Mental health connected to car accidents

Physical ailments are not the only ones to come out of car accidents. There is clearly a mental and emotional component as well, and researchers have found links between long-term mental health and involvement in these sudden and jarring accidents.

They note, first of all, that a crash happens roughly every 10 seconds. While many are admittedly minor, they do not discount these incidents. It is not only fatal accidents that can produce mental trauma. Someone who suffers an injury or witnesses an injury to a loved one could be similarly impacted.

When this happens, they can trace the wreck to things like:

• The development of serious phobias, which often manifest as nearly irrational concerns about driving or being around traffic
• The development of fear of driving, which may be debilitating and not allow someone to continue to live the way that they did before the crash
• The development of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which can lead to advanced anxiety, mental flashbacks, nightmares and many physical symptoms, as well

It’s important to consider this side of a person’s health, as it may require the use of medication, meetings with therapists and other such medical intervention. It could also mean that the person can no longer drive, work, or engage in hobbies that they loved prior to the wreck. These are very real changes that still come from the accident, even without accompanying physical symptoms.

Those who suffer from PTSD and other such disorders after a crash need to know if they have a right to seek financial compensation. An experienced attorney can help you understand your options.