Not many people are fortunate enough to walk away from a crash without suffering some form of physical injury. The physiological and emotional trauma that a person endures is in addition to the physical injuries and scars that stay on the body. According to national estimates, about 9% of car accident victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as “PTSD.” This is in addition to the other medical conditions that result from a car crash, such as depression and phobias.

Florida residents may not be aware that sleeplessness, weight fluctuations, nightmares, compulsive obsessive behaviors, social withdrawal and irritability can all be associated with emotional trauma following a car or motorcycle accident. These can be more severe following a motorcycle accident, as there is often two to three tons of steel flying at an unprotected motorcyclist at a speed of 65 miles per hour or even more.

Physical injuries after a crash can be easier to identify and treat, but emotional trauma impacts everyone differently. The amount of trauma a person goes through differs from person to person, and factor to factor. While some conditions, such as pre-existing medical conditions and the potential threat to life in an accident can tend to worsen trauma, this is not always the case.

Emotional trauma is part of a person’s car or motorcycle claim, but it can be difficult to prove, given the variability of it. Accident victims may need to get more information on how to get the compensation they deserve to cover their resulting medical expenses.

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