Being in a car crash is an undeniably traumatic experience. Not only are you left with the memories of the crash itself, but you may also have suffered injuries which can also have an impact on your mental state long after the crash has occurred. While many people focus on the physical effects of being in a car crash, which are important and can be severe, the mental effects of being in a car crash are just as real and can be severe as well. To help shed light on this important topic, we want to go into a discuss of some of the prominent mental impacts a car accident victim may experience.
The Mental Effects of Being in a Car Crash
Many car accident victims find that they experience a range of mental effects after the crash. The mental impacts can often come up expectantly and the accident victim may not even realize at first that the mental impacts are a result of the accident. They may not feel like themselves, but fail to make the connection.
An accident victim may experience trouble focusing or concentrating after a crash. This can occur for a number of reasons. One of the most common reasons is that the accident victim sustained a head injury or even a traumatic brain injury in the crash. This is a very serious type of injury and may go undiagnosed without the victim being aware of its possible symptoms. Undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries can lead to the victim suffering further harm and extensive medical complications. If you have been in an accident and experience any of the following symptoms, report them immediately to your doctor:
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory problems
- Sleep disruptions
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sensitivity to light or sound
Anxiety after an accident may not necessarily be due to an accident victim sustaining a traumatic brain injury. It can also be a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Being in a car accident is a traumatic event. Thus, accident victims may very well experience symptoms associated with PTSD. PTSD symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating.
Emotional trauma is also a common impact experienced by car accident victims. After all, the crash itself can be traumatic. The far reaching impacts of the crash can also be traumatic. Consider the difficulty accident victims may face in trying to cope with the pain of their injuries, the disruption to their lives, the limits they may face due to their injuries, the inability to participate in the things that used to bring them joy, the strain all of this can place on relationships with friends, family members, and loved ones, and more. It is a lot for one person to handle and this can all take a serious emotional toll.
Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
Remember, mental impacts of a car crash are compensable damages just as physical injuries are. The team of dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper, Schall & Levy will fight to see to it that you are properly compensated for all of the damages you have sustained due to a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Contact us today.
