Few people are not aware that post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious condition. When the veterans who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq come home, their experiences in the field often results in this disorder. But aside from the veteran accounts, there are also other activities that can cause this type of injury. In personal injury cases, you can file a personal injury claim if you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”).
Just as with other injuries that can harm a person, the cause of PTSD is identifiable and it is can be presented in a court of law. Contrary to what most people think, post-traumatic stress disorder can come from natural disasters, discrimination, abuse, bullying, rape, and even car accidents. When a traumatic event occurs, a person may experience several symptoms of PTSD.
Often times a person suffering from PTSD can recognize the noticeable signs of their disorder which includes fear and anxiety. Other symptoms attributed to this disorder include depression, anger, flashbacks, hyperalertness, frightening behavior, lower libido and avoidance of the certain situations that would make you recall the event that transpired. If you notice that you are suffering from any of these symptoms following a traumatic event, you may be struggling with PTSD.
For post-traumatic stress disorder personal injury cases, here are the things that you need to know:
- In any PTSD personal injury case, one of the major things to consider is the extent of the injury. The severity of the case is taken into account. Victims suffering from PTSD have different experiences and suffer in different ways. Often a victim who has PTSD will incur medical costs, therapy and rehabilitation costs. The total costs of these treatments could cost thousands of dollars.
- Victims who are suffering from psychological trauma can be compensated for their suffering. In the state of California, the victim is entitled to compensation by calculating the number of days he/she suffers with the said injury. If for instance, the person suffered for 300 days and the jury determines a value of $400 per day, then the compensation award amounts to $120,000.
- There are cases where the victims would not be able to work. As such, the amount of lost wages and income that he/she is yet to earn in the future can be calculated. With the help of experts, they can identify if the person can no longer do the same job.
If you suffer from the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder because of the conduct of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation. You need an experienced personal injury attorney who can help with these types of cases.
