PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a psychological disorder that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic experience. The way it affects someone can differ from case to case. Some people have nightmares or flashbacks, for instance, while others deal with anxiety and depression. In many cases, people begin practicing avoidance behaviors.
Often, studies about PTSD focus on soldiers. A common example is a soldier hearing a car backfire and experiencing a panic attack because the sound reminds them of gunfire. But the average person is unlikely to ever be in the armed forces or combat, so could they develop PTSD after something like a car accident?
The top cause
Yes, some studies claim that PTSD is most often caused by car accidents for those who are not in the military. Among the general population, this is one of the most traumatic things they will experience. The odds of PTSD are even higher if they suffered serious injuries in the crash or if someone else died in the crash and they witnessed that event.
This can have a major impact on a person‘s life. They may need medical treatment, therapy and similar interventions. The avoidance behaviors they practice could change the course of their career. For instance, someone who drives for a living may no longer be able to drive, experiencing a severe mental block even after they’ve physically recovered. This impacts their earning capacity moving forward.
In other words, PTSD is very serious and more common than many people assume. Those who are suffering from it need to know what legal steps to take.
