Residents in Connecticut who have been involved in a car accident might wonder if the feelings they are experiencing after the incident could be considered post-traumatic stress disorder. While it is common for people involved in accidents to experience many reactions that range from shock to anger, these feelings usually begin to subside as time passes. However, if these feelings become more intense with time and begin to get in the way of the person’s day-to-day life, it might be a sign that the person is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
There are over six million people involved in auto accidents each year, and most will suffer emotions such as guilt, fear, worry, uneasiness, anger and even trouble believing the accident took place. While these feelings can be overwhelming, they will eventually fade. However, some people begin to feel even stronger emotions that actually change the way the person acts and thinks. These can include developing problems driving or even riding in a car as well as having nightmares or problems falling asleep. Being irritable, constantly replaying the memories of the accident and feeling disconnected from people and events are also issues that can occur.
There are some things people can do to deal with the feelings experienced after an accident. These include talking to friends, relatives and professionals about how the person felt during and after the accident, consulting a doctor for a checkup and following the doctor’s orders for recovery and learning to be a defensive driver. However, developing post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident is not always preventable.
Accident victims that develop post-traumatic stress disorder may benefit from speaking with an attorney about their options. Victims might choose to file personal injury claims to recover economic and non-economic damages suffered as a result of the accident.
Source: FamilyDoctor.org, “Post-traumatic Stress After a Traffic Accident“, January 06, 2015
