Motorcycle accidents are not pretty. They result in serious injuries and even death in many cases. It will usually mean that the victim, their loved ones, or both will have huge adjustments to make that can diminish quality of life.
Some people are unable to return to work because of the fallout of the accident. Sometimes people end up with permanent paralysis.
The physical fallout of a serious motorcycle accident is well documented, but what about the mental health element of what is undoubtedly a highly traumatic event? A motorcycle crash can do much more than physical damage and that's why the aim here is to explore one of the more jarring emotional injuries in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What Might PTSD Look Like?
PTSD is a mental health condition that can take many different forms from one person to the next, but it is always preceded by some traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents. Some of the typical ways in which it will manifest itself are as follows:
Anxiety
Having flashbacks to the event that caused the trauma
Avoiding any kind of discussion around the event
Experiencing nightmares
Involuntary recurring thoughts of the incident
Insomnia
Mood swings
Some people will begin to experience these things immediately after a motorcycle wreck while others will not start to see any of this until weeks and even months have passed. Similarly, while these effects may be short-term for some, they will continue for others way after.
Who May Be Affected by PTSD After a Motorcycle Accident?
Naturally, motorcycle accident victims are often the ones who will experience PTSD. After all, they tend to be the most affected party, even in the area of physical injuries. However, they are not the only ones who may be affected. Other potential parties include:
Any loved ones who had to get the news that their loved one had died in a motorcycle wreck
Any witnesses of the accident
The emergency personnel who assist the injured or deceased parties.
Treatment Options for Those Who Develop PTSD
There isn't a standard course of treatment for everyone who suffers from PTSD. This is because it will affect some people differently from it will others. Additionally, some people may respond to one course of treatment well while others may not.
In any case, whatever treatment is administered is meant to help the affected persons manage their symptoms. Support groups, medication, or therapy are some of the options that may be used, with all of them being specially tailored to the unique needs of the affected person.
There May Be Other Injuries
PTSD is bad enough in isolation. However, victims of a crash will usually have other physical injuries that go along with it. Some of the standard motorcycle accident injuries will include:
Broken bones
Internal bleeding
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Burns
Spine injuries
Lacerations
All these will require standard medical care, which may or may not include surgery. Trying to balance addressing these and the life changes they may introduce with the mental weight of PTSD is where the real challenge will often lie.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Get Medical Attention
Before any other thoughts cross the mind, medical care should be the ultimate priority. The extremities of a victim often don't tell the full tale of what is occurring. There may be internal damage at play which won't be felt or seen, but can be a serious problem later on. Get early medical care to be assured of the outlook.
Additionally, doing so will create a record of the medical expenses and care that need to be administered, which is a big part of any matter of personal injury law when compensation is a part of the conversation.
Gather Evidence
Another big part of a personal injury claim is that of proof. Negligence, the occurrence of the accident, and its relationship with the injuries caused will need to be established as a part of a successful claim. Therefore, it's non-negotiable to gather as much evidence as possible.
Some of the more helpful elements here are picture and video evidence of the accident and the injuries it has caused and contact information of any witnesses that may be present. The earlier the evidence is gathered, the better.
Remember too that a car accident attorney can also provide direction on what areas of evidence are needed and can even help in the acquisition of expert testimonies that may help the cause.
Provide a Statement
A police officer will usually be called to the scene of any serious accident. It's a good idea to provide a statement that will form a part of the police report that can make or break the personal injury lawsuit. If there is no officer on the scene, visit whichever precinct corresponds with the location of the accident, and ensure that a statement is provided.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
The importance of the wisdom of a professional cannot be understated. An attorney will represent the client during settlement negotiations and will also prevent the insurance company of the negligent party from using any tricks to avoid having to compensate the victim fairly. They can help answer other question such as What is the most common motorcycle head injury?
Getting Compensation for PTSD and Other Damages
Valuing a claim is very important and it takes a seasoned attorney to do it right. Damages are divided into punitive, economic, and non-economic elements.
Punitive damages are levied against defendants who were grossly negligent or intended to cause harm. Economic damages are not too hard to value since they have documentation or receipts to help establish the figures. These include medical expenses and lost wages.
PTSD would fall under non-economic damages, which are more quality of life and subjectively based. A Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer will help in understanding how to chronicle the effects of the accident for a fair settlement.
Schedule Your FREE Consultation with an Expert Texas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today!
PTSD from a motorcycle accident is difficult to deal with, as is the myriad of other damages that are possible. Don't let negligent drivers get away. Allow a seasoned car accident attorney to help you seek compensation.
Schedule a free consultation today with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys!