Although psychological injuries may not be as readily apparent as physical injuries, they can be equally debilitating to people who suffer from them.
When a person suffers emotional distress in an accident that was caused by another person, the victim may need to consult with a psychological injury lawyer. Like personal injuries, psychological injuries can cause long-lasting traumas that diminish the victims’ quality of life. By filing a personal injury claim, the injured can obtain the compensation they deserve.
Why Work With a Psychological Injury Lawyer
People react differently to traumatic events. Upon being involved or witnessing an accident, some people may develop psychological injuries in addition to their physical injuries, while others may suffer from psychological injuries alone. When the injury causes a severe disturbance to the extent that it inhibits the victim’s ability to function and to enjoy life, the victim might want to work with a psychological injury lawyer based on his or her psychological or emotional injury.
Anyone can suffer a psychological injury in reaction to a traumatic event. Children and the elderly, however, may be especially at risk. Children are less able to process serious, traumatic incidents and may develop mental health disorders when they witness them or are the victims of them. Seniors who live in nursing homes may be subjected to abuse and feel helpless, leading to emotional trauma that can take years to heal.
Common Types of Psychological Injuries
People who experience traumatic events can experience a range of emotional symptoms, including feelings of anger, guilt, fear, hopelessness, and fatigue. For some people, these symptoms lead to the development of recognized psychiatric disorders. For example, one of the most common psychological injuries that people suffer from following traumatic events is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who suffer from PTSD may encounter disturbances in their quality of life and ability to function. They may experience flashbacks of the traumatic incident, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, severe depression, thoughts of suicide, and other serious symptoms.
In addition to PTSD, common psychological injuries include anxiety disorders and depression. When people suffer psychological injuries, it may take months or even years of therapy and medication before they fully recover. In some cases, a complete recovery is not possible.
Proving a Psychological Injury Occurred
Proving that a psychological injury happened is more difficult than proving the existence of a physical injury. Insurance companies will commonly dispute that victims suffered from psychological injuries. They may also argue that a victim is malingering and that the extent of the injury is not as severe as the victim reports. Due to this skepticism of psychological injuries, victims may have greater difficulty proving their claims. This is why it is important to work with an experienced psychological injury lawyer.
If you or a loved one has suffered a psychological injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you need to consult an experienced psychological injury lawyer to obtain the compensation you deserve. To get started, contact the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave. We can build a strong legal case to prove the extent of your injury with the help of medical experts. Contact us today to learn more about your rights and options.
