A personal injury can affect a person’s life in many ways. The physical injuries a person suffers are often the most obvious, since they will require medical treatment, and they may cause temporary or permanent impairments that affect a person’s ability to move around freely and return to their daily activities. However, a victim can also suffer “invisible” injuries that affect them emotionally. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common for injury victims, and it can cause a great deal of difficulty in a person’s life. Victims should be sure to work with an attorney to address these types of injuries and ensure that they can receive financial compensation from the person or parties who were responsible.
Symptoms of PTSD
A person may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing an event where they suffered bodily harm or were placed in a situation that threatened their life or their personal safety. PTSD is common after car accidents, dog bites, or other frightening situations. A person who suffers from PTSD may be affected in a variety of ways, including:
- Reliving the incident – A victim may experience intrusive flashbacks or memories of their injury, and this can cause a great deal of distress, affecting their ability to complete daily tasks. Flashbacks may be triggered by seeing or hearing about similar incidents, or they may occur unexpectedly. A person may also experience nightmares, and this may affect their ability to get enough sleep.
- Avoiding certain situations – To ensure they do not relive the trauma, a person may avoid activities, locations, or other situations that remind them of the event. This can limit the activities a person is able to perform as part of their work or during their personal life.
- Mood disorders – A person may experience different types of emotional issues, including anxiety, depression, irritability, or excessive anger. They may struggle with guilt or shame, get less enjoyment out of activities they had previously found pleasure in, or have difficulty experiencing positive emotions. A person may also become easily startled and experience physical symptoms such as elevated heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. These issues may affect their ability to form or maintain relationships, and they can also impact a person’s ability to perform work-related tasks
Even though PTSD is not as outwardly obvious as a physical injury, it can still affect a person in many ways, limiting their ability to work and affecting their enjoyment of life. Victims will want to work with an attorney to fully document their symptoms and the ways their lives have been affected, ensuring that they can receive financial compensation from those who were responsible.
Contact Our Appleton, WI Emotional Injury Attorneys
If you have experienced PTSD or other forms of emotional trauma following an accident or injury, Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. can help you determine your best options for pursuing compensation. Contact our Green Bay personal injury lawyers at 920-739-7366 to set up a free consultation today.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd