How Can a Colorado Car Accident Affect Your Mental Health?

 Posted on February 12, 2021 in Car Accident

For some car accident victims, physical injuries and their effects are just the beginning of the many challenges they will face in the weeks and months following the incident. Mental health struggles are another common outcome of a car crash, and they can be just as costly as physical injuries from a financial standpoint and when it comes to their overall impact on the victim’s life. Fortunately, it is possible to pursue compensation for damages related to mental health as part of a personal injury claim.

Mental Health and Car Crashes

A car accident can impact a person’s mental health in a variety of ways. Some of the most common include:

• Posttraumatic stress - Being in a serious car accident can be an incredibly distressing experience, and after the crash, a person may find themself struggling with recurring nightmares, panic attacks, or a fear of driving or even traveling in a motor vehicle. Some studies have found that as many as 40 percent of car crash victims exhibit signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• Effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) - Some mental health effects are the result of physical trauma in a car accident. Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries can impair parts of the brain that are responsible for memory, mood regulation, social processing, and other important cognitive abilities. TBI victims often face an increased risk of developing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses.

• Difficulty coping with life changes - When a person suffers a catastrophic injury in a car accident, they can lose the ability to work, perform basic life tasks, and engage in activities they once enjoyed. Some injuries can also affect a person’s appearance or personal relationships. Furthermore, some injury victims have lost a loved one in the same accident in which they were injured. All of these changes can put an immense mental and emotional strain on a person and detract from their quality of life.

Compensation for Mental Health Damages

Medication, therapy, and other treatment from mental health professionals can often help people whose mental health is struggling after an accident, but these treatments come at a cost. If another negligent driver was responsible for the accident, an attorney can help you pursue compensation from that driver for economic damages related to your health expenses. You also may be able to pursue non-economic pain and suffering damages for your mental anguish, loss of companionship, and other negative impacts on your life. An attorney can help you demonstrate that your mental health challenges are the result of the accident to give you the best chance of recovering full compensation.

Contact a Fort Collins Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need an attorney who can help you recover compensation for the full range of damages you have suffered, including those related to your mental health. To schedule a free consultation with a skilled Larimer County car accident attorney who can help with your case, contact Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. today at 970-225-2190.

Sources:

https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/how-cope-trauma-after-accident

https://www.verywellmind.com/risk-factors-for-ptsd-following-a-traffic-accident-2797197

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557