After a serious vehicle collision, a person may develop post-traumatic stress disorder even while recovering fully from physical injuries. Insurers often are skeptical of these claims and do not want to pay extra monetary compensation for the aspect of PTSD. A Car Accident Lawyer in Hollywood FL can help by providing statistics on the incidence of PTSD after vehicle accidents, as indicated by research on the subject. The attorney will want documentation from a medical doctor verifying that the individual actually is suffering from this disorder. The doctor should make recommendations for treatment.
The insurer may dispute the claim, providing evidence that the individual actually had some level of mental illness before the accident. Testimony from medical professionals may be essential to convince the representatives that this disorder was not present prior to the incident. Also, when a person had previously suffered from an anxiety disorder or mild depression, the more debilitating PTSD can be triggered by a catastrophic accident.
People dealing with PTSD can experience a broad range of symptoms, and no two individuals are alike in this regard. Some of the more common symptoms include anxiety and panic attacks, nightmares and insomnia, and avoidance behavior. Avoidance tactics might include refusing to drive a car or go anywhere near the place where the accident occurred. Psychiatrists and psychologists know that a person who was in an accident in which another individual was killed is likely to develop troublesome guilt, even if someone else was entirely responsible. There may be guilt associated with surviving while the other person did not. The individual may repeatedly go through torturous ruminations about how he or she could have somehow prevented the accident.
A Car Accident Lawyer in Hollywood FL will put forth aggressive effort to see that the insurer pays fair compensation for physical injuries, medical care and lost income. The settlement also should include an amount to compensate for the emotional pain and suffering this person is experiencing. Treatment may include talk therapy and medication, and the settlement should cover an established amount for that. A firm such as the Law Offices of McCullough & Leboff, P.A. wants clients to receive the compensation they deserve for all aspects of the situation.
