Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | December 17, 2021 | Car Accidents
Car accidents are destructive for many reasons. Death, injury, vehicle and property damage, missed work, and medical bills are some of the many issues you might have to deal with after a car accident.
But what about the consequences that can’t be seen or measured? In this post, we’ll explore the options available when you face PTSD after a car accident in New York City.
PTSD Is Serious
Accidents are one of the leading causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is a serious and life-altering condition. It appears in the aftermath of a traumatic situation.
PTSD comes with many possible symptoms, which can include:
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Pervasive fear
- Nightmares
- Sleeplessness
- Altered personality
- Heightened reactions
- Relationship issues
Some people who develop PTSD after a car accident are impacted so severely that they are unable to even drive or ride in a car. The condition can have a serious negative impact on relationships, mental health, and a person’s quality of life.
Treating PTSD may require ongoing therapy or prescription medications. These commitments cost time and money.
Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress
If you suspect you have developed PTSD after a New York City car crash, it’s important to know you have options.
Sometimes, people think that lawsuits are only possible when the damage is objectively measurable. After all, the damage is easy to see and calculate when a vehicle is destroyed, as a vehicle has a determined market value.
However, many kinds of damages don’t inherently possess a dollar value. Instead, value is assessed and applied through a series of calculations.
People aren’t always aware that mental anguish and emotional distress are serious components of a personal injury claim. As such, they are valid grounds for a lawsuit.
Compensation for PTSD
If an NYC car accident has left you with PTSD, you could be entitled to compensation for the resulting effects. Success in a case like this comes down to correctly documenting information to build a strong case.
PTSD is considered to be a form of personal injury. To have a valid case, three criteria must be present:
- An injury occurred
- The other party’s negligent behavior caused the injury
- Financial costs resulted from the injury
Legal counsel can help to build the argument to show how you qualify for compensation by showing that your damages meet the above criteria.
Building a Case
To show evidence of your damages, you’ll need to save any receipts and bills showing that you’ve paid for treatment, including therapy visits, doctor’s appointments, or medications.
You’ll also need to work alongside your attorney to build a case to show all of the ways that PTSD has negatively impacted your life. For example, if you lost your job because driving to work causes panic attacks, this can be included in your argument.
An attorney will help you look at the big picture and build a case to show the far-reaching effects that this condition has had on your life.
A condition like PTSD is highly personal and manifests differently in each individual. For this reason, there is no preset amount of compensation that you can seek for PTSD after a car accident in New York City.
Don’t Suffer in Silence
If a New York City car accident has radically altered your life, causing PTSD or other forms of mental anguish or emotional distress, don’t suffer in silence. State laws exist to help victims receive the help they need and deserve after an accident has drastically altered their quality of life.
New York State has a three-year statute of limitations on car accident lawsuits and personal injury lawsuits. Acting before you run out of time is important. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to set up a consultation with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that you can pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in New York City – Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our New York City car accident lawyers at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. to schedule a free consultation.
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C.
100 Wall St 15th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007
Open 24 hrs.