A car accident can do much more than damage your car. The sights, sounds, smells, and experience of the accident overall can leave you with lingering psychological issues. In a car accident, the party at fault for property damage, physical injuries, and damage to your mental health is responsible for paying you back for the harm they have caused.
A Greenville car accident lawyer from Smith Jordan Law can help you hold the at-fault party accountable for your mental health trauma and other losses following a car accident. Our team of compassionate attorneys cares about your well-being and will work to facilitate your recovery.
How can a car accident affect your mental health?
After an accident, a car may be scratched, dented, or crushed. The people involved can be bruised, bloodied, or suffer from broken bones. While this visible damage must be addressed, less apparent damage should not be dismissed. Mental and emotional injury can be just as serious and warrants compensation.
Car accidents are the leading cause of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general population. Car accidents are the number one cause of PTSD for men and the second most frequent cause of PTSD for women. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), car accident victims often suffer emotional distress. Those affected may notice symptoms such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anguish
- Fear
- Fatigue
- Sleep disruptions
- Nightmares
These feelings and conditions can lead victims to avoid engaging in otherwise normal activities. For example, they may stop going to work, school, appointments, or other events to avoid driving or getting in a car again. Such avoidance can lead to decreased income, lost earning opportunities, and social isolation. These situations can compound victims’ mental and emotional problems.
How can you collect compensation for mental health damages?
Emotional and psychological trauma may not come with an actual price tag, but it certainly comes at a high cost. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) concluded that victims of serious motor vehicle accidents are at high risk for psychological problems and are especially vulnerable to PTSD. The chronic pain, permanent disabilities, long-term effects of serious physical injuries, and harrowing memories of the event often result in increased mental trauma.
To increase your chance of securing compensation for mental trauma, partner with a Greenville personal injury attorney from Smith Jordan Law as soon as possible after your accident. Speak openly with your lawyer about your mental and emotional distress and all other damages. Your experienced attorney knows how to calculate the value of these losses and make a fair settlement demand covering both your physical damages and respectfully acknowledging these non-tangible ones.
Mental trauma falls into the category of “non-economic damages” in South Carolina personal injury claims. As stated in Chapter 32 Article 3 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, this category includes, among other effects, “mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of society and companionship…fear of loss, illness, or injury.” There is no cap on the amount victims can collect in non-economic damages for personal injury claims related to a serious car accident.
Partner with competent lawyers who care
Claims for mental injuries are often complicated. Additionally, when a person is struggling with mental injuries after a car wreck, they often need more attention and personal concern. The team at Smith Jordan has the knowledge and experience to handle these cases successfully and great respect for our clients and their overall well-being.
Time is running out to seek compensation for your mental health trauma after a car accident. The South Carolina statute of limitations is only three years from the day you are hurt in most cases and two years in others. Do not wait – use our online form or call (864) 343-2222 to schedule a free consultation. A Greenville car accident lawyer from our team is ready to listen and to start working toward your recovery.
Related articles for further reading
- What happens if I have partial fault in a car accident?
- My car insurance lapsed and I had an accident. What are my options?
- What’s the average settlement for back and neck injury in a car accident?
