Not All Injuries are Physical: How to Cope with Psychological Damage following an Accident
When most people think of the injuries that can result from an accident, they think of physical injuries. Broken bones, burns, scars, and cuts comprise most individuals’ general sense of how accident victims suffer. Although it is true that you can suffer from any or all of these injuries, they are not the only injuries you might suffer after an accident. You could potentially develop depression, panic attacks, anxiety, and suffer from other types of psychological damage following an accident.
Fortunately, you do not have to face these invisible injuries yourself. You are entitled to seek compensation for your mental suffering as part of your personal injury claim. This is known as “pain and suffering” and is grouped with other non-tangible expenses, such as the need to use public transportation if you cannot drive or the need for non-prescription pain medication. The money you receive for your psychological damage, sometimes known as emotional distress or mental anguish, can be used to seek psychological therapy to help you work through the issues you experience.
How Can I Prove I Am Suffering Psychological Damage?
You can prove you are suffering from psychological damage in the same way you prove you are suffering from a physical injury after an accident. Use the documentation of your mental health treatment to support your claim. You can also use testimonies from individuals close to you, such as your family or your colleagues, to demonstrate that you have experienced a personality change or other psychological changes after your accident.
Sometimes, your psychological trauma is caused by your physical trauma. For example, losing the ability to move around freely could cause you to experience depression. The weight that you might gain from remaining sedentary while you recover can create a negative body image and feelings of low self esteem. If you suffered in a car accident, you might feel anxiety about driving or riding in a car again. Sometimes, you might not realize that you are suffering from psychological damage. Friends or family members might notice that you seem bitter, anxious, sad, or scared. Take their concerns seriously and seek mental healthcare to evaluate your psychological condition and determine a way to treat it effectively.
Winter Park Personal Injury Attorneys
All types of injury can have a significant, negative impact on your life. Do not allow yourself to be lead to believe that you are making up your psychological trauma or using it to seek attention. Emotional distress following an accident is a real thing and just like with physical injuries, mental injuries that are left untreated can grow more and more substantial the longer they are ignored. Give yourself the care and attention you deserve and take the time to seek adequate mental healthcare following your accident. For legal advice and representation for your compensation claim, contact Hornsby Law in Winter Park today for your free legal consultation with a member of our firm. We are here to advocate for you and your needs.
