Statistics found in a study performed in 2012 show that 27 percent of all injuries are caused to the psychological system.
In law, psychological injuries can be defined as any psychological or psychiatric condition in relation to an event that may proceed or proceeds to a lawsuit in tort action or other related legal claims. In most cases these types of injuries are mentally harmful, impairing, damaging, and may cause dysfunction to a person as a result of the negligent actions of another individual.
At Phillips Law Group, our car accident attorneys believe that if you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to the negligent actions of another individual, the victim may be eligible to receive compensation for losses and damages including; pain and suffering, loss of wages, medical expenses and damaged property.
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Psychological Injury Symptoms
As people respond to traumatic events in different ways, there is a great variety of symptoms that people can experience. Depending on the symptom, they may last for a few days up to a couple of months or longer. Typically, these symptoms will begin to fade away over time, of course, certain sounds, scenery, and situations may remind and individual of their traumatic experience.
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Confusion
- Disbelief
- Denial
- Fear
- Hopelessness
- Guilt
- Insomnia
- Elevated Heart Rate
- Fatigue
- Muscle Tension
- Withdrawal
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms related to psychological injuries, it is advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Additionally, medical documents can be used by our attorneys to develop a case against a negligent individual.
Types of Psychological Injuries
In some cases, an individual may have been involved in an automobile accident where a family member or friend has been seriously injured or that resulted in death. This type of situation may result in serious psychological injuries for that individual, which may cause an individual to miss work or return to living out life flawlessly.
The most common types of injuries include:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can develop as a result of a traumatic event where the threat of death exists to that individual or a friend of family member of that individual. This primarily affects this individuals ability to cope. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically include nightmares or flashbacks from the accident or specific situation.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injuries result when a strong force strikes an individuals head. A traumatic brain injury is the most common form of a concussion injury and is very common during automobile accidents. This typically affects a persons ability to remember, concentrate, and solve problems, pay attention, and control ones self. They have also been known to compromise ones activities of daily living.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is often referred to as an influential psychological injury due to individuals experiencing a large amount of pain recognizing the pain as not being real. Psychologists typically use cognitive and behavioral techniques to help these patients.
Although there are other forms of psychological injuries, these are the most common types of psychological injuries discovered as a result of automobile accidents.
Need Help? Contact an Arizona Attorney Today
At Phillips Law Group, our injury attorneys believe that if a negligent individual has caused harm to an innocent victim as a result of an automobile accident, that negligent individual should be held responsible for their actions in the court of law and pay for the losses and damages they have inflicted on the innocent victim.
With our main office in Phoenix, we are licensed to serve the entire state of Arizona.
A few areas we serve include:
To discover more about our Arizona car crash attorneys, we encourage you to contact our firm at 602-222-2222 where a member of our intake staff will answer your call and collect information regarding your accident. Next, they will quickly refer you to one of our helpful attorneys ready to handle your specific case in the court of law.
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Nearly 40% of accident victims may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the year following an accident, according to a study among survivors of serious motor vehicle accidents (those requiring medical attention) conducted by two Albany-area doctors. The American Psychological Association (APA) published their findings in 2003 in a book titled After the Crash: Assessment and Treatment of Motor Vehicle Accident Survivors.
The trauma one experiences during an auto accident can often lead to changes in mental condition that are known in a court of law as psychological injuries. This is defined as a mental condition that relates to an event that becomes the subject of a lawsuit. Psychological injury may or may not be accompanied by the diagnosis of a mental disorder, and effects may be temporary or lead to lifelong difficulties. These circumstances usually involve mental harm, impairment, damage or dysfunction that resulted from anothers negligence.
Often, a victims daily life may be changed forever. Unfortunately, psychological damages are often underestimated. If you or someone you loved suffered injury to the psyche because of the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation. Phillips Law Group believes that those responsible should be held accountable.
Learn how we can help you Fill out the Free Case Review form at the top of this page to be contacted by one of our professionals.
Symptoms of Psychological Damage
Emotional distress and mental anguish are very real and commonly occur in the wake of a traumatic auto accident. Even though the symptoms of such injury may not be visible, the effects can be apparent. Symptoms may persist for a few days or even a couple of months. Both drivers and passenger occupants can be affected by the following symptoms:
- Fear and anxiety
- Anger and mood swings
- Confusion
- Disbelief/denial
- Hopelessness/despondency
- Guilt
- Insomnia/nightmares
- Increased heart rate
- Fatigue
- Muscle tensions
- Withdrawal
Victims of an accident respond to trauma in different ways, and the range of symptoms that may be experienced includes more than can be listed here. In many cases symptoms will subside, but may be triggered by sensory and situational factors later in life.
