Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been in the news a lot in recent years as men and women fighting overseas find they have another battle to fight once they get home. Plagued by memories of war, many armed forces members find themselves struggling to cope with bad dreams, anxiety and other issues related to the actions they witnessed during combat. Sometimes, these very real issues can persist for years afterward, altering behaviors and relationships, making it difficult to hold a job and even causing other significant health effects due to continual stress and lack of sleep.
PTSD and car accidents
But what many people don’t know is that active service is not the only cause of post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD can occur in anyone who has experienced a traumatic event, and it can occur even in people who have not been directly, physically injured in that event.
Recent studies have focused on the effects of car accidents on PTSD, and what they’ve found has been alarming. One recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found the symptoms of PTSD can be very serious among accident victims, and they can persist for many months afterward. Another study published in the same journal reported changes in brain activity in a husband and wife who were involved in a serious car accident, even though they sustained no physical injuries. According to that report, the husband experienced intense anxiety and escape-focused thoughts, with a significant increase in heart rate; the wife experienced “great peritraumatic dissociation,” reporting feelings of mental “numbness” and being “frozen,” and also showed changes in brain activity. Not only do these studies underscore how serious PTSD can be in auto accident victims, but they also highlight how different victims’ experiences and symptoms can be.
Car accident lawyer in Kennesaw
For a free legal consultation, call (770) 792-1000
It’s easy to think of car accidents in terms of physical injury and property damage. But the fact is, many injuries are not “on the outside,” but psychological in nature. Getting compensation for pain and suffering or other “non-physical” injuries can be very difficult, and the best way to protect your rights and support your case is by having a skilled and experienced attorney on your side who knows which evaluations you need to have to clearly demonstrate the full scale of your injuries.
As a leading car accident lawyer in the Kennesaw area, Roger Ghai is ready to battle the insurance companies and get accident victims the compensation they need and deserve to help address all their injuries. From gathering evidence to taking witness statements to helping victims schedule important medical and psychological testing, the Law Offices of Roger Ghai will work with you so you feel confident your rights are being represented.
When you need a car accident lawyer in Kennesaw or the surrounding area, Roger Ghai can help you protect your rights and pursue compensation. The sooner you have an attorney working for you, the better. Call us today at (770)792-1000 and schedule your consultation.
Source
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Not Uncommon After an AccidentUsing studies like this:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ajp.156.4.589
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.160.4.667
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