Car accidents can be both physically and mentally traumatic. The mental aspects of a car accident are often overlooked.
However, a traffic collision can result in severe mental health conditions. Outlined below are two common ones.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
This is a psychological condition that can occur after any traumatic event. Some studies suggest that as many as 30% of crash survivors go on to develop PTSD.
The severity and symptoms of PTSD can vary, but common symptoms include:
- Constantly feeling on edge
- Mood swings
- Destructive behaviors
- Sleeping troubles
- Flashbacks and nightmares
These are just some of the more common examples of PTSD symptoms, but every case is unique.
Adjustment disorder
Physical injuries can be painful, and they can impact mobility. However, there is also a mental element to coping with physical injuries. Adjustment disorder is a mental health condition that victims often develop when trying to adjust to their new way of life after a crash. Some of the more common symptoms of this condition include:
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling hopeless
- Difficulty concentrating
Again, each case is unique. However, adjustment disorder is certainly a condition that can impact an individual’s ability to function day-to-day.
If you are struggling mentally after an accident, then litigation is probably the last thing you want to go through if you can’t get the compensation you need through the at-fault driver’s insurer or they don’t have insurance. Fortunately, personal injury cases can be mediated.
This means that you can obtain compensation in a much less stressful environment than the courts. When deciding whether mediation is the right approach for you, it will be beneficial to seek as much legal information as possible.