Crash and Burnout: The Mental Health Toll of Car Accidents (and What Victims Can Do About It)

Being involved in a serious car accident can take a significant toll on your mental health. While accident victims often focus on the physical and financial consequences of their injuries, the mental health consequences can be just as significant. Understanding these consequences is important; and, if your car accident was the other driver’s fault, it will be important to work with an experienced Florida auto accident attorney to make sure you seek the full financial compensation you deserve.

Understanding the Mental Health Toll of a Traumatic Car Accident

A study published in 2022 highlights the mental health toll associated with being involved in a traumatic car accident. The study examined the effects of traumatic accidents on both adults and children, and it found that accident victims frequently experience mental health consequences such as:

• Anxiety – Anxiety can manifest in different ways. However, as the National Alliance on Mental Health explains, “all anxiety disorders have one thing in common: persistent, excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening.” If you are experiencing these symptoms after a traumatic accident, you are not alone, and help is available.
• Depression – Depression is a common mental health consequence of experiencing trauma as well. If you persistently feel sad, if you have lost interest in activities you used to find enjoyable, if you are struggling with sleeping or eating normally, or if you just don’t have the energy you used to, these could all be related to your car accident.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as, “a psychiatric condition that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.” It is common for car accident victims to experience PTSD, with common symptoms including intrusive thoughts, irritability, mood swings, feeling detached, unusually reckless behavior and paranoia.
• Travel Phobia – Travel phobia is another common mental health consequence of being involved in a serious car accident. Many car accident victims find it extremely difficult not only to get behind the wheel, but also to ride in other people’s vehicles or use public transportation.
• Anger, Blame, Difficulty Coping and Other Consequences – Feeling angry, blaming others, having a difficult time accepting what happened, and experiencing other new feelings and emotions are also common mental health consequences of serious car accidents. These can also take a significant toll on your life, and seeking professional help can be essential for finding a way to move on.

Notably, the study also highlighted the fact that many accident victims do not experience symptoms of their emotional trauma right away. In many cases, accident victims experienced late-onset PTSD and other delayed mental health effects after having time to process what happened.

As a result, not only is it important to seek treatment promptly after a car accident, but it is important to continue monitoring your symptoms as well. If you start to notice signs of anxiety, depression, PTSD or travel phobia, or if you simply don’t feel like yourself, you should talk to a mental health professional regardless of how long it has been since your accident. There are a variety of treatment modalities available, and an experienced mental health professional should be able to help you figure out how best to cope with—and begin to recover from—the trauma you have endured.

Filing a Claim to Recover Just Compensation for Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses

If you are struggling to cope with the mental health effects of a car accident, speaking with a Florida auto accident attorney about your legal rights will be an important part of the recovery process as well. Car accident victims can file claims in a wide range of circumstances; and, if you have a claim for your car accident, an experienced attorney will be able to help you seek just compensation for your financial and non-financial losses. This includes (but is not limited to) helping you seek just compensation for your:

• Mental health treatment costs
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium and companionship
• Loss of income during your recovery
• Other consequences of living with the trauma of your car accident

For many car accident victims, filing a claim also serves another important purpose: It provides closure. If you do what you can to make sure that the at-fault driver is held accountable and that you have the financial resources you need for the future, you may find that this allows you to start to move on.

What You Can Do to Start the Recovery Process

With all of this in mind, if you are struggling with the mental health toll of being involved in a serious car accident, what are your next steps? Here are three simple steps you can take to start the recovery process:

1. Get the Treatment You Need

First, and most importantly, you should get the treatment you need. In this scenario, prioritizing your mental health is unquestionably the right thing to do.

2. Start Documenting Your Costs

Second, you should start documenting the financial and non-financial costs associated with your car accident. If you have a claim, these are all costs that you can seek to recover.

3. Talk to an Attorney About Your Legal Rights

Finally, you should talk to a Florida auto accident attorney about your legal rights. An experienced attorney will be able to help you understand your legal options and file a claim on your behalf if warranted.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with an Experienced Florida Auto Accident Attorney

Learning about your legal rights costs nothing; and, if you have a claim, you can hire a Florida auto accident attorney at no out-of-pocket cost to you. At Searcy Denney, we are passionate about helping car accident victims recover to the fullest extent possible. To speak with an attorney at our firm about your legal rights in confidence, call us at 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can help online today.