Do Juries Take Claims of PTSD Seriously?

Car Accident, FAQ

A lot of people don’t understand what PTSD is. It stands for something called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.) People who experience a very traumatic incident may suffer long term psychological issues. PTSD is one of these issues. Serious car accident victims can end up with PTSD.

People with PTSD sometimes relive the traumatic event over and over again. They suffer extreme anxiety when they’re reminded of the accident. While this anxiety can be short-term, more often than not, it last years or can even be permanent.

When we think of PTSD, we tend to think of war veterans and abuse victims. However, anyone who suffers a very scary and traumatic accident can be diagnosed with this disorder. When someone has PTSD, they tend to relive the trauma over and over again. The littlest things can trigger their anxiety and send them into a panic. People who are in very serious car accidents can suffer PTSD just like war veterans or crime victims.

If you or your loved one are suffering from PTSD after a car wreck, you should contact an experienced Greenville car crash lawyer. They can review your case and let you know if you’re entitled to damages.

Recognize the Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD doesn’t always show up right away. The other problem is that some people don’t recognize the symptoms. All they know is that they’re dealing with a lot of anxiety following their accident. They don’t always realize what is wrong with them.

Some of the common symptoms of PTSD include:

  • Experiencing the traumatic event over and over, sometimes in the form of flashbacks
  • Being emotionally numb and avoiding people, places or things that remind them of the traumatic event
  • Problems with sleeping, concentrating and periods of heightened anxiety

In addition to these symptoms, people with PTSD also suffer from some or all of the following issues:

  • Insomnia
  • Nightmares
  • Agoraphobia
  • Dissociative reactions
  • Intense psychological distress

There are limited treatments for PTSD. However, none of them can make it go away without long-term therapy.

There are Some Treatments for PTSD

Car accident victims suffering from PTSD may require long-term medical treatment. Some of the treatment options for PTSD are:

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy: Victims are forced to talk about their trauma. The hope is that they’ll become less sensitive to triggers that make them think about the crash.
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy: Therapists have their patients identify the things that remind them about the accident. They try to make these things carry less meaning for the victim.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: This treatment focuses on ways the patient can distract themselves from thinking about the event. It takes a lot of practice but, over time, the goal is to be able to use these calming techniques whenever you have a PTSD flare-up.
  • Stress Inoculation Therapy: This is just a treatment that teaches you general ways to deal with stress.
  • Medications: Some patients who don’t respond to other treatment methods may have to take medication to deal with their PTSD. They may end up on this medication the rest of their lives.

Your Greenville car crash lawyer can get you damages for your injuries, including PTSD. They’ll rely on medical records and testimony by your therapist to prove you’re suffering from the disorder.

Judges and Juries are Skeptical When it Comes to PTSD

Because there no physiological signs of PTSD, some juries and judges don’t believe you have it. Generally speaking, juries are skeptical of claims of PTSD. This is usually the result of a few bad apples ruining the whole bunch.

Some patients exaggerate their injuries. They make juries look at PTSD as a fake illness. They don’t want to aware high amounts of damages to people they don’t consider “injured.” Your Greenville auto accident attorney will have to work hard to prove you’re actually suffering from the disorder.

Contact a Greenville Car Crash Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in South Carolina, you need to call a Greenville car crash lawyer. Your lawyer can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. They can also answer any questions you may have.

Call Brumback & Langley today and schedule your free initial consultation. And remember – you pay nothing until you settle your case.