Car accidents can cause severe, life-altering physical injuries. But what many people – even close friends and family of an accident survivor – overlook are the deep emotional scars and turmoil that surviving a traumatic experience can cause. In some cases, car accident survivors feel that they can’t discuss or even face these real but invisible injuries.
At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks our compassionate lawyers encourage accident victims to talk about the emotional impact of car accidents. Invisible injuries are just as impactful to your health and wellness as physical ones and can affect the overall value of your car accident claim. By encouraging an open dialogue about your physical and mental health, we can customize a comprehensive plan to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact our law office today and speak with a skilled car accident attorney who will listen and help you evaluate your legal options during a free consultation.
Mental and Emotional Effects of a Car Accident
Car accidents don’t just cause physical injuries. They can cause mental injuries as well. Often, a car wreck is a traumatizing event that can shake a person to their core and lead to mental health issues. Individuals may not even recognize the signs of emotional distress until weeks, or even months, after the crash. For example, while many individuals experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder immediately, PTSD symptoms typically manifest within the first month after a traumatic event, and sometimes can appear months or even years later
In the short term, an individual may mentally feel fine, but as stress reactions build, the psychological effects of an accident can compound. Victims may start to notice changes in their mood, sleep patterns, or eating habits. They may also see an increasing feeling of paranoia, fear, or anxiety that becomes bothersome and affects daily life.
How to Prove the Emotional Impact of Car Accidents
The issue with mental health injuries and the emotional effects of car accidents is that these injuries are invisible. You can’t directly observe them with your eyes, like a broken bone or burn. Invisible injuries are often more difficult to prove than physical injuries. It is essential to seek treatment from a mental health professional as soon as you realize you are experiencing the symptoms of any mental injury. The higher up the “food chain” the mental health professional is that you start with, the better. For example, most people consider psychiatrists and psychologists to carry the most weight. They will often refer you to a talk therapist for treatment. If you cannot see a psychiatrist or psychologist right away, talk to your primary care physician. Many primary care physicians can be extremely helpful treating post-accident anxiety and/or depression. Without the records of mental health professionals, it will be hard to prove emotional injuries.
It is vital to have a skilled attorney on your side who knows what types of evidence can help prove the emotional impact of a car accident and has the resources to gather and preserve this evidence to strengthen your case.
Common Mental Health Conditions Caused by Car Accidents
Common mental health conditions related to the stress and fear caused by a car accident can include:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD after an auto accident can involve intrusive memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks, nightmares, or strong emotional or physical reactions when reminded of the crash. People suffering from PTSD may avoid certain locations associated with the accident or even be unable to drive at all. They may experience physical sensations, such as pain, sweating, feeling sick, trembling, headaches, chest pains or stomach aches. Someone with PTSD may be very anxious and find it difficult to relax. They may be constantly aware of threats and easily startled. This state of mind is known as hyperarousal.
Hyperarousal often leads to:
- irritability
- angry outbursts
- sleeping problems (insomnia)
- difficulty concentrating
Treatment might include trauma-focused therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), along with grounding techniques and stress-management skills. Medication prescribed by a mental-health professional can also treat symptoms.
Anxiety
Generalized anxiety may show up as persistent worry, racing thoughts, restlessness, or physical symptoms like increased heart rate or muscle tension, which may be especially pronounced when thinking about driving or being in traffic. Treatments typically involve CBT, breathing and relaxation exercises, and gradual exposure to driving or similar situations. Medication may be prescribed to help regulate anxiety responses.
Depression
Depression presents psychological symptoms like ongoing sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, low energy, irritability, and changes in appetite or sleep. Treatment options may include talk therapy, behavioral activation strategies, and lifestyle adjustments. Doctors may prescribe antidepressant medication if symptoms are moderate to severe. Emotional support from friends, family members, or support groups can also be important in recovery.
