Often, accident victims overlook the mental impact that a motor vehicle accident causes. Accidents can affect a significant part of a victim’s mental state. Car accidents especially have severe consequences, which extend beyond physical damage.
Victims sometimes suffer mental imbalance long after their physical injuries have healed. In light of this, compensation should not be only based on physical damages; psychological damages should be included in the compensation package.
This article discusses how car accidents affect mental health and why recovering damages is essential.
Types of Psychological Impacts Vehicle Accident Victims Face
Car accident victims can sustain injuries in two ways: psychologically and physically. Psychological injuries can be quite severe, and they might be impossible to detect until a mental health professional interacts with the victim. This is not to say that all physical injuries from car accidents can be healed, but that they are usually straightforward to heal rather than psychological injuries.
Victims have varying mental imbalances. For some, emotional distress is temporary; it fades over time. Unfortunately, for some, the pain lasts a lifetime.
The following are signs of mental trauma vehicle accident victims can experience:
- Temporary or permanent withdrawal from social gatherings or loved ones
- Difficulty sleeping
- Unexplained pains
- Feeling low energy
- Substance abuse
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling guilty
- Panic attacks
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
- Finding it difficult to readjust to everyday life
Accident victims should seek professional help before and when they experience any of these symptoms. Assessing psychological issues is a vital step to adjusting to the new “normal” and recovery. Do not forget that healing from this experience will not happen overnight, but it is worth every process if you seek help.
What Makes Compensation Vital?
The law recognizes the significant effect of mental injuries, affirming that accident victims are entitled to compensation benefits for their mental healing journey, just as they get compensated for their physical injuries. However, even with this legal recognition, victims may still need to fight for their compensation rights if there is any form of injustice. That way, they will receive full support for their injuries.
As grave as physical injuries can be for accident victims, mental injuries can be more severe because some victims might find it difficult to see the world as an ordinary place. The liable parties should note that the pain they might have caused the victim, intentionally or not, is beyond the physical. Mental injuries deserve to be recognized and cared for.
Every accident survivor should be able to have all-around care and recover fully without having to worry about where they will source the funds for their treatments. Adequate compensation that puts victims in a good place can help to reduce the toll the event can have on their mental health.
Conclusion
If you find it challenging to get compensation for your physical and mental damages alone, hire an attorney. Attorneys experienced in personal injury cases can provide valuable guidance and support in navigating the claims process. Their wealth of knowledge can be beneficial when dealing with insurance companies.
West Virginia laws permit the recovery of damages via medical bills incurred from the accident and income lost during the treatment and recovery. Furthermore, you can claim compensation for emotional distress and any mental health care needed to address psychological injuries.
Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a fair outcome that allows you to focus on your recovery and strive to regain a sense of normalcy in your life.
“By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver liable for everything the accident has cost you,” says car accident lawyer Jan Dils of Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law.