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Auto Accident 1.18.2022

Claiming Damages for PTSD After a Car Accident

  

PTSD is a very common injury many lawyers overlook when representing a car accident victim. Many people who sustain injuries in a motor vehicle accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver should be able to recover compensation for all of their damages and losses. However, most people who think of vehicle accidents, may only think of visible traumatic injuries such as broken or dislocated bones, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, etc. However, many crash victims can also sustain various types of invisible emotional and psychological trauma, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression as a sequela of the physical injuries. Our local car accident lawyers want to tell you how you can go about getting compensation for PTSD after a car accident in Michigan.

Can You Get For PTSD After a Vehicle Accident in Michigan?

Yes, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition caused or triggered by certain types of traumatic events a person experience. This can include an individual actually experiencing a traumatic event, physical injuries, or even witnessing a traumatic event. There are various types of symptoms common with PTSD, including these:

  • Intrusive memories or flashbacks related to the incident
  • Negative changes in mood or thinking
  • Changes in normal emotional reactions
  • Avoidance behaviors

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) published data shows that 39.2% of all motor vehicle accident survivors develop symptoms of PTSD. When we consider that there are usually over 200,000 crashes each year across the state of Michigan, it is safe to say that many individuals in Michigan auto and motorcycle accidents develop PTSD as a result of crash related injuries. Looking deeper into data provided by the Michigan Department of State Police, we can see that more than 114,000 individuals sustain serious injuries as a result of motor vehicle accidents during the latest reporting year across the state.

Proving PTSD After a Vehicle Crash

In proving PTSD after a vehicle accident in Michigan can be complicated. However, you can use direct bills or receipts related to PTSD treatment and diagnosis with these types of injuries. People suffering from PTSD can prove pain and suffering, including PTSD, types of damages in a several ways, including:

  • Showing mental health treatment from a psychologist or psychiatrist
  • Keeping a daily injury journal or diary that documents emotional and psychological experiences after the crash
  • Witness testimony from friends or family members who could speak to how the incident has affected the individual
  • Injured persons testimony about the PTSD symptoms experienced

In general, the typical insurance carriers and personal injury juries are more likely to award compensation for pain and suffering after incident that causes severe visible injuries, but PTSD can be a serious component of the damages claim. A skilled personal injury lawyer in Michigan will be able to handle every aspect of your damages claim. You may wonder, can auto accident lawyers near me fully investigate the accident, determine liability, and work with trusted medical and economic professionals to properly calculate all expected damages and losses.

PTSD Is Part Of Non-Economic Damages

Individuals who experience post-traumatic stress disorder after a vehicle accident in Michigan should be able to recover compensation for their damages. Any individual harmed in a Michigan car accident will have medical bills and various types of pain and suffering losses to present as damages in a motor vehicle accident case. In Michigan, PTSD will fall under the non-economic, or pain and suffering, category when the jury considers awarding money compensation.

Properly calculating non-economic losses after a vehicle accident can present challenges, but an experienced personal injury attorney will typically use a general damages analysis to do so. It will be easy to demonstrate to a jury a "Lifetime General Damages Analysis" by adding up the damages for each segment of your life. One effective technique The Joseph Dedvukaj Firm uses for summarizing damages for physical and mental injuries in cases, is the segmental approach. For example, using a per diem amount for each type of general damage. Such as, demonstrating this is the way the car accident victim must live with his or her injury--hour-by-hour, day-by-day and year-by-year. Damages can be quantified on a daily or hourly amount, and an award can be changed based on the impact the injury could have at each stage of the injured person’s life. The lump sum requested can be broken down to even minute by minute.

Need Help From A Detroit Area Car Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a car accident, please call 866-HIRE-JOE for a free case review and assessment of your options by asking Google for car accident lawyer near me at the Joseph Dedvukaj Firm is ready to come to you if you are unable to meet at our office.

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The Joseph Dedvukaj Firm, P.C represents Michigan clients in a full range of personal injury matters. If you have been injured, contact us for a free consultation.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute a client relationship.
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