If you’ve been hurt in a truck or car accident in Austin, Texas and are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the Robson Law Firm are personal injury attorneys who may be able to help you pursue a lawsuit for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation expenses. Our firm can work with insurance adjusters to help you get the car insurance recovery you may deserve. We can also work to identify negligent parties and fight these parties either inside or outside of court to help you get the recovery you may deserve under the law. You may only have a limited amount of time to pursue a lawsuit if you have been diagnosed with PTSD. The Robson Law Firm is a personal injury lawyer in Austin, Texas who offers clients a free initial consultation during which we can review your claim, estimate the value of your claim, and help you understand what your next steps should be.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a psychological condition that affects individuals who have survived a traumatic event, like a car accident. While PTSD is often associated with war veterans, anyone can suffer from PTSD. Car accidents and truck accidents can lead to the development of PTSD because of the violent, serious, sudden, and unexpected nature of these accidents. While it is normal to experience some of the symptoms of PTSD after a major traumatic event, what makes PTSD different from normal trauma is that with post-traumatic stress disorder, the symptoms don’t fade with time, and they can also even get worse if a person doesn’t get treatment. What are the symptoms of PTSD? According to the National Center for PTSD, there are four main characteristics of the condition:
- Intrusive memories of the event. If you keep re-living the event during your waking life, or if you find yourself having repeated nightmares of the event, you could be suffering from PTSD. Memories of the event might be triggered by things that remind you of what happened. A trigger could be a news report of a car accident, passing the street where the accident took place, or even a sound or smell that reminds you of the crash.
- If you are suffering from PTSD following a car accident or truck accident, you might avoid situations that remind you of the crash. For example, some individuals may no longer feel safe riding in cars or may not feel safe driving. This can be incredibly disruptive, especially if a person lives in a city where driving is required to get around.
- Numbness or Depression. Individuals who are suffering from PTSD sometimes report that they cannot feel emotions anymore or that their emotions are “muted.” They may no longer be able to feel happy or sad. Other individuals may blame themselves for the crash, even when they were not at fault. Yet other people might find themselves suffering from depression following a car accident.
- Feeling jumpy. Individuals suffering from PTSD might feel easily startled, may suffer from anxiety, or may feel hypervigilant or extra alert for signs of danger. This feeling can interfere with a person’s ability to drive safely, because a degree of calmness is required to get behind the wheel.
What makes PTSD a difficult condition to treat and diagnose is that it isn’t always immediately diagnosed right after a car or truck accident. In fact, it can be normal to feel jumpy, anxious, frightened, and even to avoid the streets where your accident took place for a few days or weeks after a crash. However, in most cases, these feelings fade with time. If the feelings don’t fade, and if the symptoms of PTSD start to interfere with daily living, then victims might need medical care. Sometimes individuals might suffer from PTSD symptoms, and not immediately link the symptoms to their car accident. Individuals with PTSD may internalize their symptoms and blame themselves for their depression, for their numbness, and for their nightmares.
If you or a loved one is suffering from any of these symptoms following a car accident or truck accident in Austin, Texas, you may have the right to seek damages for your losses. The Robson Law Firm are personal injury lawyers in Austin, Texas who may be able to examine your claim and help you take the next steps towards recovery. In the aftermath of a car or truck accident, often the focus might be on the physical injuries individuals have suffered. Yet, the reality is that individuals can also suffer serious psychological injuries that can impact their lives.
Seeking Treatment for PTSD After a Motor Vehicle Crash
If you have been diagnosed with PTSD after a motor vehicle crash, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Individuals who get the right kind of rehabilitative care are more likely to see a reduction in symptoms and find themselves able to resume former life activities. Individuals might need therapy and counseling, where a therapist will guide the individual in facing situations that they have been avoiding. A therapist or counselor may also guide a person in suffering from PTSD to look more closely about their thinking following the accident. In some cases, individuals might be prescribed medication to treat the emotional symptoms of PTSD.
Medical treatment can be costly and PTSD can leave victims out of work for weeks or months if it is very severe. If your family is struggling after a car accident or truck accident, you may have rights under the law. The Robson Law Firm are personal injury lawyers in Austin, Texas who may be able to help you pursue a lawsuit or a claim if you have suffered damages due to your PTSD. Our firm understands that the psychological damages individuals experience after a car or truck accident can be severe and should be taken just as seriously as physical injuries. Contact the Robson Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.
