Yuma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from Auto Accidents and Your Rights

Have you been hurt in a car accident in Yuma, Arizona? A serious car crash can leave victims suffering from a range of physical injuries and disabilities. Yet, what isn’t often discussed in the wake of a serious accident is the reality that victims may also find themselves suffering from emotional injuries as a result of a car accident. While it is normal to feel anxiety about driving after a crash, sometimes these feelings of anxiety and stress can develop into a more serious condition. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that can impact accident victims and interfere with various aspects of their life. Proper treatment for this condition can often result in better outcomes for patients, but sometimes individuals don’t seek treatment or can’t afford treatment. If you or someone you love is suffering from PTSD following a car accident, you are not alone. Schneider & Onofry, P.C. is an auto accident law firm in Yuma, Arizona that may be able to assist you and your family with getting the settlement you may deserve under the law.

What is PTSD?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD is a condition that can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event. A car accident can be one traumatic event that can lead to PTSD. What are some symptoms of PTSD? Individuals with this condition might experience intrusive thoughts, memories, and dreams about their car accident. They may get angry about the accident or feel very sad about the crash for a long period of time after the accident takes place. They may not feel able to connect with other people and may struggle in social situations or at work. Individuals who suffer from PTSD after a car accident may avoid driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle. This can disrupt their lives.

Basically, for a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, he or she must experience intrusive thoughts, negative feelings, and experience intense anger, sadness, or display avoidance behaviors. Sometimes these symptoms, when they display for a short period of time, might be part of the normal grieving and processing following an accident. However, if these symptoms persist for more than a month, or if they go on for years, a person might be experiencing PTSD.

PTSD is a condition that can respond to treatment. Treatment methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and sometimes medication can help. For example, if a person avoids driving, exposure therapy might be able to help. The person might start by just sitting inside a car, letting the feelings of fear and anxiety pass. Then, the person might try to drive around on a quiet street or in a parking lot, until the feelings of anxiety or panic pass. Finally, the person might graduate to driving in more stressful situations, like on the highway, or in places near where the accident took place.

With proper treatment, individuals can sometimes resume normal life activities and return to work. However, PTSD can impact your ability to work, ability to enjoy life to its fullest, and can impact various aspects of your life. If you are suffering from this condition as a result of a car accident, you may have the right to seek damages for your medical costs, rehabilitation or therapy expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Schneider & Onofry, P.C. is an auto accident law firm in Yuma, Arizona that may be able to review your medical records, review the details of your accident, and help you take the next steps to protect your rights. Contact us today to learn more about how we might be able to assist you with your claim.

Seeking Justice for Car Accident Victims and Their Families in Yuma, Arizona

If you or a loved one are survivors of a serious car accident, you may have many questions about your rights and the next steps you can take. Schneider & Onofry, P.C. is a car accident law firm in Yuma, Arizona that can assist you with your claim and help you take the next steps. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be costly to treat and some forms of treatment may not be covered by insurance. However, proper treatment can lead to better outcomes for victims. If you have questions about your rights following a car accident, and whether you have the right to make a claim under the law, reach out to Schneider & Onofry, P.C., a car accident law firm in Yuma, Arizona today.