A car accident can happen in an instant on Pennsylvania roads, leaving you with serious physical injuries. These injuries could keep you from working as well as enjoying your favorite activities with your friends and family.
However, physical injuries are not the only ones that you should be aware of after a car accident. As we have discussed in a past blog post, the emotional impact of a crash can be just as severe as any physical injury.
What kind of emotional trauma could you face after a crash?
Regardless of whether or not the accident was severe, individuals could experience a wide range of emotional reactions long after the shock of the accident. In fact, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) reports that individuals involved in a car accident often experience:
- Anxiety and phobia disorders
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
The risk of suffering this kind of emotional trauma often only increases if:
- The accident is severe and you feared for your life;
- You have a pre-existing mental or physical condition; or
- There is a lack of coping strategies or support after the accident.
Emotional trauma is usually invisible compared to physical injuries. However, you must still take it seriously. Your mental health is important. If the emotional trauma begins to interfere with your daily life, it might be helpful to seek out mental health counseling to help you heal and cope with the trauma after an accident.
Keep an eye out for symptoms – and document them
It is possible to recover compensation for the emotional trauma you suffered after an accident. However, to do so, it is critical that you and your loved ones document any symptoms you notice and how they affect your life, such as:
- Trouble sleeping or focusing;
- Irritability;
- Withdrawing from people or activities; and
- Avoidance behaviors.
A car crash might only last a second, but the overall impact of one can affect your physical and mental health for a long time afterward. That is why you and your loved ones deserve full compensation for the pain and suffering you experience after a crash.
Get trusted help if you are suffering from emotional or physical injuries
At McDonald At Law, our knowledgeable staff works to get people who are injured in car accidents their deserved compensation. Our founding attorney, Michael McDonald, is the only attorney in Lancaster County who exclusively represents accident victims who is also Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Michael McDonald has obtained many million and multimillion-dollar verdicts, settlements and arbitration awards on behalf of our clients over his lengthy career.
You can talk to our personal injury lawyer now by calling us at 717-899-1907 or by sending us an email.