If you have recently suffered trauma and you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it is recommended that you seek medical treatment and the counsel of an experienced attorney.
Types of Psychological Injuries
The severity of an accident, the physical state of those involved, and any injuries to the brain can contribute to the degree of psychological damage. Such injuries can be debilitating and prevent a victim from returning to work or school and daily activities. Several types of psychological injury may result from a motor vehicle accident, including:
- Chronic Pain although controversial in the psychology field, chronic pain is classified as Pain Disorder Associated with Psychological Factors (with or without a Medical Condition). Some approaches consider the way psychological factors such as stress act on the body, specifically through pain. Patients experiencing this type of trauma are often further distressed by the prevailing (but antiquated) belief that such pain is all in the head. Psychologists can help patients through education and treatment designed to improve the way the victim copes (mentally and physically) in the face of stress.
- Traumatic Brain Injury in cases of strong injury to the skull, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the brain impacts the skull. This can lead to different types of brain damage; the resulting difficulties in resuming daily life often lead to psychological problems.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD is an extreme anxiety disorder usually resulting from extreme trauma which may or may not involve the threat of death to the victim or a loved one. 17 major symptoms characterize PTSD, from flashbacks and nightmares to emotional avoidance and hyper-vigilance. Signs can exist when a person is asymptomatic as well, such as trouble in work or school, problems maintaining friends and difficulty enjoying leisure time. This diagnosis occurs frequently among military personnel, and is estimated to occur in nearly 30% of individuals after a serious auto accident, according to a report released in Australia by Monash Universitys Accident Research Centre in 1999. Unfortunately, the University also found that approximately 13% of these cases will become a lifetime affliction.
- Acute Anxiety Disorder several types of anxiety disorders exist (PTSD is a form). Acute anxiety, which may include phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive behavior or situational anxiety, occurs when a person excessively experiences worry, apprehension and sometimes crippling fear. Monash University reported this disorder occurring in 13% of individuals after a serious car accident, persisting as permanent in nearly 6%.
- Driving Phobias in many cases, a person will feel anxiety when it comes to the idea of getting back into a vehicle. Some individuals are plagued by nervousness to be a passenger in a car, much less willing to get into the drivers seat. This type of phenomenon occurred in 15% of Monash Universitys subjects, and persisted as a lifelong disorder in nearly 7%. After the Crash estimated that more than 90% will develop some type of driving reluctance after an accident.
- Major Depression unfortunately, a victim can experience one or all of these psychological injuries, and the most frequently co-occurring disorder is depression. Depression may have existed prior to an accident and be intensified in the aftermath, or depression could stem as a result of the above psychological injuries, the death of a loved one or despondency related to other details of the accident. Major depression coincides most often with PTSD; 53% of those who developed PTSD in the study detailed in After the Crash suffered from major depression, with 10% being clinically depressed at the time of their accident. Monash University estimated that approximately 14% would develop major depression in the aftermath of an accident, whereas 6% would suffer long-term.
If any of these psychological injuries may be affecting you or somebody you love, it is important to seek treatment. Physical and psychological symptoms may be treated through the care of a physician or psychology professional. If you plan to pursue compensation for your injuries, medical records will provide strong documentation for your case.
Contact Our Auto Accident Lawyers
Psychological damage can be crippling to an individual and those who depend upon the victim. The delicate nature of such injuries requires a compassionate Phoenix personal injury attorney with knowledge and experience in litigating mental anguish. Phillips Law Group is here to help.
Our main offices are located in Phoenix and Tucson, and we accept clients throughout Arizona, including the following communities:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Flagstaff
- Tempe
- Lake Havasu City
- and many more
We proudly fight to defend the rights of injury victims like you. If you have been psychologically injured in an Arizona auto accident, you may be eligible for financial recourse. Our legal team has the expertise to represent you. Find out if you have a case today by calling 602-222-2222 .
Learn about your legal rights and how we can help you. Fill out the Free Case Review form at the top of this page to get started.