Understanding the Experience of PTSD Car Accident Victims

Going through a car accident is very difficult. Car accidents do not give rise to serious injuries and sometimes death only. They also have devastating psychological effects. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect car accident victims in varying degrees. Victims of car accidents are most likely to experience PTSD symptoms. However, most times PTSD car accident victims are not aware of their PTSD symptoms.

Understanding what PTSD is

PTSD is a psychological condition that affects people who went through a traumatic experience. The condition was often associated with soldiers given the harrowing experience of war. PTSD always follows through with an anxiety. The brain is unable to let go of the stressful traumatic event. Individuals with PTSD often recall and replay the trauma which in turn increases their anxiety.

Symptoms that PTSD car accident victims experience

Depending on the severity of the accident, victims suffer these symptoms at varying degrees.

• Intrusion: PTSD car accident victims experience recollections of the accident
• Numbing: victims keep distance from their surroundings. They experience depression, hopelessness or inability to feel anything at all.
• Avoidance: victims often avoid people, places and anything that was associated with the accident. This gives rise to social phobias, panic and anxiety.
• Arousal: victims with PTSD feel constantly alter. Constant alertness can lead to hyper-vigilance, sleep disturbance and paranoia.

PTSD car accident victims should realize that their symptoms may not occur right after the accident. PTSD is invisible and may be difficult to identify. That is why it is important to be aware of behavioral changes after an accident.

Motor Vehicle Accidents and PTSD

There is a lot of ongoing research on the relationship between car accidents and PTSD. Most have agreed that car accident survivors experience emotional distress in one form or another. One study found that traumatic events are most experienced by men than women, 25% and 13% respectively.

Recovering from PTSD car accident

After an accident, you will go to the doctor in case you sustained injuries. Following through with your doctor, you should inform him/her if you notice changes in your mental, emotional and psychological health. If you are a PTSD car accident victim, do not worry. There are many treatments available. Often, treatment involved therapy. There are many types of therapy. First, there is a type of psychological therapy that is designed to prevent the development of PTSD after a severe accident. Second, therapy sessions that address diagnosed PTSD victims. An example of that is cognitive behavioral therapy.

Legal rights of PTSD car accident victims

If you were in a car accident, and you were not at fault, you have the right to file a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit against the wrongful party helps you recover for your damages. These include your property damages, medical expenses (present and future) as well as emotional distress.

To learn more on how to recover for your damages after a car accident, call an experience car accident lawyer for a free consultation at 844-798-4878 today.