Can PTSD Be Part Of A Personal Injury Claim?

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Best Lawyer and American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorney, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Accident Victims and Their Loved Ones. If You Were Seriously Injured in an Accident That Was Not Your Fault and Have Since Been Diagnosed with PTSD, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Negotiate a Settlement or Secure a Court-Ordered Award.

Scars are not always physical.

For many survivors, overcoming an initial injury is only the first step on the road to recovery. Even after months have gone by long enough for bruises to fade and broken bones to mend, the psychological trauma of a serious accident can linger.

Although no amount of money can undo a life-altering diagnosis, you do not have to bear the financial burden of recovery alone. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients across the state secure more than $300 million in compensation money they have used to eliminate their medical debt, seek superior psychiatric care, and begin rebuilding.

We could help you, too, but you have to act fast.

Please call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a PTSD claims lawyer and find out how much your case could be worth.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common but hard-to-treat mental health condition that is most often caused by involvement in an extremely stressful event.

Most people who endure personal trauma will experience temporary hardship. If you were hurt in a car accident, for instance, it might take a long time before you feel comfortable getting back behind the wheel, even if it was somebody else’s mistake that caused the crash. These kinds of feelings fear, uncertainty, and apprehension are a normal part of the recovery process. With time, they usually get better and may even go away.

But, for some survivors, these symptoms do not get better; in some cases, they may even grow worse, affecting your ability to function day-in and day-out.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is usually diagnosed when a constellation of common symptoms persists for more than several months or several years after the initial accident.

The early-warning signs of PTSD typically begin to appear within three months of a traumatic event, though this timeline is far from rigid. Most symptoms last for at least a month and noticeably impact your ability to work, maintain relationships, and otherwise go about your daily business.

The most common signs of undiagnosed PTSD include:

Intrusive memories are unwanted and distressing recollections of the traumatic event, sometimes but not always manifesting as flashbacks. They can also take the form of vivid, life-like nightmares or severe, hard-to-control reactions to something that reminds you of the accident.

People with PTSD will often try to avoid potential stressors. They might not want to talk about the traumatic event even with people they love and trust and will sometimes make an active, concerted effort to avoid situations that could trigger feelings of discomfort.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is closely associated with negative changes in cognition, though, and mood. This means that you might have negative thoughts about yourself and the world, with many victims mistakenly blaming themselves for the traumatic event. You might also feel depressed and emotionally numb.

Your personality can change with PTSD, leaving you more easily frightened and startled than before. Some people will also channel their trauma into self-destructive behaviors, like drinking too much alcohol or driving recklessly.

Managing a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis can be time-consuming, emotionally exhausting, and financially draining. Even with good health insurance, treatment can be intense, often involving some combination of:

1. Regular psychotherapy;
2. Medication for symptoms like anxiety and depression; and
3. Building support networks among friends, family, coworkers, and other survivors.

Healing from post-traumatic stress disorder is not easy, and there is no magic pill to make its symptoms disappear overnight. Even if you are showing good progress, treatment itself can take a toll on your body and mind, with many prescription medications for depression and anxiety themselves associated with other complications.

If you have been diagnosed with PTSD, you could be entitled to damages for:

1. Your medical expenses. You could be entitled to reimbursement for hospital visits, psychiatric care, psychotherapy, prescription medication, and any paid co-pays and deductibles related to your PTSD diagnosis.

2. Continuing care. There is no standard regimen for PTSD, and treatment often takes place over the course of many years. Depending on the circumstances of your case and the severity of your symptoms, you could be entitled to compensation for the costs of all reasonable and foreseeable care, no matter how long it takes for your condition to improve.
3. Lost income from work. Post-traumatic stress disorder can introduce challenges in the workplace. In some cases, severe symptoms may even prevent you from returning to your former place of employment, particularly if the nature of your job reminds you of the accident or risks triggering flashbacks.
4. Pain and suffering. These damages are intended to provide financial relief from the emotional distress caused by your PTSD diagnosis and symptoms.
5. Loss of enjoyment. You may be able to claim additional damages for any PTSD-related reduction in your quality of life.

Calculating damages can be complex, but you do not have to do it yourself.

A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping New York families assert their rights to a fair recovery. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with PTSD after a traumatic accident, our team of highly experienced attorneys could help you secure the compensation you need to begin reclaiming your independence. Please send us a message online or call us today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a personal injury lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!