Emotional distress is a commonly sought noneconomic damage in car accident claims because the trauma of the experience can have severe and long-lasting effects on victims. It is not uncommon for victims to replay the crash in their minds long after the accident and find it difficult to shake these disturbing memories.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines emotional distress as “some combination of anger or irritability, anxiety and depression, the three stress emotions.” The APA classifies emotional distress as a symptom of acute stress, which the APA calls the most common form of stress.
If you suffered psychological harm from being involved in an automobile accident, help is available to you. An experienced car accident attorney can consult with medical experts and work to establish the nature and severity of the emotional damage you have suffered. Your attorney can seek full and fair compensation on your behalf.
Jebaily Law Firm represents people involved in crashes all over South Carolina. We understand the lasting emotional impact a serious injury accident can have on your life. Contact us by phone or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a compassionate member of our team today.
Types of Emotional Distress Car Accident Victims Face
In most personal injury cases, emotional distress claims involve one of two kinds of actions. Intentional infliction of emotional distress involves an offender who intentionally or recklessly causes emotional distress and is less common in motor vehicle accident claims.
Negligent infliction of emotional distress is much more common in connection to a car crash because it involves a person who causes emotional distress through negligent actions. In either type of emotional distress action, a relationship needs to be established between the defendant’s conduct and the emotional pain that the plaintiff suffered.
Mental Conditions Following Car Accident
Emotional distress is, in effect, an umbrella term that includes what can often be much more substantive psychological damage. One of the most common problems many car crash victims suffer from is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is a mental health condition that many people suffer due to particularly traumatic events.
PTSD can cause a wide range of symptoms that may require treatment. Some victims may need therapy and medication that can quickly become very costly.
Affected individuals may deal with many other symptoms of emotional distress following a car accident, including anxiety, anger, fear, depression, sleep issues, and memory loss.
Long-Term Effects of Emotional Distress
For many car accident victims, emotional distress rarely feels like a temporary issue. Some people have incredible difficulty overcoming the mental anguish the crash has caused. They may find it difficult to work, to find the motivation to visit with family and friends, and may find it hard to enjoy life in the way that they used to.
Contact Us Now for Help Seeking Compensation for Emotional Distress
The Myrtle Beach car accident lawyers at Jebaily Law Firm understand the emotional challenges that car accident victims face. Our firm fights to help those who have been harmed seek all of the compensation they are entitled to.
Call us or contact us online to have our attorneys provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free consultation.
