How Trauma After a Car Accident Can Affect Victims
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as a behavioral health concern that can only get better through a therapeutic healing process. Individuals who were subjected to physical, emotional, or life-threatening harm can experience trauma. Trauma can adversely affect an individual’s mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as social and spiritual wellbeing.
Anyone can be affected by trauma, and trauma is a prevalent concern in America. Americans across all walks of life and backgrounds, old and young, suffer from trauma. When a shocking and distressing event takes place, like a catastrophic car accident, for example, those people involved can suffer from trauma long after the accident happened.
There are several ways that a car accident can negatively affect your life. It can cause you to sustain physical injuries, which are painful and may take costly medical treatment to give you a chance to recover to the fullest extent you are able. You may have to take time off of work after an accident and, as a result, be unable to earn your income. And the accident experience may have been incredibly traumatic for you, affecting your mental health and well-being.
Suppose you were involved in a New Jersey or Pennsylvania car accident. In that case, identifying all damages you suffered, including the emotional harm you had to endure, is important to evaluating and putting a value to your claim, should you decide to pursue legal action. You don’t have to do this alone, though. Especially in the aftermath of a crash, when you are experiencing so many losses, having help with the claims process is critical. The South Jersey and Philadelphia auto accident attorney at Monaco Law PC offers free consultations, making it convenient and easy to meet with a legal professional and start the claims process.
The Effects of Trauma
The heavy burden that individuals suffering from trauma can face has the potential to affect them over the long term. This is particularly true when trauma is not addressed and treated. While some people can experience a traumatic event and have the resiliency to move past it without it causing harm to their mental health, others may struggle and suffer from traumatic stress reactions.
Studies indicate that traumatic experiences have a strong association with behavioral health and physical health. A person subjected to trauma is more vulnerable to engaging in risky behaviors they otherwise wouldn’t or abuse alcohol or drugs. As a result, the quality of life of a person dealing with trauma can be incredibly diminished, and all aspects of their life, including their personal life and career, can be affected.
Speak to a South Jersey Car Accident Injury Attorney Today
You cannot see trauma, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist and isn’t plaguing your life. When a car accident is the source of trauma, it can be a compensable damage to include in your injury claim. For help with a personal injury claim, please contact our South Jersey personal injury attorney at Monaco Law PC at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our Pennsylvania office.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Ocean County, Salem County, and all of South Jersey.
Source:
samhsa.gov/trauma-violence
