Car accidents can be extremely traumatic for those involved and often produce lasting psychological effects for many years. Oftentimes there are psychological consequences even a physical injury isn’t sustained. Car accidents may lead to PTSD or post-traumatic disorder, and feelings of anxiety can be experienced for years.
If you suffer from depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder following a car accident, then you may be eligible to make a claim to compensate you for a difficult time you have been through. Most people aren’t aware that they can make a claim for emotional and psychological trauma. The anxiety you can experience following a car accident can negatively influence your life in a negative way as much as a physical injury.
How to make a claim for anxiety after a car accident?
The emotional trauma you experience is similar to any other injury that you may suffer after a car accident. Simply put, just because there is no physical injury doesn’t mean that you haven’t been psychologically affected. The law holds that you can be paid back for anything that impacts you as a result of the accident as long as you sustain a “severe injury.”
However, you are not automatically eligible for compensation for anxiety attacks after a car accident. The jury or the insurance agency may be skeptical when you claim that you suffer from depression or anxiety because it’s not the easiest claim to demonstrate. That said, you will need to prove that you have been injured and the type of injury you suffered.
You also need to bring proof that your emotional trauma happened as a result of the accident. To put it simply, this is the causation factor of the personal injury claim that you must show in order to be able to receive a car accident compensation.
Additionally, you can support your claim by providing that you deserve repayment for psychological trauma after a car accident by having medical experts testify on your behalf. To do that, you will need to present necessary documentation, including medical reports drafted by psychiatrists or psychologists regarding your condition, and prove that your life quality has been affected negatively by the car accident. Your personal injury attorney may help you determine how much compensation to ask for.
How much compensation do I get for a psychological injury?
The compensation you will receive will depend entirely on the facts and circumstances of your unique situation. As we previously mentioned, in most cases, you will need to offer proof of your “serious injury,” which a personal injury attorney can help you with.
For instance, you may experience travel anxiety after a car accident that keeps you from living a normal life. This can lead to a loss of enjoyment in hobbies and other activities that you previously did and enjoyed. Your repayment for these damages might be received through a jury verdict or a settlement depending on whether your insurer agrees to settle for a reasonable amount or your attorney recommends going to trial to seek a higher amount.