PTSD After a Car Accident

PTSD After a Car Accident

Did you know that around 9% of all people involved in a motor vehicle accident suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD after a car accident? That’s a huge number when you think about how many traffic accidents there are every year.

My name is Barry Zlotowicz and I am a Chicago personal injury lawyer. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a psychiatric disorder suffered by people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a war, violent assault or, a serious car accident, among other things.

You can in fact recover for PTSD or other emotional distress you suffered as a result of a car accident.

Some of symptoms of PTSD that I have seen include:

• Severe nightmares
• Vivid flashbacks to the event
• Anxiety while driving their vehicle (in the location where the
accident occurred)
• Inability to sleep
• Hesitance to speak about the accident
• Detachment from significant others
• Irritability
• Lack of concentration
• Lack of interest in sex
• Lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities

But every case is different – look out for personality changes after the accident. It could be almost anything.

So, What should you do? First, do NOT delay in seeking treatment for your symptoms. The longer you delay, the larger the “gap in treatment” after the accident. Gaps in treatment are something that the auto insurance company will capitalize on to diminish the value of your claim.

Also, make sure your symptoms are documented. If the PTSD is not “documented” by a medical professional, it will be extremely difficult to recover for it. I’ve represented many people who insisted that they suffered nightmares and other symptoms often associated with PTSD. However, they did not seek any medical attention for their symptoms. If the symptoms are not documented by a physician or mental health provider, they don’t exist to the insurance company.

Finally, PTSD is not something to be messed with. I always tell all my clients the same thing: forget about your case and focus on your health. Get the care you need. And that applies to PTSD as well. You can recover all the money in the world but if you are still suffering from anxiety while driving your car 2 years after your accident, the money is meaningless.

[kendallmclean]

me and 5 of my friends were in a serious car accident and ever since, everytime i’m in a car i am constantly thinking about it. when someone is driving fast, or there is loud music, or going around curves i will start sweating a lot and freak out.

[sihamyousra]

I caused a car accident half a year ago and ever since I'm having severe anxiety. I always trusted my dad whenever we drove together but now I can't help myself but feel extremly anxious and nervous when I sit in a car. I feel like this accident could happen again any time. I can't stand when there is loud music or chatty people while someone is driving. I can't relax or even think about sleeping during a ride. People always aks me why I'm so afraid but I just can't really tell them about it...Whenever I sit in a car I feel like this could be my last ride forever...

[amandaieraci]

I was driving home from Florida to Indiana. I had just left helping my parents move into a new home. I was driving down I 75 in Macon Georgia in the middle lane. Cruise control on 72 mph in a split second I looked in my rearview mirror there wasn’t even a second to react. Somebody slammed into me going about 90 mph, I flipped up into the air. I rolled several times, and landed in the woods. by the grace of God Almighty, I have very few physical injuries but mentally this has been horrible. The anxiety and the fear that I live with now is almost unbearable. I have been receiving help for a year now, some improvement, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same.

[jamslam]

I ended up in the ER after an auto accident, diagnosed with anxiety. Thought I was having a heart attack!

[sherrodhenderson]

Hey i have PTSD I was in a bad car accident Im on 6 different medications and im scared to drive

[jaiminmaurya]

I crashed my car into another car just a few days back and Had to bear loss of ₹25k. No one was hurt. Now I can't sleep and Increased heart rate and Breathing Is making me miserable. I hope it gets well soon. 😔

[jordaneby]

I got in a car accident yesterday. It was the scariest moment of my life and I cant stop thinking about it. My mom came with me to do some driving to try to recover and every single time I took a left turn all I could see was me getting hit again and I was terrified the whole drive.

[loriquinn]

I was driving a corporate vehicle for Canada post and I had a car accident just four years ago (Dec 17/2018) I am on Wsib still. ( I’m unable to work) I was diagnosed with a concussion, along with numerous bruises strains and sprains. Just shortly after I was diagnosed with PTSD, major depression, driving phobia, social anxiety. The list just goes on and on. I have frequent anxiety and panic attacks. at the moment they have an occupational therapist to work with me to try and get back to work. When the accident happened a man in a pick up truck rear ended the truck I was driving and pushed me through the intersection and rolled my vehicle. He said he did not see my flashing lights for a hazard, nor did he see my signal light, indicating I was turning left.( the opposite side of the road) I of course can’t remember too much after he hit me although they tell me I was awake. I can’t remember any of it just what people have told me and pictures that people have taken everyone I have talked to believes it was the other man’s fault, but I was charged with an improper left-hand turn. When the police officer came to the house to give me my ticket, he told me he wouldn’t be mad if I went to court and fought the ticket my husband took it that he was more or less telling me to fight it, but I was not well enough physically, or mentally to do so. So in the last year, I got a note from WSIB that they had paid me out a little bit not much at all, and said that according to some medical booklet of some sorts have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s considered that 18% of my brain have been affected by this accident and they don’t expect recovery from it. Now I just found out a few weeks ago that my psychotherapist is not going to be supported by WSIB because I am as psychologically going to recover as much as I’m going to. I have not seen any payout from that, but my thing with that is, they’re still making me do exposure work. They are exposing me to my uniform which alone sends me into an anxiety or panic attack. I can’t go into a post office to even buy stamps because of being in the post office associating it with work and the accident. but they’re still pushing to get me back to work. they took away my psychotherapy to help get me through it. How do they expect me to overcome the anxiety of exposure. I just don’t understand that.

