After you have been involved in a car accident, you might not have suffered any physical injuries, but that doesn't mean that you haven't suffered any other injuries. A large percentage of drivers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after they are involved in a car accident. If you need therapy as a result of your accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of therapy.

The Effects of PTSD

After a car accident, you may suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, and mood swings. You may find it difficult to drive without having a panic attack and this can affect your ability to work. However, you may struggle to prove that you are suffering from PTSD because this is something that the other driver's insurance provider will not be able to directly see. Therefore, you'll need to be diagnosed for PTSD and you'll need help from a car accident lawyer.

The PTSD Diagnosis

To receive compensation for PTSD, you must see a qualified mental health professional. The therapist will help create a record of the problems you are suffering from. However, there is, unfortunately, a sigma surrounding those who are suffering from mental health problems and there may be more of an attempt to deny your claim. However, because PTSD is so common, you might have a better chance of receiving compensation than if you were to claim to suffer from a different mental disorder.

Your attorney will need to prove that your PTSD is directly tied to your car accident. For example, if you were suffering from mental health issues before you were involved in a car accident, you may not be entitled to compensation for your PTSD. You will need to show that symptoms such as withdrawal, hypersensitivity, and flashbacks began after the accident.

The Cost of PTSD

Psychiatric treatment can be much more expensive when you are suffering from PTSD. You may need years of therapy. You may also be entitled to pain and suffering as a result of the emotional turmoil. You may also require a medication to treat your psychiatric disorder that can be very expensive. Also, you will need all of your treatments to be documented and given to your attorney.

Auto accident attorneys will use the documentation to construct a demand letter that can then be sent to the insurance provider of the other motorist. Then, you may be able to negotiate a settlement.

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