Car accidents can leave victims with many lasting injuries and some of them may be invisible to all but the victim. Just like any traumatic incident, accident victims can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a wreck. Also just like physical injuries, victims who suffer from PTSD can seek money damages for their injuries. If your accident left you dealing with emotional problems, read on to find out more.

PTSD Symptoms to Watch Out For After an Accident

While all accident situations are unique, there are some common red flags to be on the alert for. If you notice the following in yourself or a loved one, seek help from a mental health practitioner.

• A feeling of ongoing or sudden anxiety, at any time or place.
• Panic attacks in which your breathing quickens, your heart pounds, and you have a feeling of impending doom.
• Isolating oneself, being quick to anger, mood swings, memory problems, nightmares, and more.

Crashes That Trigger PTSD

While even minor accidents can cause PTSD, there are some crash situations that can make things tougher to cope with for victims. Those include:

• Accidents that cause life-threatening injuries to you or someone else. The more severe the injuries or incidents of death, the more likely the PTSD.
• Accidents in which you witnessed people, even if they were strangers, that were injured in a particularly gory manner.
• If you felt you were, in some way, at fault for the accident and the resulting injuries to yourself or others.

Taking Legal Action

Not only is a good mental health counselor vital to your accident recovery, you must speak to a personal injury attorney about the wreck and find out about your compensation. Mental health counseling can be expensive and the other driver that caused the accident can be made to pay those and other expenses. To make sure your case is successful, take care to do the following along with counseling and getting professional legal help:

1. Gather accident evidence for your case. This includes medical bills, photos, damage estimates, police reports, and more. Anything related to the wreck should be saved for the attorney.
2. Don't speak to the insurance adjuster for the other side, no matter what they promise you.
3. Begin keeping a journal about your PTSD and other accident-related issues.

Speak to an attorney about protecting your rights to be paid for your pain and suffering and the psychological trauma from the accident. To learn more, contact a company such as Nelson Fromer & Crocco Law Offices.