Louisiana personal injury: PTSD and car accidents

A car accident is a traumatic experience to go through. Not only are physical injuries likely to be suffered, but emotional injuries may also occur. The mind of a person who goes through something horrible may react in a way that one does not expect as it tries to process and deal with what happened, and how it reacts is not always positive. A psychologically-related personal injury can have devastating effects, which is why the laws of Louisiana allow victims with such injuries to seek relief for any resulting losses -- under the right circumstances.

According to current statistics, about 9% of all car accident victims end up developing post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD can occur even following minor accidents. If one develops it may be due to several factors, but primarily it comes down to how the victim perceived the incident.

Symptoms of PTSD vary from person to person, but they may include depression, anger, anxiety and avoidance. One may struggle to get behind the wheel of a car again, fail to enjoy life, struggle to thrive in the workplace and end up with various health problems because of PTSD. It is not something to take lightly and anyone exhibiting symptoms would be wise to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Certain people are more prone to develop PTSD after a car accident. It is believed that those with pre-existing mental health issues have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with it. Other risk factors include:

• The victim has a weak support system
• The injuries suffered were life-threatening
• The victim has a family history of mental illness
• The victim has experienced one or more traumatic events previously

Treating PTSD can go away on its own, but a lot of people experience an increase in symptom severity in the months and years following the traumatic event. This is why treatment is generally needed to help individuals with PTSD move on in a healthy way. The cost of treatment, though, on top of the other expenses resulting from a car accident can be too much for some people to handle alone. Through filing a personal injury claim in a Louisiana civil court -- if doing so is deemed appropriate, -- one can seek fair and full compensation for any damages sustained which, if achieved, can help one receive the assistance needed during recovery.