Emotional Distress
General emotional distress may present as mood swings, frustration, guilt, or tearfulness following the accident. An accident survivor might also describe feeling generally overwhelmed without an obvious trigger. This response is common even in people who don’t develop a diagnosed condition. As such, it can be among the most difficult emotional injuries to treat, as the patient themselves may not even realize they’re suffering from a disorder.
Sleep Disturbances
The emotional trauma of being in a car accident can lead to sleep disturbances like trouble sleeping, frequent waking, nightmares, or simply poor-quality sleep. Relatively minor sleep problems can be treated by improving sleep hygiene or performing relaxation exercises before bed. More severe cases may require in-depth therapy and pharmaceutical drugs. Sleep disturbances may also be a symptom of a deeper underlying mental health condition such as PTSD or generalized anxiety.
Strategies for Recovery
The mental and emotional toll of a car accident is a topic not discussed enough, which may make some accident victims reluctant to share their struggles and may make them feel like they are not being taken seriously. Mental health challenges after a car accident are almost as common as physical injuries like bruises and broken bones. Being open and honest about your struggles can help your healthcare provider point you towards valuable resources that can assist with emotional healing after experiencing trauma.
Helpful strategies for recovering mentally from a serious car accident include:
- Seek Professional Help – Never be afraid to ask for professional help. If you are in for a routine evaluation or follow-up care related to physical car accident injuries, talk to your doctor about your mental health struggles. They can refer you to a mental healthcare professional with experience helping car accident victims navigate the complex emotions and trauma of surviving a wreck.
- Practice Wellness and Self-Care – Now more than ever, be kind to yourself. You deserve compassion, and that starts with giving yourself some self-care. Do not be too hard on yourself. Take your time recovering and give yourself the time and grace to heal on your own terms and at your own pace. Small treats, such as a massage, a relaxing bath, or a new book, can help you feel more like yourself and prove that you are worthy of kindness and care.
- Connect with Support – One of the most important things to remember is that you are not alone. Sometimes it can be hard to connect with family or friends who have never had similar experiences and can’t relate to your struggles. Support groups are an excellent way to communicate with individuals who understand how you feel and what you are going through. If you feel comfortable, let family and friends help you. If they don’t know how to offer you support, suggest a few options, such as listening to you without judgment, assisting with daily tasks, or simply being a patient shoulder to lean on.
- Perform Gradual Exposure – Ask your therapist or mental health professional about gradual exposure therapy. This coping technique slowly and systematically reintroduces a car accident victim to being in a car and then to driving, to help overcome fear and anxiety.
Seeking Compensation for the Emotional Effects of Car Accidents
Those who’ve been injured by the careless actions of another driver can seek compensation for their physical and mental injuries. In many cases, an at-fault driver’s insurance provider might reach out to an accident victim and offer a settlement – one that appears to cover the victim’s out-of-pocket costs. However, an insurance adjuster has no way to know about the mental toll an accident may have taken, and even one who’s making a good-faith offer might not have accounted for a victim’s ongoing emotional pain.
Before you accept anything from an insurer, talk to an attorney about your legal rights and options for pursuing maximum compensation. In some cases, you may seek money in a personal injury claim for the following:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing medical treatment and therapy costs
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
A car accident attorney can help estimate the overall value of your case, including your physical and emotional injuries.
Get in Touch with Our Compassionate Car Accident Lawyers Today for Help
Are you suffering from emotional distress following a car accident in North Carolina? If so, the car accident lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks have over 100 years of combined legal experience at your disposal. With our in-depth knowledge of the legal system, we help deliver meaningful results for our clients, securing the money they need. Moreover, our clients attest that the personalized legal representation they receive is a testament to the care and commitment we pride ourselves on providing.
Contact our office now at 919-661-9000 to arrange a complimentary injury consultation with a car accident attorney in North Carolina.
About the Author
Robert C. Younce, JR
Robert C. Younce is an attorney at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. and concentrates his law practice on personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He has tried over 100 workers’ comp cases to Opinion and Award and about a dozen personal injury jury trials to verdict. He has been board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in workers’ compensation law since 2001.
