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Accidents are part of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 40 million people are forced to seek emergency medical care for an accidental injury each year. A serious accident can disrupt your entire life. It can even take a terrible toll on your mental health.
Through a personal injury claim in California, victims have the right to pursue compensation for mental health-related damages. Within this article, our Fresno personal injury attorney provides an overview of the impact that an accident can have on your mental health.
A Serious Injury Can Take a Major Toll on Your Mental Health
A bad accident—from a traffic collision to a slip and fall—can change your entire life in a matter of seconds. It can be truly traumatic. Suffering a serious injury in an accident is not only physically devastating but can also lead to significant mental health challenges. Indeed, the sudden shift in one’s ability to function and the pain associated with recovery often trigger mental health conditions that can be as debilitating as the physical injuries themselves. Some of the most common adverse mental health conditions reported after personal injuries in California include:
- Anxiety: After an accident, it’s common for survivors to experience heightened anxiety. This can manifest as constant worries about future health, the ability to return to work, or the fear of another accident, especially in car accident cases. Anxiety can be truly debilitating.
- Depression: Depression is another frequent consequence of serious injuries. The loss of mobility, chronic pain, and the sudden dependence on others for daily tasks can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The isolation that often comes with recovery can exacerbate these feelings.
- Sleep Disorders: Are you having trouble sleeping after an accident in Fresno? You are not alone. Traumatic injuries can disrupt normal sleep patterns, leading to disorders such as insomnia, where individuals find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Pain and discomfort can cause frequent awakenings throughout the night, and anxiety or depression associated with the injury can also contribute to poor sleep quality.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): In the worst cases, a serious accident can be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). NAMI California defines PTSD as a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. It is often characterized by severe anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts.
- Chronic Stress: Chronic stress develops when a person experiences high levels of stress for an extended period. Following a serious injury, the ongoing challenges related to physical recovery, financial burdens, and changes in lifestyle can lead to this condition. Symptoms include irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and headaches.
You Can Pursue Compensation for Economic and Non-Economic Damages in California
Were you hurt in an accident in Fresno? You have the right under California law to seek compensation for the full extent of their damages, including losses related to mental health. At Nunes Law, Inc., our Fresno personal injury attorney is committed to helping victims secure the absolute maximum financial recovery. In the context of mental health, a settlement or verdict may include compensation for:
- Economic Damages (Mental Health Counseling, Medication, etc.): These damages cover tangible, out-of-pocket expenses associated with mental health conditions that arise due to the injury. If your injury leads to mental health issues requiring professional intervention, you can claim costs for mental health counseling, psychiatric treatment, and medications prescribed for managing symptoms like anxiety or depression. These are quantifiable costs that can be documented through medical bills, receipts, and insurance statements.
- Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering, Emotional Trauma, etc.): These damages compensate for the subjective, non-monetary consequences of an injury. This category includes compensation for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, and psychological distress. Calculating these damages can be more complex, as they are not directly tied to specific financial expenditures. Instead, they are evaluated based on the severity of the emotional and psychological impact.
Contact Our Fresno, CA Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Initial Consultation
At Nunes Law, Inc., our Fresno personal injury lawyer is committed to steering you to a swift recovery after an accident. If you have any questions about seeking mental health resources as part of your personal injury claim, we can help. Contact us at 559-344-8516 for a no-cost, no-obligation initial case review. From our Fresno office, we represent injured victims throughout the surrounding region in California, including Fresno County, Clovis, and Madera County.
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