When you are involved in an accident, the physical injuries you’ve endured may heal and fade with time, but the emotional impact of the injuries you have suffered may leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, if you are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, this can be an incredibly difficult and challenging matter. As such, you may wonder if you are able to seek compensation for these damages during your lawsuit. This blog explores what you should know about these matters, including the importance of discussing your circumstances with personal injury attorneys in Baltimore County to help you understand your rights.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs when someone endures or witnesses a particularly stressful, harrowing, or scary event. This disorder can have significant impacts on your ability to live a normal life. Generally, when you endure or witness a traumatic event, it’s normal to have symptoms that can make it difficult to go about your daily tasks. However, as time progresses, the symptoms should lessen. If the impact of the accident you’ve endured continues to inhibit your ability to live your life, you may be diagnosed with PTSD.
Common signs and symptoms that you may be suffering from PTSD include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Re-experiencing symptoms, like nightmares, triggers, or flashbacks
- Avoiding things that remind you of the accident
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling on-edge
- Difficulty concentrating
- Utilizing unhealthy coping mechanisms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Gaps in memory
- Inability to talk about the accident
- Feelings of guilt or shame
Am I Able to Seek Compensation for This During My Lawsuit?
In the event you are diagnosed with PTSD following an accident in Maryland, it’s important to understand your legal options. Typically, when you are involved in an accident like a car crash or a slip-and-fall, you may know that you can seek compensation for things like your medical bills or lost wages if you have to take time off work. These are known as economic damages, as they represent the quantifiable losses you’ve suffered.
However, you are also able to seek what’s known as non-economic damages. These represent subjective losses that do not have an attached monetary value, like pain and suffering, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life. If you are diagnosed with PTSD, you can seek compensation for the damages you’ve endured through your non-economic damages.
Unfortunately, fighting for the non-economic damages you endure can be incredibly difficult, as the negligent party and their insurance will likely do everything possible to minimize the value of your claim. As such, connecting with an experienced attorney is in your best interest, as they can help you in the fight for the justice you deserve.
At the Law Offices of Markey & Orsi, our dedicated legal team will do everything in our power to assist you through these complicated matters. Contact us today to learn how we can fight for you during these difficult times to help you recover the compensation you deserve for the damages you’ve suffered at the hands of a negligent party.