the aftershock, they can also feel hopeless, helpless, and overwhelmed in response to the physical and emotional pain they are experiencing. Also, depression can interfere with work, relationships, and everyday functioning.
Personal injury can also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially if the accident was harrowing or life-threatening. People with PTSD can suffer flashbacks and nightmares triggered by their accidents and injuries. They might also avoid places, situations, people, or other stimuli that spark memories of the disturbing incident.
A Personal Injury Settlement Should Include Psychological Damages
Psychological impacts of personal injuries do not always appear immediately. It may take a while for the symptoms to become noticeable. If you are a personal injury victim, do not be tempted to accept an early settlement offer immediately. At the very least, wait until you have worked with a local personal injury attorney to assess all the damages you incurred resulting from the accident. Regardless of when the symptoms appear, a competent attorney will factor in psychological damages or pain and suffering as part of the total settlement amount.
If you have experienced severe emotional distress because of someone’s carelessness, collecting psychological damages is essential, and it is your right. That portion of the settlement can go toward seeking mental health care as part of your recovery. There are many counselors and psychologists who can help you acknowledge your pain and heal from your emotional trauma. Also, if you suffer from PTSD, depression, or another mental health disorder, a professional can diagnose your condition and get you the treatment you need.
Personal Injury Attorneys in the Tri-State Area Take Psychological Damages Seriously
It is important to get the help you need to cope with the emotional distress resulting from a personal injury. The lawyers at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, LPA, Co., take psychological damages very seriously. They regularly work with mental health professionals in the area to determine the extent of emotional and mental impacts on accident victims.
You deserve compensation for the mental pain and suffering that you have endured. Your attorney will defend your rights and fight to get you the necessary compensation.