After a motor vehicle collision, it can be hard for you to even think about getting into a vehicle again. You are still upset about what happened, and you want to make sure that the negligent driver doesn’t harm any other people.
In addition to the physical injuries, you may also be suffering emotional injuries. Many people injured in motor vehicle collisions also suffer from depression and anxiety in the weeks, months, and years after a crash.
Depression and anxiety are common following serious traffic crashes
It’s not unusual for someone to have post-traumatic stress disorder, which can present as anxiety or depression, following a traffic collision. Some of the symptoms of this mental health condition include:
- Ongoing memories of the trauma that you’re unable to control,
- Excessive anger, worry or irritability,
- Anxiety about getting into, driving or riding in vehicles,
- Night terrors, nightmares and insomnia, and
- Dissociation from others and your life around you.
Some people with PTSD also have “avoidance symptoms.” These are symptoms that present as avoiding talking about the traumatic event or avoiding places that are associated with the event.
Depression is also common – feeling hopeless about the future or having a feeling of detachment from friends and family. They may struggle with experiencing positive emotions or have memory problems where they can’t recall certain parts of the traumatic event.
Emotional injuries can be just as devastating as the physical injuries. It is important for anyone who has experienced trauma to see a medical professional if experiencing any symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, and depression. If you do develop PTSD following a crash, then the driver who caused the collision can be held responsible and required to compensate you for that loss and the damages caused by that loss.
If you have questions, please contact an attorney at Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. at 303-451-0300.