Emotional and Psychological Effects of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Texas

Many people know that traffic accidents are among the most common causes of physical injuries in Texas. However, you might not be aware that car crashes, truck accidents, and motorcycle collisions can have life-altering emotional and psychological consequences as well. Recognizing the nature of these mental health effects can help accident victims understand their rights and feel empowered to seek the compensation they deserve. An experienced car accident lawyer in TX can help you obtain the evidence you need to advance your claim.

Car Accidents Can Cause Mental and Emotional Injuries, Too

While the emotional and psychological consequences of motor vehicle collisions may not be as visible as bodily harm, the effects are widespread. According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, as many as 67 percent of individuals involved in car accidents experience adverse mental health effects. While the forms they take may differ, emotional injuries can be debilitating.

Emotional Distress Following a Car Accident: What Does It Look Like?

The mental and emotional fallout from a motor vehicle collision can take many forms. Common symptoms of emotional trauma include:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, phobias – Many accident survivors develop driving anxiety, a fear of getting in a vehicle again, or associated phobias that disrupt their daily functioning. Panic attacks and generalized anxiety may also frequently occur.
• Depression – The sadness, hopelessness, and despair of depression often strike victims of car crashes. Loss of interest in usual activities, changes in appetite, and suicidal thoughts may accompany this mood disorder.
• Sleep disturbances – Insomnia, nightmares, and other sleep disruptions frequently affect those recovering from auto accident injuries. These sleep issues can worsen emotional distress.
• Anger and irritability – Struggling with pain, financial strain, and life disruption often causes accident victims to have trouble managing anger and frustration. These changes can strain relationships with loved ones.
• PTSD – Reliving the traumatic event through intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares is a hallmark of post-traumatic stress disorder after a crash. Avoidance, hypervigilance, and dissociation are also common.

Treating Mental Injury After a Crash

One of the challenges of dealing with emotional distress and mental injuries after a car accident is that they are often less visibly apparent than physical injuries. Demonstrating their effects on your life can often hinge on receiving a diagnosis from a qualified medical professional. This diagnosis can make seeking effective treatment, including counseling, psychotherapy, and medication, easier. The earlier you visit a medical professional, the greater your chances are of healing your mental injuries and recovering compensation for your resulting losses.

Claiming Compensation for Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident

If you experience adverse mental health effects after a car accident, you might be wondering whether you can seek compensation. If these emotional injuries accompany physical injuries, even minor ones, Texas law allows you to file a compensation claim for your emotional distress. However, proving that you are eligible for money for these injuries can be challenging. That’s why working with an experienced El Paso personal injury lawyer is essential.

The team at the Law Offices of Michael Gopin, PLLC has over 30 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured individuals in Texas. Our compassionate car accident attorneys in Texas will listen to your story, craft an individualized strategy, and work to recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with a seasoned Texas personal injury lawyer.

Michael J. Gopin

Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...