Can I Get PTSD From a Car Accident?

PTSD From Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are unexpected, life-threatening events. While many accident victims make a full physical recovery from the trauma inflicted by a car crash, some suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a type of brain injury that causes disruptive long-term symptoms.

Our Colorado car accident lawyers work personally with each client to understand how their accident affects their physical and emotional well-being. Our attorneys fight for results that account fully for all the losses our clients suffer, including those related to PTSD from their car accident. Call Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, at (303) 543-1000 today for a free case review.

Can You Get PTSD From a Car Accident?

Yes, PTSD is a possible consequence of an auto accident. According to NAMI Colorado, the condition “is directly associated with exposure to trauma,” such as a traumatic accident.

You do not need to suffer physical injuries to be diagnosed with PTSD from a car accident, although PTSD has been defined as changing the physical composition of the neurons within the brain. CBL attorneys work with forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health therapists to ensure that your PTSD diagnosis is sufficiently explained to the insurance company through a specialized report.

Clearly, the mere fact that your life was threatened is in and of itself a traumatic event, which puts you at an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress. In some cases, like where a passenger witnesses the death of a driver in the same vehicle due to a crash, PTSD can easily be inferred.  However, when that is not so clear, we will work with your health providers to buttress your diagnoses. Similarly, you do not need physical injuries to file a car accident claim seeking compensation for PTSD-related losses. Cook, Bradford & Levy lawyers are well-versed in PTSD from car accidents and can ensure that this type of injury is accounted for when seeking compensation from the at-fault driver.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD After a Car Accident?

PTSD manifests differently in each patient. Possible symptoms include:

• Frequently and involuntarily reliving or rehashing the accident
• Avoiding people or places that remind you of the accident
• Memory problems
• Insomnia
• Intense negative emotions, including depression, anxiety, anger, or guilt
• Heightened responses to situations that remind you of the accident

Not every accident victim will experience all these symptoms, and the intensity of symptoms varies from patient to patient. A trained counselor or therapist typically relies on the DSM IV or V to determine if you meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.

How Long Does PTSD From a Car Accident Last?

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that there were over 230,000 motor vehicle crashes in the state in 2023. Many people in such accidents will experience negative emotions like fear, anger, and confusion. However, if these feelings persist for more than a month, you may have PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder does not go away on its own: you may need professional assistance to address both the symptoms and their root cause. The auto accident lawyers at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, urge you to seek medical care as soon as you suspect that something is not right. Timely medical care can help you:

• Start to rebuild your life after a crash
• Establish a connection between the collision and your PTSD symptoms
• Begin a car accident lawsuit within the three-year deadline codified in CO. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101

What Are Treatments for PTSD From a Car Accident?

It is vital that you work with mental health professionals to discover what treatment options work best for your PTSD and to begin the recovery process. NAMI Colorado states that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is typically the most effective approach, but again, each patient is different. Sometimes Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR) therapy can also be effective at reducing or eliminating PTSD symptoms. An experienced mental health provider can help identify what is the best treatment for you.

Your treatment plan could also be affected by the presence of other accident-related psychological injuries. For example, if you are diagnosed with both post-traumatic stress disorder and a substance use disorder, a medical professional will need to take both conditions into account.

Discuss your treatment plan and the healing process with a healthcare professional familiar with PTSD therapies.

Can You Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?

The short answer is yes. In Colorado, if someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to the collision that led to your PTSD diagnosis, you have every right to file an insurance claim or lawsuit. Call Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, at (303) 543-1000 to learn more about your rights and legal options today. There does not need to be a visible injury, as “invisible” injuries like PTSD and other mental trauma are injuries nonetheless.

Our Colorado law firm can perform all the tasks associated with your legal action, including:

• Collecting evidence from drivers, witnesses, experts, and whichever authority responded to your car accident, be it the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) or your local police department.
• Identifying the at-fault party, which may be an individual driver, the driver’s employer (if they were on the job at the time), CDOT or a local government department (if road maintenance was an issue), or someone else.
• Filing and receiving paperwork and communicating with the other parties on your behalf. You do not have to worry about speaking directly to the insurance company when you should be focused on receiving treatment.
• Negotiating for a settlement or taking your case to trial. Different cases require different approaches, so our car accident lawyers will assess your situation before deciding on a strategy.

Your case may end up in your local county court or district court. The car injury lawyers at our firm are familiar with the state’s legal system and can represent you at whatever court has jurisdiction over your case. CBL attorneys have successfully tried to verdict at least one case where the main injury was due to PTSD.

How Much Compensation Can You Recover for PTSD From a Car Accident?

The exact amount you are entitled to depends on how serious and long-lasting your symptoms are and how much it costs to treat those symptoms. Our motor vehicle accident attorneys can pursue damages for:

• The emotional and psychological harm inflicted by the car accident
• Any physical symptoms associated with the PTSD: as the National Center for PTSD explains, research suggests post-traumatic stress may have a negative impact on physical health
• The cost of treating and managing PTSD symptoms
• The effect of PTSD on your ability to work regularly, find a job, and keep your job for any length of time
• The effect of PTSD on your quality of life, such as if it has interfered with your personal relationships or your ability to take care of yourself

Even if you struggled with trauma or mental health issues prior to the crash, you can still recover compensation if the crash made that preexisting injury worse. Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, can build a case that establishes a connection between your car accident and PTSD.

Are You Looking for an Auto Accident Lawyer Who Helps Clients With PTSD?

Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, has spent the past 40 years working to level the legal playing field so motor vehicle accident victims like you can more easily take on the big insurance companies or corporations that may deny or delay paying you full compensation. Call (303) 543-1000 now to find out how we help our clients recover compensation for PTSD from car accidents.