Coping with The Physical and Emotional Impact of a Personal Injury
Vehicle accidents and truck collisions can potentially result in a wide range of complicated symptoms and injuries. Immediate medical care is vital after an accident. It is equally essential to receive the best type of treatment for your specific injuries following your accident. The failure to do so may result in severe consequences to the rehabilitation and recovery processes.
After a car accident, your aim is to be restored, as much as possible, to the state of well-being you were in prior to the incident. The following are some rehabilitation measures for people who have suffered traumatic injuries:
- Medical care (by a doctor)
- Trauma rehabilitation team
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapists
- Chiropractic care
- Speech pathologists
- Social workers
Treatability and the Impact of Treatment in PTSD
One of the most common conditions reported by plaintiffs in personal injury cases is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While PTSD is a debilitating mental illness, it can be treated. Based on the traumatic event and the risk and protective factors present, some people will continue to present with symptoms of PTSD and would find treatment beneficial.
For instance, serious vehicle accident accidents have an estimated PTSD rate of 29 percent to 34 percent within a few months after the crash. In the case of chronic PTSD in the same group, estimates ranged from 9 percent to 15 percent.
PTSD symptoms are also associated with trauma due to intentional interpersonal violence. The treatment duration varies significantly with the severity of the traumatic stressor and how the victim was affected by the stressor.
Collecting Compensation for Emotional Injuries
Serious accidents commonly lead to overwhelming adverse emotions or diagnosable mental health problems. Under Kentucky personal injury law, you can pursue compensatory damages for both physical and psychological injuries that you may have suffered. Such damages are known as “pain and suffering” and include your physical pain and mental turmoil. According to the law, mental anguish can include but is not limited to the following:
- Shock
- Fear
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Embarrassment
- Apprehension
- Grief
- Worry
- Humiliation
- Indignity
Proof of your Emotional Injuries
In order to collect compensation for emotional injuries, you will need evidence of what you have endured and what you will continue to go through due to the recklessness of another person. You will have to describe the kind of emotional injuries you have endured, the severity and frequency of these injuries, and their effect on your routine life. For instance, your anxiety after a crash may lead to a phobia or panic attacks. A depressive episode may occur due to your grief, worry, and humiliation.
In case your mental anguish has become so serious that it impacts your capability to function and perform normal tasks, you should consider seeking treatment from a mental health practitioner. As further evidence of your emotional injuries, you can present diagnoses, prescriptions, and other related documents.
Payment for Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation cost can be covered by the liable driver, similar to most medical treatment received after a vehicle accident. The compensation can also include future rehabilitation costs. The type of rehab that is most suitable for the victim is recommended by the patient’s medical care team, who are best placed to offer advice on the efficacy of rehabilitation measures in a specific case.
The individual liable for causing the plaintiff’s injuries is not in a position to dictate the type of medical treatment that should be given, particularly with an aim to save costs. A treatment that is reasonable and recommended by a qualified medical professional is likely to be compensable.
In a majority of cases, an injury victim has already sought and undergone treatment for their injuries by the time they seek damages from the at-fault party. Therefore, the reckless motorist’s insurer typically disputes the validity of rehab that has already been received, based on cost and sometimes of necessity. For example, the insurer may challenge a chiropractor’s need or the number of times the victim sought treatment.
Vocational Rehabilitation
If a person suffers a permanent disability due to a car crash, they can seek vocational rehab for their long-term recovery. At times, the injuries can leave a victim disabled and unable to resume their former line of work. In such cases, vocational rehab can help acquire new job skills that can help the individual obtain new employment or start a business.
Speak to a Seasoned Personal Injury Lawyer at John H. Ruby & Associates
After a car accident, it is not always possible to tell how hurt you are. It may appear as if you have walked away with minor injuries until more severe symptoms show up days or even weeks after the incident. Thus, it is vital to seek medical treatment as soon as you can after an auto wreck.
You can collect compensation for your present and future medical expenses related to injuries sustained in your car accident from the liable motorist. Schedule a no-charge consultation with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer at John H. Ruby & Associates. Call today at (502) 895-2626!