A motor vehicle accident is a traumatic incident for everyone involved. From the shock of being hit to dealing with the physical pain to anger at the at-fault driver, everyone involved in an accident experiences some level of psychological trauma. Managing that psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is key to your recovery and long-term quality of life. But paying for the professional help you need can be challenging. Fortunately, you may have a legal claim for compensation to help you cover the costs of your treatment so you can start your road to recovery.
Symptoms of PTSD after a Car Accident
PTSD can occur after any traumatic event, including a car accident, motorcycle accident, boating accident, or heavy truck accident. The symptoms of PTSD can be debilitating.
Here are some of the common symptoms of PTSD, according to MyHealth Alberta:
- Strong feelings of upset if you are reminded of the accident.
- Nightmares and/or vivid flashbacks of the accident.
- Avoiding places or things that remind you of the accident.
- Feeling bad about yourself or negativity towards the world.
- Feeling numb.
- Lost enjoyment of life.
- Intrusive or persistent feelings of danger.
- Anxiousness, jitters, and irritation.
- Trouble sleeping.
If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms after an accident, we recommend seeking help from a qualified medical professional. You should also speak with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your claim for compensation.
Debunking PTSD and Car Accidents
Many car crash victims make the mistake of not seeking treatment for psychological injuries, either because they do not believe they can afford treatments or simply hope it goes away by itself. Often the opposite is true: a broken arm can completely heal within a few months, while the anxious staring in the rearview mirror and flinching every time a vehicle approaches can last forever.
Let’s dig into these (inaccurate) reasons for not seeking treatment in more detail:
Myth: Your PTSD from a car accident will go away by itself.
Maybe it will, but there’s a good chance it won’t either. People react differently to traumatic events so there’s no way to know. Usually, it’s best to seek treatment before it’s too late.
There are treatments for the trauma, and they work. For example, MyHealth Alberta suggests speaking with your family doctor, talking to a mental health professional, and confiding in a close friend or family member for support. Common treatment methods include counselling, antidepressant medications, and exposure therapies, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
So the good news is that you can learn coping mechanisms and techniques to manage your trauma, reducing or eliminating the symptoms over time. In other words, your PTSD and psychological trauma don’t need to impact your life forever.
Myth: You can’t afford the treatment you need to manage PTSD from an auto accident.
Treatments from psychologists can be expensive. But it’s important to note that your Section B Benefits can be used for treatments for PTSD or other psychological trauma from an auto accident. This coverage works for psychological injuries the same way it works for physical injuries from a car accident.
If you’re unsure how your Section B Coverage works, speaking with a car accident lawyer can help. You can get started with a free consultation to discuss your rights after an accident.
Making A Legal Claim For Psychological Injury From An Auto Accident
If you were the victim of an auto accident, you may have a legal claim for psychological injury in addition to Section B coverage from your insurer or the at-fault driver’s insurer.
Canada’s courts treat psychological injuries from auto accidents the same way they treat physical injury claims. So you may be entitled to compensation even if your only injuries from a car accident are PTSD or other psychological trauma. You do not need to have a physical injury to seek compensation from an at-fault driver.
What Should You Do If You Have PTSD From a Car Accident?
It’s important to take your symptoms of PTSD seriously and seek help from qualified health care professionals and support from your family and an experienced personal injury lawyer.
In terms of health care, Alberta CMHA suggests trying therapeutic counselling techniques such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) or exposure therapy. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is another type of evidence-based treatment for PTSD. It involves focusing on the cognitive and physical sensations of your trauma while using other stimuli to help you process it.
Your health care providers can also help you determine if medication is helpful in your treatment plan.
In addition to seeking care from qualified health care professionals, it’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will help you decide the best strategy to get fair compensation for your PTSD and any other injuries. This compensation helps you to continue receiving the care you need to recover, for as long as you need it. You can also receive compensation for time off work, support you need at home, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Vehicle Passengers and Psychological Trauma
Passengers who are injured in an auto accident can also experience anxiety and trauma as a result of an accident. In fact, passengers can sometimes suffer greater psychological injury than the driver. The reason is control: you have zero control as a passenger and this can have a big impact on your ability to cope with the accident.
This applies to children as well, who often have less developed coping skills compared to adults.
Adult and child passengers have the same legal rights to compensation for psychological injuries, including PTSD, after an accident. This includes a right to sue for future out-of-pocket expenses, as well as other heads of damages.
Managing Your Legal Claim For Psychological Trauma From A Car Accident
Our team at James H. Brown & Associates has helped thousands of Albertans navigate the legal system after a car accident. We have helped people with psychological injuries to get fair compensation and justice as they move towards recovery.
We know how difficult the journey to recovery can be. So we handle everything from linking you with medical professionals who can help your recovery and your legal claim to explaining the legal process and our strategy and answering all your questions.
If you want to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer, contact our team to schedule a free consultation.
