PTSD

If you or a loved one is showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an accident, a trusted Baltimore catastrophic injury attorney can help. Left untreated, this condition can worsen and have damaging long-term effects on your life. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to meticulously analyzing your case and assessing the viability of your claim after you have suffered an injury. You can rest assured that we will vigorously pursue the maximum amount of compensation in your case to help you cover your expenses and get the help you need to treat and/or manage your PTSD.

People in serious car accidents often describe various symptoms consistent with PTSD, ranging from mild to severe. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of PTSD in the United States. In any given year, studies show that around one percent of the population is involved in a motor vehicle accident. Approximately 9 percent of these vehicular accident survivors progress from a normal stress response to PTSD.

The Mayo Clinic describes PTSD as a mental health condition that is caused by a terrifying event. A person may develop PTSD by either experiencing or witnessing such an event. Symptoms of PTSD commonly include nightmares, flashbacks, and severe anxiety as well as persistent, disturbing, and upsetting thoughts about the events. While it is normal to experience some level of stress after an accident or loss of function, PTSD refers to an unusually high level of stress where the symptoms get worse, instead of better, over time. This condition can interfere with many aspects of a person’s life, including day-to-day activities and the person’s sleep.

Many different types of accidents and traumatic experiences can trigger PTSD including, but not limited to:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Boat accidents
• Plane accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Violent assaults
• Sexual assaults
• Sudden death of a loved one; and/or
• Any extreme, life-altering or life-threatening event.

Establishing that PTSD was the result of an accident can be difficult. The first step is to be diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed medical professional. Next, it must be shown that the PTSD was a direct result of your accident, which must have been caused by someone else’s negligence.

Negligence is a legal concept used to describe a situation in which a person’s failure to use the level of care and caution that an ordinarily prudent person would have used in the same situation leads to an accident and/or injures someone. To win a negligence claim when it is alleged that negligent conduct led to an accident victim’s PTSD, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to demonstrate each and every one of the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence: i) the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care; ii) the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff; and iii) the defendant’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the accident and plaintiff’s PTSD. A knowledgeable injury lawyer can help you determine whether you can meet the elements of this kind of claim.

Treatment of PTSD can be expensive and ongoing. Not only does it involve doctor’s appointments, but victims often have to take medication to cope. In addition, the inability to carry our regular tasks can lead to a number of other problems such as job loss, expensive hospital bills, depression, and more. Fortunately, Maryland law allows accident victims to recover compensation from the at-fault party for things like medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, therapy costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and any other losses arising from the accident.

If you have suffered a serious injury that you believe is the cause of your PTSD, a seasoned Baltimore catastrophic injury attorney may be able to help. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand that PTSD can significantly alter your life. With extensive experience in Maryland personal injury law, including medical malpractice, birth injury, and many other case types, we know what challenges to expect and how to obtain full and fair compensation for our clients. Let us give you an honest assessment of your situation. For a free legal consultation call us today at 410-889-1850 or reaching us via our website.