The Emotional Impact of Car Accidents
While the physical injuries and financial impact of a car accident can be life-altering, among the most difficult consequences of all is the emotional trauma these experiences can cause. This trauma can linger long after the physical wounds have healed if the victim doesn’t receive the support and treatment they need.
Protecting your mental health after a crash requires an understanding of the emotional impact of car accidents, how those impacts might present themselves, and your legal options for seeking justice and fair compensation for the psychological harm you’ve endured.
The Emotional Consequences of a Car Accident
Being injured in a car crash can turn your world upside down. Even relatively minor collisions can trigger intense, lasting emotional reactions that interfere with your relationships, job, daily life, and overall well-being. Here are some of the conditions that car accident trauma can cause:
Anxiety
Experiencing generalized anxiety after car accidents is common. Being injured in a crash can result in excessive worry, difficulty concentrating, a racing heart, and a lasting fear of driving. Sufferers may withdraw socially and avoid any situations that might trigger their anxiety.
Acute Stress Disorder
The intense shock to the system that car accident trauma can cause may result in an acute stress disorder. This condition is characterized by difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, irritability, chest pain, nausea, and headaches.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
People experience symptoms of PTSD after auto accidents fairly frequently, especially ones that were particularly devastating and resulted in severe injuries. PTSD is a serious condition that can cause flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, and avoidance behavior.
Depression
Car accident victims can fall into varying levels of depression due to the negative impact their injuries have on their daily lives. Oftentimes, the financial distress caused by the accident compounds these issues and worsens the depression.
Survivor’s Guilt
Making it out of an accident less injured or alive when others were either badly hurt or lost their lives can be difficult for many to face. This condition is known as “survivor’s guilt,” and it can have a profound psychological impact on the daily life of those who suffer from it.
Signs of Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident
The emotional impact of car accidents manifests itself in many different conditions, each presenting in various ways. Some of the most common signs of car accident trauma include:
- Mood swings
- Nightmares
- Sleep difficulties
- Panic attacks
- Avoidant behavior
- Withdrawal from social situations
- Difficulty concentrating
- Crying spells
- Feelings of helplessness
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, there are ways to heal and reclaim your life. However, it’s crucial to seek help from a mental health professional. It’s also essential to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney to explore any available legal options that might help you receive the support you need.
When You Can Seek Compensation for Emotional Distress After a Collision in New York
Emotional distress is not only a legitimate form of personal injury compensation – it’s also one of the most significant parts of most settlements or verdicts. But not every car accident victim is able to recover compensation for their emotional distress.
After a car accident in New York, you typically must first file a claim under your no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Unfortunately, PIP only provides compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages, not emotional distress. However, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver if your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold. In that case, you can pursue compensation for your emotional distress.
To qualify as serious, injuries must cause at least one of the following:
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- Bone fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of the use of a bodily organ, member, function, or system
- Severe permanent limitations in the use of a bodily organ or member
- Significant limitations in the use of a bodily system or function
- Not being able to perform your usual activities for at least 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the crash
Determining whether or not you have a valid claim for emotional distress compensation can be made much easier by working with an experienced attorney. They can evaluate your case and then inform you of your legal options.
Proving Psychological Effects in a Car Accident Case
Proving mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD after auto accidents can be tricky, as they are not visible and cannot be reliably measured. However, there are several kinds of valid evidence that can help you prove your claim, including:
- Medical records from therapists and psychologists
- Diagnoses of depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other disorders
- Personal mental health journals
- Expert testimony from mental health specialists
- Testimony from family and friends
- Proof of impact on your daily life
- Proof of missed work
The more of these pieces of evidence you can gather, the stronger your case will be. Your attorney will also need to secure evidence showing how the crash occurred, who caused it, and how it caused the physical, mental, and emotional damage you’ve endured.
Time Limit for Claiming Psychological Distress in a Car Accident Claim
New York law generally allows for car accident lawsuits to be filed up to three years from the date of the crash. Pursuing a car accident claim when you’re facing physical injuries, financial distress, and psychological trauma can seem like an overwhelming task. However, it’s essential to reach out to a car accident attorney as soon as you’re capable if you want to protect your rights. The legal process takes time, and once you’ve missed the deadline, your legal options will be severely limited.
Talk to One of Our Compassionate Car Accident Lawyers for Help
Car accident trauma can have a profound impact on your daily routine, personal relationships, ability to earn a living, and overall enjoyment of life. Fortunately, there are solutions out there. The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can help you seek those solutions by fighting for your right to fair compensation for the emotional distress you’ve experienced. Contact us today for your free consultation to learn more about how we can help you through your physical and mental health recovery.
About the Author
Simon Landsberg
Simon B. Landsberg is an associate attorney at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. He focuses his practice exclusively on representing individuals and families who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents and due to other forms of negligence.