Anyone who has ever been in a car accident knows the physical injuries and the emotional trauma that can occur. While the physical wounds are often easy to recognize, the emotional ones are often overlooked.
Victims of car accidents and their families need to be aware of the emotional impact of an accident and how to get help.
Psychological trauma is just as real and potentially damaging as physical trauma. In fact, several researchers have looked at the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a car accident.
In one recent study, one hundred thirty-nine (46.5%) participants were found to exhibit significant PTSD symptoms. According to the study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, "the most frequent severe symptoms were having repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images… Seventy percent of study participants reported an extreme impact of the accident on work or schooling and 51.9% reported extreme problems in social functioning. Alcohol dependence, hazardous alcohol consumption, and harmful use were reported by 7.9%, 15.1%, and 4.7% of the participants, respectively. In the final model witnessing death, severe sleep problem and severe impairment in family functioning were significantly associated with PTSD."
When a person has been through a car accident, many emotional responses are possible from denial, anxiety, shock, confusion, social withdrawal, and dramatic mood swings. Debilitating phobias are also known to arise from car accidents, leaving accident victims unable to perform routine functions like driving on interstate highways or, in some cases, even leaving their homes.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of an automobile accident or other traumatic event, watch for any symptoms that continue for more than a few weeks, as well as difficulty accomplishing routine tasks, avoidance issues, or drug or alcohol abuse. All of these things are a sign that help from a qualified psychologist is in order.
If you or a loved one are ever in a car accident in Connecticut, know that the Connecticut car accident lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been assisting people like you who've been injured in these accidents for over 60 years. And we have received both state and national recognition for our work in this area. If you are ever injured in an accident of any kind and would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut injury lawyers, please contact us. There is no obligation.