Compensation for Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident

When it comes to physical injuries or property damages, there is often visible evidence to help prove your case. 

Whether it be photographs, x-rays, or even eyewitness accounts of the accident, acquiring evidence always improves your chances of securing an adequate settlement for your personal injury case. However, injuries that lurk below the surface can be very difficult to prove or provide ancillary documentation. 

It is important to know that you are able to seek compensation for any emotional trauma as a result of the accident. However, the process can be a bit more tricky than with physical injuries, read on to learn more. 

Emotional Trauma and Personal Injury

Without an experienced and skilled attorney, personal injury claims are difficult to get compensation for on their own. We have several blogs surrounding this topic. When it comes down to it, insurance adjusters (as friendly as they may seem) don’t have your best interest in mind. 

With any personal injury claim, it’s crucial that you come prepared with adequate evidence to support your claims and damages. In a typical personal injury case, we always recommend seeking medical care right away, gathering supporting documents, and witness accounts to help your case. This can be difficult to navigate even in the most ordinary of cases. When emotional trauma is involved, things can get sticky.  

Gather Evidence

See a Mental Health Professional

As with a physical injury, getting a professional diagnosis will help add evidence to your case. It’s important that you seek care sooner rather than later. Both physical injuries and mental health-related injuries should be examined by a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Delays can hurt your case. 

It’s not uncommon to experience some PTSD and emotional trauma after an accident. In fact, some emotional trauma may not present itself until later than you might expect. Being examined by a licensed mental health professional as soon as you can after an accident is always beneficial in the long run. 

Your attorney may suggest that you seek out a therapist for regular treatment in which your provider will be able to provide you (and your attorney) with a diagnosis and work with you to develop a treatment plan. All of this will be able to be used as evidence in your case – including any physical injuries you may have sustained along with the emotional distress. 

Testimony from Family, Friends and Coworkers

When it comes to emotional trauma, much of the battle you are fighting is from within. It can be difficult for others to comprehend how you feel, especially strangers. 

Testimonies from your loved ones and close acquaintances can add to proving your claims. If your home, family, and work-life have been affected by the emotional trauma sustained in an accident – you could be owed compensation. 

Seek Legal Advice

As with any personal injury claim, when it comes down to it, evidence (or lack thereof) is what will make or break your case seeking compensation for emotional distress. 

Emotional damage can be difficult to prove, but with the help of a trusted legal advisor, you can set yourself up to be taken care of throughout your settlement process. 

If you’ve suffered emotionally after a car accident, give us a call to talk with us today.