After being involved in a serious truck crash, most people will want to focus on the financial cost of the accident and work on healing from any physical injuries. But these aren’t the only ramifications people need to cope with after an accident. It is quite common for victims to experience significant mental health issues.
If you’re experiencing emotional problems after an accident, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The mental health issues resulting from a wreck are just as real as any physical injuries you might have sustained. Be sure to talk to a doctor or psychiatrist so you can receive the right kind of therapy or medication.
Filing an insurance claim or lawsuit to recover losses due to damaged property, lost wages, and medical bills is common when involved in a trucking accident, but victims can also receive compensation for the emotional trauma that can occur after experiencing a truck crash.
Experiencing Trauma Is As Real as Any Physical Injury
After a serious accident, especially one where you felt your life was threatened, people can experience anxiety and depression. If these don’t fade with time, and if you experience flashbacks to the crash, you’ll need to seek out medical care.
Here are some of the most common mental health issues experienced by survivors of a truck crash:
1. Acute and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
According to the American Psychological Association, auto accidents are the number one cause of PTSD among the general population. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is also widely experienced from car wrecks but generally lasts less than four weeks, while PTSD might not show itself until weeks after the accident. Symptoms of PTSD include:
● Feeling emotionally numb and unable to connect with people
● Having recurring flashbacks of the accident
● Avoiding any people or places that remind you of the event
● Feeling constantly anxious, jumpy, or paranoid
2. Constant Anxiety
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has reported that various states of anxiety can be experienced for weeks and even months after an accident. Women seem more susceptible to anxiety after a crash, with the NIH reporting that 70% of females experience a high level of anxiety in the 1st month. Here is how anxiety can have additional side effects:
● Crash survivors report having significant fears about driving and being in a car. The technical term for having a fear of being in a car accident is dystychiphobia.
● Victims of such accidents can have panic attacks by smelling, seeing, or hearing anything that reminds them of the truck accident
● Survivors can also have issues with fatigue and experience insomnia. People might fear that they always have to be on guard and are never able to relax
● As anxiety wears on, people can experience muscle aches, chest pain, nausea, and dizziness. It can also exacerbate conditions like high blood pressure or asthma and can weaken your immune system.
3. Depression
Certain physical injuries resulting from a truck accident can limit one’s ability to work, exercise, and perform other daily tasks. Not being able to do these things because of an injury can cause someone to become severely depressed.
Depression can also be triggered by the financial stress one might experience due to loss of work and property damage. Many times those that experience PTSD also have depression. If you have any of the following symptoms, please seek the help of a medical professional:
● Lack of interest or enjoyment in daily activities
● Inability to concentrate
● Recurring suicidal thoughts
● Lack of energy, daily fatigue
● Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
● Inability to sleep
● Irritability, quick to anger
● Significant weight loss or weight gain
Get the Help You Need
Addressing your mental health after a truck accident is just as important as taking care of your physical injuries. Taking medication, talking to a counselor, and going to therapy are all positive pathways to getting your life back on track. The time and expertise needed for emotional healing will cost money. Victims can be compensated for time away from work as well as therapy and other medical treatments.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Truck Accident?
If you've been hurt in a Texas truck accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
