Pursuing Compensation for PTSD After a Car Accident

Pursuing Compensation for PTSD After a Car Accident

By:
Stephen M. Smith
|
Last Updated:
May 1, 2024
Best Law Firm logo
A teenage psychotherapy patient talks to her therapist during a session.

An Attorney Can Help Pursue Compensation for PTSD After a Car Accident

PTSD from a car accident can greatly impact your life. A car accident attorney can help you pursue a lawsuit for financial compensation. 

Motor vehicle accidents can be terrifying experiences for everyone involved. Beyond physical injuries, the emotional toll can be significant. Feelings of fear and helplessness may linger long after the accident. For survivors, the trauma of the event may lead to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. PTSD following a motor vehicle accident is a serious, debilitating condition that can have a profound impact on an individual's mental health. Symptoms of PTSD can significantly affect a person's ability to function in daily life. PTSD can impact a survivor’s relationships, work, and overall well-being.

If you have experienced a car accident and are now suffering from PTSD, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the parties who have caused you injury or harm. A car accident lawsuit can help hold responsible parties accountable for their actions and create safer communities for all. Contact the attorneys at The Smith Law Center online or by calling (757) 244-7000. Our team is standing by to listen to you and give your case the very best chance at success.

How Much Compensation for PTSD After a Car Accident?

Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include car accidents, truck accidents, or other life-threatening situations. Living with PTSD can be difficult. A car accident PTSD settlement or jury award can help you pay for your medical expenses as well as your day-to-day living expenses. 

Compensation that you can pursue through a settlement for PTSD after a car accident may include: 

  • Compensation for emotional hardship: This type of compensation is also referred to as pain and suffering compensation. An award for emotional hardship or pain and suffering is meant to make up for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish you may have experienced after your car accident. 
  • Medical expenses: Car accidents can cause serious injuries that require extensive medical attention. Your medical bills may be incredibly costly. A lawsuit can help you recover the funds necessary to treat your injuries and properly heal after a car accident. 
  • Punitive awards: Punitive awards are intended to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions and send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated. These awards are available in cases involving extreme negligence or recklessness. A lawyer can help determine if you will be able to pursue a punitive award in your lawsuit. 
  • Lost wages or lost income: You may be able to pursue compensation for missed workdays, reduced earning capacity, and future lost wages if the injuries result in long-term disability or impairment. If your PTSD has impacted your ability to work in the future, you may also be able to obtain compensation for lost future income. 

In a car accident lawsuit, an attorney can help you pursue a car accident PTSD settlement with the insurance company. Your attorney can also help you pursue litigation to secure the compensation you deserve. Determining the average settlement for PTSD after a car accident can be challenging, so hiring an attorney to help you is a good first step. 

Settlements vary widely. The amount of your settlement will depend on factors such as the severity of the PTSD symptoms, the impact on the individual's life, and the strength of the evidence supporting the claim. Additionally, each case is unique and will involve different facts and circumstances. 

If you have experienced a car accident and now suffer from PTSD, a lawyer can help you pursue a lawsuit for financial compensation. A skilled car accident attorney can guide you through the legal process, gather evidence to support your claim, and advocate on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.

By enlisting the support of a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer, you can focus on your recovery. Your lawyer will handle all legal aspects of your case and work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

Contact your Virginia car accident attorneys from The Smith Law Center online or by calling our office at (757) 244-7000. An attorney can help you begin the legal process.

Understanding PTSD from a Car Accident

After experiencing a car accident, you must seek medical help as soon as possible. Some injuries, particularly brain injuries, have delayed symptoms. By taking care of your injuries early you increase your chances of making a full recovery. Concussions, whiplash, and any other blow to the head should be taken seriously. 

Conditions like PTSD may follow the occurrence of serious accidents. PTSD after a car accident is very common. According to a report published by the National Library for Medicine, 53% of individuals surveyed report mood disturbances, including PTSD, after motor vehicle accidents.

PTSD can begin to occur shortly after a traumatic event. However, in some cases, symptoms may not appear until long after the traumatic event has occurred. PTSD can also develop weeks, months, or even years later and may be triggered by a reminder or a similar traumatic experience. 

If you begin to experience PTSD symptoms, you should seek out treatment from a medical professional immediately. You should then consider whether or not you would like to seek legal action. PTSD can be terrifying. You may feel like you are reliving the traumatic event over and over again. A personal injury attorney can fight for you and your family and make sure that you receive the justice you are entitled to.

