Motor vehicle accidents are traumatic experiences. However, many people do not realize that psychological trauma is an area for claiming damages. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, persistent feelings of anxiety and uneasiness might signify post-traumatic stress (PTSD).
If you recently suffered from a traffic accident, you might wonder why you have lingering feelings of emotional discomfort or intrusive thoughts. Even if some time passed since the accident, you might be able to seek compensation for the psychological injury you sustained.
How will I receive payments?
A significant number of people have PTSD after a car crash. You might receive compensation in several ways if you prove this is the case. For example, if you need to seek therapy or take prescription medication to treat your PTSD, a judge might order another driver’s insurance company to cover some of the costs. Similarly, you can receive payouts for emotional distress. This is more difficult to prove and relies on some subjective analysis by the jury. However, there is no doubt catastrophic traffic accidents cause emotional pain and courts consider that. Finally, if you cannot work due to your psychological disorder, you might be able to recover some of your lost wages.
What if I do not seek immediate treatment?
It is easier to prove a PTSD case during the initial settlement case. However, sometimes psychological trauma does not materialize until some time passes. In this case, you may be able to receive retroactive payments for your disorder, even if you did not seek treatment initially.
Mental injuries are not as clear-cut as physical injuries and property damage. Still, the damage you sustained is real, and you should not be afraid to seek a payout for the trauma you suffered.