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Seeking damages for post-crash PTSD

On Behalf of | Jul 31, 2024 | Personal Injury |

A car crash can be a life-altering event, not just physically but also mentally. In Georgia, individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a car accident may be entitled to seek damages for this particular kind of harm, provided that they were not 50% or more to blame for their injurious circumstances. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a medical condition that develops in the wake of either experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a car crash. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the triggering event. Understandably, these challenges can impact an individual’s health and well-being in a myriad of ways. 

Pursuing compensation

In Georgia, victims of preventable collisions can seek compensation for damages related to PTSD from those who are responsible for this harm. To successfully claim these damages, a victim must prove that their accident was caused by another party’s negligence, recklessness or intentional conduct, and that their PTSD directly resulted from the crash.

Victims may be entitled to several types of damages, including:

  • Medical expenses: Both medical costs that have already been incurred, and those that are expected to arise as a result of a crash victim’s harm, may be claimed
  • Lost wages: If a crash victim is unable to work due to their PTSD, they may be entitled to lost income until they recover sufficiently enough to reenter the workforce
  • Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages for the emotional and psychological distress caused by PTSD may be available in many cases
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for one’s diminished quality of life resulting from PTSD symptoms may also be awarded

To seek damages for PTSD, detailed medical records and additional supporting evidence will need to be made available. Seeking personalized legal guidance and support as soon as possible tends to be very beneficial as well.