One of the things that many people overlook after a serious or traumatic injury is the lasting psychological effects. In fact, some injury victims even find themselves suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, also commonly referred to as PTSD. If you've sustained an injury and now you're struggling with overwhelming anxiety, fear and other symptoms, you may have PTSD. If this is the case, you should talk with your attorney about how this affects your personal injury case. Here's a look at some of the basics that you should know.
What Exactly Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post traumatic stress disorder is psychological. It is brought on by a traumatic event. It can cause symptoms like anxiety, preoccupation with similar events, panic attacks, irritability and nightmares. Some people who develop PTSD after a car accident are unable to get into a car again for a long time and may not be able to drive anymore.
What If You Think You Have PTSD?
If you believe that the symptoms you've been experiencing are the result of a condition like PTSD, you need to seek a doctor's evaluation as soon as possible. He or she will do a thorough assessment, including discussing your symptoms in detail. If you do have PTSD as a result of your accident, your doctor may suggest, medication or therapy to help you manage it. You'll want to notify your attorney right away if you are diagnosed, because this can affect your personal injury case. Your attorney will need documentation of the diagnosis as well as your treatment plan.
What Kind Of Compensation Can You Get?
Conditions like PTSD are difficult to compensate for because they aren't immediately visible injuries. And, sometimes conditions like this are viewed as 'not that serious' or 'only temporary', so it's hard to get any kind of compensation. You'll want to make sure that you have thorough documentation of your symptoms, diagnosis and any treatment plan that's in place. Whenever possible, consider having a witness or
A thorough understanding of the condition is a good place to start when dealing with post traumatic stress disorder after an accident. Work with your attorney and your medical care team to establish solid documentation of your condition and its effect on your daily life. This makes it easier to put value to it as part of your personal injury settlement. Talk with your personal injury attorney today about the best way to factor your PTSD symptoms
