A serious car accident is a terrible experience. Healing from injuries, paying medical bills, and dealing with insurance companies can overwhelm anyone.
On top of all that, many car accident victims suffer emotional and psychological injuries that are all too real. And just like with physical injuries, people who suffer emotional trauma in a car accident are entitled to financial compensation in the form of emotional distress damages.
In this blog, we’ll help you get a better understanding of emotional distress damages and describe the steps you can take to get compensation that addresses your suffering.
What are Emotional Distress Damages?
The emotional trauma of a crash can be severe, and the effects can cause you to suffer for a long time. Just like the damages that result from physical injuries, emotional distress damages are intended to compensate you for medical bills and other costs as well as your pain and suffering. When someone else engages in negligent behavior and causes you to suffer injuries, you can file an insurance claim or a lawsuit to recover financial compensation for your costs, losses, and pain.
What Are the Emotional Effects of a Car Crash?
Emotional and psychological distress is very common after a car wreck. The connection between the mind and body is very strong, and most people who suffer physical injuries will also experience emotional effects that harm their mental health.
“Emotional and psychological distress is very common after a car wreck. The connection between the mind and body is very strong, and most people who suffer physical injuries will also experience emotional effects that harm their mental health.”
Many people who suffer injuries in car wrecks also experience:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Shock
- Fear
- Insomnia
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Often, car wreck victims find that driving and traveling become especially challenging after the crash. They may avoid situations that require them to drive, which can cause them to miss out on social events, favorite activities, and even employment or career advancement opportunities.
The toll of these mental health effects can add up and make life much less bright and enjoyable post-crash than it was before.
RELATED: How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated?
What Should I Do If I am Suffering Emotional Distress?
If you’re suffering emotional distress after a crash, it’s important to take your emotional pain seriously and work to address it. Here are two essential steps to take.
Seek Medical Treatment
If you’ve already been treated for physical injuries but you have not talked to anyone about your emotional and mental health, speak to your doctor and ask for a referral to a mental health professional. A qualified mental health professional will be able to understand what you’re experiencing and identify proven treatments that can help with your emotional distress. And when you file an insurance claim or lawsuit to get compensation for your injuries and losses, the documentation you get from working with a medical health professional will be essential for your claim.
Document How You’re Feeling
Even if you don’t usually keep a journal, writing down your thoughts will help your mental health professional gain important insights into how you are doing. A journal can provide a healthy and constructive way to engage with emotional trauma, and it will also create a record that you and your attorney can refer to throughout your case. This benefit is important, because if you file a claim for compensation, the insurance company may ask you to talk about your experiences and mental health struggles. However, you may find it hard to remember everything. The days and weeks immediately after a crash can especially feel like a blur. Your journal can help you recall everything you’ve experienced, and it may provide valuable evidence when you file a claim for emotional distress damages.
How Can I File a Claim for Emotional Distress?
The best way to file a successful claim for emotional distress damages is to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer who has handled cases like yours before. A good lawyer will know how to gather the evidence and documentation needed to prove the defendant’s negligence and the damages you’re entitled to as a result. This won’t be a simple process, but your attorney should be able to handle every aspect of your legal case while you focus on recovery and healing.
Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys: Fighting for Car Accident Victims
If you or someone you know is dealing with shoulder pain after a car accident, please reach out to Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys today. Our team has years of experience, and we’ve earned a sterling reputation based on our aggressive and thorough approach.
To schedule your free, no-risk consultation, please call 251-888-8888 or complete this brief form. If you are too ill or injured to travel to our offices, we’re happy to come to you.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.