Auto collisions often result in personal injury and property damage, but that’s not the only kind of harm they can cause. These incidents can produce a wide range of emotional reactions, many of which can have a lasting impact on mental health. To better illustrate these effects, here’s a quick look at a few common mental health issues associated with car collisions and how they factor into the compensation that victims may receive.

What Mental Health Challenges Are Common After a Collision?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the general population. After a crash, individuals with PTSD may have disturbing flashbacks of the event, avoid activities that trigger memories of the event, feel emotionally detached, or experience paranoia.

Anxiety 

Most people will have some level of anxiety immediately after a crash, but some may experience this mental health effect long after the event. This prolonged anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, such as a persistent feeling of uneasiness, sleep problems, physical tension, panic attacks, nausea, and poor focus.   

Depression

Victims of collisions sometimes develop depression, especially if a personal injury or resulting expense has limited their overall quality of life. Depending on the severity of the condition, major depressive disorder can cause fatigue, negative thought patterns, irritability, and recurring impulses to commit self-harm, among other symptoms. 

How Do Psychological Issues Impact Physical Recovery?

People with anxiety or depression often produce higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can diminish the immune system’s ability to heal physical injuries. Emotional stress may also make it more difficult for victims to seek out or follow-through on activities that promote recovery, such as medical visits, surgeries, and physical therapy. 

Can You Seek Compensation for the Mental Health Effects of Collisions?

Mental health effects can be included as part of the damages you seek from the at-fault party. Specifically, your attorney can request compensation that reflects the cost of mental health medications and professional psychological care. You can also receive compensation proportional to the amount of pain and suffering you experienced because of the collision. 

When an auto collision harms your physical or mental health, the Law Offices of Alan M. Laskin in Elk Grove, CA, will help you seek damages from those responsible for the accident. With 30 years of experience handling trials and settlement cases, Laskin and his team are skilled at demonstrating damages and arguing for fair compensation for personal injury. Find out more about this representation on the firm’s website. To discuss your case in a free consultation, call (916) 689-0700.