Accidents can leave people with long-lasting physical and emotional trauma. While physical injuries are more visible to others, psychological injuries can have an equally detrimental effect on a person’s life. Some accident victims never fully heal from these injuries, while it takes years for others.

If you suffer from a psychological injury because of another party’s negligence, it is vital to remember you are not alone. There are resources available to help you cope with the trauma. Additionally, it may be in your best interest to partner with a Florida personal injury attorney so that you can obtain proper compensation for your accident-related expenses.

What Is a Psychological Injury?

A psychological injury is a condition that develops after a traumatic event. The condition is severe enough to impact the individual’s ability to function and perform everyday activities, such as going to work, driving a car, and other tasks. Various types of traumatic accidents can trigger a psychological injury, such as:

Car accidents;
Violent crimes;
Workplace accidents;
Premises liability accidents;
Product defects.

Generally, traumatic events that result in a psychological injury happen suddenly, leaving the individual physically and emotionally injured.

Types of Psychological Injuries

Several psychological injuries can result from a traumatic personal injury, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mild traumatic brain injury, or chronic pain.

PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological response to any traumatic event. Experts characterize it as being hyper-vigilant, having nightmares or flashbacks, and experiencing uncontrollable fear or anxiety. Symptoms may appear right away or take months to years to develop.
Mild traumatic brain injury: A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as a concussion, forms from a violent blow or jolt to the head. Since the brain is responsible for controlling all of the body and only has a limited ability to heal, a TBI is never actually a mild injury. Head trauma can result in long-term psychological injuries, including mood swings, difficulty remembering events, or fatigue.
Chronic pain: Chronic pain is when an accident victim still feels pain consistently for weeks, months, or years after an injury. Individuals often fall into a depressive state because of their pain, only worsening their psychological health.

What Are the Symptoms of Psychological Injuries?

Most people will experience feelings of anger, fear, and loss of control after a traumatic event. However, the symptoms may worsen over time if the individual does not treat them. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor or mental health provider right away:

Intrusive thoughts of the accident;
Change in sleeping patterns;
Memory loss;
Difficulty concentrating;
Mood swings;
Social isolation;
Fatigue;
Obsessive or compulsive behaviors; or
Guilt or shame.

Remember, this is not an all-encompassing list. Speak to a doctor or therapist if you are having trouble coping after a traumatic event, regardless of if you have any psychological injury symptoms.

How to Obtain Compensation for Psychological Injuries in Florida

If you suffered injuries due to another person’s negligence, you might be able to obtain financial compensation for the expenses and impact it has on your life. You can do this through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. However, you first must prove liability and negligence. To prove this, you must show:

The at-fault party owed you a reasonable duty of care;
They breached that duty through a specific action or lack of action; AND
Their breach was the cause of your injury and losses.

If you can prove the other party was negligent, you might be able to receive compensation for your accident-related expenses. All cases are different, but your attorney might be able to secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, therapy sessions, pain and suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life.

Speak to an Experienced Florida Personal Injury Attorney Today

The aftermath of an accident is overwhelming, but it can be even more challenging if you suffer from a psychological injury. If your injuries are the result of someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior, you deserve compensation for both the physical and emotional harm you have endured.

Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi of Marsalisi Law understands these types of injuries and the damage they can bring to your life and loved ones. To schedule a free consultation with Attorney Marsalisi, call (727) 800-5052 or complete our online contact form.