Being car accident attorneys in San Diego, we always fight for our clients to receive settlements for damages experienced during an accident.  They range from pain and suffering to loss of earnings, but one that frequently gets looked over is PTSD.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is mental condition that causes anxiety in a person who has seen or lived through a horrific and frightening event, as defined by the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH).  This can often include car accidents.

You can seek help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after a car accident.

A research psychologist with the University of California San Diego works with the Post-traumatic Stress Disorders Clinical Team at the San Diego VA Healthcare System.  He has worked years to develop a form of medical treatment to combat the effects of PTSD, namely, but not limited to, veterans of the armed forces.

“There is a point where just about any of us would get PTSD given a traumatic event,” the expert said.  “… some don’t, and some have an enhanced life.  They value life even more.”

The expert has developed a type of treatment that uses the idea of “post-traumatic growth,” when a person can move forward in life after traumatic experience — including a car accident where catastrophic injuries occur — with attitudes and behaviors that actually are better instead of worse.

In an effort to build a thicker skin on individuals, the The National Center for PTSD identified several tools that can be utilized to protect oneself against anxiety:

  • Embracing a level of self-confidence.
  • Accepting the limits of yourself.
  • Finding a sense of spirituality.
  • Coping actively, not passively.
  • Maintaining a positive outlook on life.
  • Finding meaning and making it work for you.

No one should have to experience the stress that comes with the aftermath of a traffic accident.  Remember, you don’t have to be in the armed forces to have gone through something traumatic and life changing.  Civilians get into car accidents every day and even if there is no physical damage done to the body, the mind can still be scarred.

The good news is that you can get help and our San Diego car accident attorneys can start you off by putting you on the right road to recovery.

If you or a loved one has experienced PTSD from a car accident, then we urge you to contact our bilingual offices as soon as possible at 1-858-551-2090 for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident attorney in San Diego or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.  We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe nothing until we recover money on your behalf.