What is PTSD?
I’m Ed Smith, a West Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. It may be hard to believe for some, but PTSD is not just something that soldiers experience. In fact, it can be experienced by anyone that has been through a traumatic event like a car accident. There may be circumstances where the independent medical examiner or IME arranged by the insurance company can overlook the occurrence in PTSD. Protect yourself and your family by knowing more about PTSD, the signs, and the probability of this occurring in children.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental condition that occurs after a person has experienced a shock or traumatic injury that results in them experiencing a change in behavior, life outlook, and stress levels. Often, this is seen in soldiers coming home from war, but it can also be seen in victims of abuse, those involved in car accidents, and other events that leave a lasting impression. A study published by the American Family Physician found that car accidents are actually the leading cause of people experiencing PTSD with about nine percent of car accident survivors developing this condition.
What are the Signs of PTSD?
There are a number of signs to be on the lookout for after an accident:
– Nightmares
– Sleep issues
– Flashbacks
– Trouble talking about the event
– Avoiding favorite activities
– Feeling hopeless about the future
– Memory loss
– Feeling numb and emotionless
– Feeling guilt and shame
– Having a hard time concentrating on things
– Relationship problems
– Feeling angry and irritable
– Engaging in self-damaging behaviors
– Being startled or frightened more easily than before
– Experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations
You May Not Experience All These Symptoms
This is not an exhaustive list, and there’s a good chance you won’t experience all of these signs, but it can be a good starting point for a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Can Children Experience PTSD After An Accident?
Yes, children can certainly experience PTSD after a car accident. It can be a very traumatizing event for them to go through and can result in them experiencing many of the same signs of PTSD as adults. There’s not as much research on children going through PTSD, but a pediatrician who works for the Center for Injury Research and Preventions named Dr. Flaura K. Winston has found in her research that about one in every eight children that are in an automobile accident suffer from a state of persistent mental stress. For reasons that are not exactly understood, girls appear to be a higher risk of PTSD compared to boys. PTSD is also more common if your child has another mental health issue like depression or anxiety.
You Are Not Alone
The good news is that you’re not alone if you believe that you have PTSD due to a car accident you survived. There have been other cases of it occurring, and it should be taken into account for any litigation that occurs from your accident. Talk with a professional to get the help you need for your circumstances.
West Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a West Sacramento personal injury lawyer. If you, or someone you care about has suffered an injury in an accident, please give me a call at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. I can also be reached toll-free by dialing (800) 404-5400.
For more than 3 decades now, I have helped people recover fair and just compensation in cases involving personal injury and wrongful death.
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I created the website AutoAccident.com. It contains ative personal injury website in Northern California.
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