Contact a Brain Injury Attorney 

Hiring an attorney to handle your lawsuit is a very important step in the legal process. The attorneys from The Smith Law Center have years of experience in handling car accidents and car accident injury lawsuits. 

Our team has the knowledge and resources to set your case up for success from the very beginning. We have won many cases for our clients including a $7.5 million dollar jury award for a woman who sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. 

When you are ready, contact a personal injury attorney from The Smith Law Center online or by calling (757) 244-7000. Our team is standing by to answer your questions and help you understand the legal process. 

Lawyers at Smith Law Center

About Smith Law Center

Our lawyers are more than lawyers. They are people who understand your injuries and the law that surrounds your options when it comes to holding others accountable.
ABOUT US

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

Tony Laizure, Principal Laizure Law
Google logo

I have had the immense pleasure to work with Stephen M. Smith many times over the years, and every case ends in success for the client. He is so passionate about his clients and cares deeply about them.

Anonymous (Former Client)
Google logo

They treat you with respect & compassion every step of the way…

Jonathan Wren
Google logo

Great firm. Stephen, David, and their team did a wonderful job representing a brain-injured client I referred to them for hard-fought case against a trucking company in federal court.

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro
Google logo

I have the pleasure of working with the team at the Smith Law Center regularly. They are well rounded, and their commitment to their clients is top notch.

Donna
Google logo

… your firm is personally responsible for taking what was a horrible tragedy and transforming it into a legacy…

Joe
Google logo

… [Mr. Smith's] style of representation was impeccable, classy, and he cleverly executed every facet of the case …

Nancy
Google logo

… I really can’t thank you enough for securing the damages to which I was entitled …

Marybeth
Google logo

… I am beyond grateful for their caring manner, their legal prowess, and their attention to detail …

Tom
Google logo

Although this card is rather small, the “Thank You” isn’t small at all … You will never know what this money has meant to us. It does not remove the affects of the stroke, but makes things somewhat better …

Tammy & John
Google logo

… For such a large firm, we received very personal care. We will always recommend you highly! …

Angelicia S
Google logo

I had the pleasure of working with Attorney Gill. He was very professional and made the process worth the while. This law firm cares about their clients and it shows. Thank you all for going over and beyond.

Erin L
Google logo

I was very happy with the Smith Law Center. They are professional, attentive and will truly fight for you. The entire office is very nice and communicates throughout the whole process. Mr. Gill is fantastic as well as the paralegals and the other administration team.

Mike S
Google logo

David Holt did an excellent job dealing with a largely uncooperative insurance adjuster. He explored all avenues of recovery, their fees were fair and, once settled, payment was prompt. Five stars all the way.

Christin S
Google logo

Working with David and Lisa was a wonderful experience. I was overwhelmed by their kindness and efficiency.

Kevin Mottley
Google logo

I have had the pleasure of working alongside Stephen Smith, David Holt, and Stewart Gill for several years now, representing traumatic brain injury survivors in fights against insurance companies. These guys are a pleasure to work with and are true trial lawyers who fight for their clients day in and day out in court.

Andy H
Google logo

The attorneys and staff at Smith Law Center are great to work with. They care not only about a successful recovery, but ensuring their clients know what options are available for protecting the recovery long-term.

Shaminece H.
Google logo

The team and my attorney were so friendly. They were always available to help me or answer my questions, and the process wasn’t long at all. I’m so grateful for the services they gave me and for treating me like family.

Shannon L
Google logo

... I have the pleasure of working with the team at the Smith Law Center regularly ... They are well rounded, and their commitment to their clients is top notch.

Andy H
Google logo

... The attorneys and staff are great to work with ... They care not only about a successful recovery, but ensuring their clients know what options are available for protecting the recovery long-term.

Jonathan B
Google logo

... Mr. Smith helped us get a settlement fast, and things are much better now ...Without Stephen’s help I’d probably be dead and penniless. I am a brain injury survivor. On the 4th of July weekend (in 2004), my life was turned inside out when I was hit on my motorcycle. My brother-in-law was searching for brain injury specialists and happened to find Mr. Smith. And he was a lawyer too! Mr. Smith helped us get a settlement fast, and things are much better now.