[Jademuco]

I was recently in a car accident. My friend was driving and we were on the highway. I was sitting in the passenger and I felt the car slowly moving to the right and then I realized we were going to hit a tractor that was on the side of the road. The car started to flip I don't remember how many times but people who saw the accident said it was about 11 times. Miraculously my friend and I got out with only bruises and scratches, no serious injuries. I remember every single details of the accident and that haunts me. I get so anxious and scared when I get in a car, I cry sometimes when I think of the accident, I know I need to talk to someone but I just keep telling myself that I shouldn't feel this way because I got out of it okay i.e. no serious injuries

[xavierviolet]

I actually just got in an accident... I've been trying to find resources and get help because I'm now being harassed by my insurance company about it being my fault. They said they have me on a recording saying it was my fault... I don't remember if I did honestly. Everytime they call me, I get a panic attack and I can't remember anything about the accident. My memories get jumbled and I start to blame myself (I already have depression due to low selfesteem caused by constant abuse in my past). Can they use that as incriminating evidence? Is there any way I can get around this? I don't want everything to be messed up because their constant calling about the accident (along with dealing with PTSD from the event) gave me an attack and caused me to say something stupid. I'm currently trying to get mental help about the situation because I can barely handle the memory of the accident let alone being blamed by the company I poured money into to help me in a situation like this... Please, I just need help. If anyone can give me resources or advice, it would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[DarrenWulfen]

Yeah I was the passenger to a wreck on Wednesday and now I’m really cautious and scared driving. People tell me to get over it and look on the bright side, I was bruised and sore but I’m ok. Yet I dread driving in the area near where the accident happened.

[raissajemima]

I don't know whether I have PTSD or not but I'm really traumatized from a car accident 7 years ago I even still remember the date, the time, the chronology, and clothes that I wore. It haunts me really bad, there's no time I could breath freely. I often got nightmares, out of breath, headache, and I always cry in my room until my eyes are swollen. And a few months ago I overheard a news about major car accident involving 20 cars on the highway, that news remained in my head for about 1 week, and now I'm so scared to look out onto the road and I always have bad thoughts whenever I'm going to travel. I don't know what to do because I haven't been able to see a psychiatrist or psychologist because of financial problems. I need a help

[krisparrish]

I was in n accident in late 2017. A big rental enterprise box truck turn out of wrong lane while i sat at the stop sign. It crushed my side of the car. I was upset but didn't realize the effect until almost two months later while on my way back from florida. I had a complete breakdown while driving on the highway. Thankfully we were close to a small city and I went to ER. They gave me two sedatives and my passenger drove us home. Ive had issues driving ever since. I really need help getting past this

[prophetessck]

yes. i was bitten twice by rattlesnake in my apartment and as a result have been suffering severe PTSD. I really need an attorney to help with my case. I have filed it initially as pro se to meet the statute of limitations. Thank you for your help. God bless you.

[aracelirojocano]

I have a fear of driving or when someone else is driving I catch my body all tense up while in the car I would like to get back to the road but its sooo hard😫

[GIguy]

Yesterday as I was driving on the highway, I was cut off by somebody who tried changing lanes, hitting the front of my car, and send me spinning out of control at 110 km an hour, it all happened so quickly, the car was totaled, it hit the centre concrete median, and I’m still shaking. They took me to the hospital, thank God nothing was broken, but I am in agony, both physically and psychologically. I keep replaying it over and over in my head, when I went to pick up the rental car today, my hands were shaking, I had to get my partner to drive, I don’t know what to do. I already suffer from chronic anxiety and depression from many years of illness because of cancer and Crohn’s disease, this was the last thing I needed. When I was trying to sleep last night I just kept having nightmares about it over and over, and the worst thing is, my dad gave me that car, and now he’s dead, it was the only tangible thing I had left to remember him bye, and it’s gone, I feel like a part of me died yesterday even though I survived. A part of me wish I died yesterday, I can’t talk right now because I can’t stop crying, I’m a 52-year-old man, and I’m in tears, help!

[partyof]

My daughter was in an accident a couple years ago. Informative video.

[Wissam]

I had a car accident 3 months ago, I suffer from a form of anxiety now but i do drive again and feel okay :) only when someone speeds when im in the passenger seat that really gets to me and i get a panic attack. I wish i can get better

[beautybykira]

I’m part of the 9% who have ptsd because of a car accident...it sucks :/

[pedaltraffic]

I was diagnosed with PTSD less than a month after my crash. It is very difficult to drive. I was hit on my bicycle and since then my physical health has diminished due to less cycling.