In the aftermath of a serious car accident, there’s often a great focus on physical injuries, and understandably so. After all, a wreck can leave you with catastrophic, disabling injuries that impact your mobility, but even seemingly minor injuries can lead to long-lasting pain. While it’s certainly important to address these physical injuries both from a medical and a legal perspective, they’re not the only injuries that you’re likely to suffer.
Too little attention is paid to the psychological impact of a car accident. Yet, the ramifications of an accident can wreak havoc on your mental well-being. That’s why in this post we want to look at some ways that you can be psychologically harmed in a car accident so that you have a better understanding of the treatment you may need and the compensation you’ll want to seek from your personal injury lawsuit.
The psychological damage caused by a car accident
No two car accident victims are the same. Therefore, how a serious car accident impacts your mental health can vary. But here are some ways that your wreck could leave you with long-lasting psychological challenges:
- Anxiety: Your car accident is going to reshape your perception of the world. Thinking about how you’re going to live your normal life with your newfound injuries can leave you feeling stressed, nervous, and afraid. Those feelings can be amplified, too, when you get to the point of climbing behind the wheel again. This fear can invade every aspect of your life, too, leaving you nearly debilitated.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: A car accident is a traumatizing event. Your exposure to this frightening and dangerous situation can result in you suffering flashbacks, nightmares, overwhelming anxiety, and even changes to your personality and mood. You might become irritable, struggle to sleep, and have difficulty concentrating. Although treatable, PTSD often lasts for a significant period of time.
- Withdrawal: Some car accident victims feel guilty or ashamed of their accident and their injuries. This can be especially true when they contributed to the accident in some form. This social isolation can lead to mental health issues, sometimes as severe as the development of suicidal ideations.
There are several other mental health issues you can face as a car accident victim. You might suffer from panic attacks, develop feelings of hopelessness, and feel your energy drained. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, then now is the time to seek out the treatment that you need. Don’t downplay your symptoms or try to tough them out. It takes courage to seek out the care you need, so be brave in finding support for your mental health.
How a car accident personal injury lawsuit can play a role in your recovery
Sure, securing physical and mental health treatment can be costly, and a personal injury lawsuit might help you recover the funds needed to pay for that care, but legal action can also bring closure. Turning the page on this overwhelming, painful, and stressful time in your life can have a positive impact on your mental health and your recovery, which can be key to your overall health.
Securing the outcome you want may not be easy, and it might not be as quick as you hope. But by diligently working to gather evidence, assess the law, and develop persuasive legal arguments, you can maximize your chances of winning your case, finding accountability, and recovering the compensation you need. Hopefully then you can confidently move forward with the next chapter of your life stronger and healthier than before.