Car accidents can leave you with severe physical injuries and permanent scars. However, many car accident survivors also experience severe emotional or mental trauma as a result of the crash. For some folks, those feelings do not fade over time; instead, they worsen until they affect every part of the survivor's life.
If you’ve been in a car accident and find yourself struggling with intense feelings of fear or anxiety, or recurring memories of the event, you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What Is PTSD?
The DSM-5 categorizes post-traumatic stress disorder as a stress or trauma-induced disorder caused by "exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation." It is often associated with military combat or being the victim of a violent crime. However, PTSD can also occur after a more common, but still traumatic, experience.
Can You Develop PTSD From a Car Accident?
Yes, you can develop PTSD after a car accident, even if your physical injuries are relatively minor. The experience of being in a vehicle during a high-speed crash can have lasting impacts on your mental health.
What Are the Signs of Car Accident PTSD?
One of the reasons PTSD is so challenging is that if can manifest in multiple ways. The combination of physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms can create a cascade effect that leaves you feeling stuck in a vicious cycle. Recognizing the signs of car accident-related PTSD may be the different between getting the help you need, and spiraling out of control.
Emotional and Psychological Signs
It’s normal to feel shaken after you’ve been involved in a car crash. What’s not common is for those feelings to persist or intensify in the weeks and months following the crash. If your emotional distress gets worse, it may signal PTSD. You might notice:
- Persistent Fear or Anxiety: Feeling constantly on edge, even when you’re in a safe space. Getting into a car or driving may trigger dread.
- Flashbacks and Nightmares: Reliving the accident through vivid memories or nightmares can leave you feeling emotionally drained.
- Emotional Numbness: You may find yourself detached from loved ones or unable to feel joy.
- Irritability and Anger: Little things might set you off, leading to outbursts you can’t control.
- Depression: A lingering sense of sadness or hopelessness may emerge.
If you already struggle with mental health concerns prior to your accident, post-traumatic stress disorder may make these feelings worse.
This is one reason why you should consult with a licensed mental health professional following your accident. They may be able to help you process your emotional trauma and regain your sense of self-control.
Behavioral Signs
Post-traumatic stress disorder can also impact how you behave. After a car accident, you might notice changes like:
- Avoidance: Perhaps you're avoiding anything that reminds you of the accident, such as driving on certain roads.
- Social Withdrawal: You may pull away from friends and family.
- Hypervigilance: You might be overly alert, or find yourself assigning meaning to seemingly innocuous events.
- Risky Behaviors: Engaging in criminal behaviors, indulging in alcohol or drugs (legal, prescribed, or otherwise), or acting in ways that are reckless or dangerous can all be signs of PTSD.
If you start showing behavioral signs of PTSD after a car accident, it’s important to avoid self-medicating with alcohol or medications. Instead, speak to a licensed medical professional and give them an opportunity to develop a research-based treatment protocol to help. Self-medicating can make behavioral signs like withdrawal and recklessness even worse.
One of the biggest challenges with PTSD is that you may not feel like yourself. When your behaviors no longer align with who you are (or strive to be), it can make you feel unmoored. The good news is that there are plenty of resources out there to help you navigate life after your traumatic accident.
Physical Signs
Post-traumatic stress disorder is primarily a psychological condition. However, it can affect your body, too. Physical symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Fatigue: The emotional strain of PTSD can leave you feeling constantly tired.
- Headaches or Body Pain: Chronic stress can manifest as tension headaches, muscle aches, or other unexplained pain.
- Insomnia: Trouble falling asleep is a common symptom, especially if you’re dealing with nightmares.
- Increased Heart Rate: Anxiety and flashbacks can trigger a racing heart or shortness of breath.
- Digestive Issues: Stress from PTSD can disrupt your stomach, leading to nausea, indigestion, or appetite changes.
Additionally, if you withdraw from your normal social circles and habits, you may experience a general decline in physical health. For example, if you were an avid gym goer before the crash but now only participate in mandatory activities (i.e., going to work), then the disorder can affect your fitness levels.
What Are the Effects of PTSD on Daily Life?
Post-traumatic stress disorder can have far-reaching consequences on your day-to-day life. Here are some of the areas that may be impacted:
Relationships
PTSD can make you feel isolated or disconnected from your friends and family. You might push people away or struggle to communicate your feelings. This can cause tension in your relationships. Do your best to share what you are going through and let your loved ones know that you need some space.
Work
You may find it harder to be productive at work. Irritability and feelings of anxiety can lead to performance problems and even put your job at risk. Unfortunately, many people don’t have an opportunity to take extended time off from work.
Daily Activities
PTSD can lead to avoidance behaviors. This development may stop you from doing things you used to enjoy or even necessary tasks like grocery shopping.
Another potential consequence is flashbacks. Let’s say you were involved in a major vehicle accident on a road that you take daily during your work commute. Now, you may have to take an alternative route that’s longer and more time-consuming. This means leaving earlier each day, which can add to the stress you are feeling.
Health
The stress of PTSD can weaken your immune system. If you are also skipping meals and cutting out activities that promote physical fitness, you may become more susceptible to illness. Unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse can worsen your overall health as well.
What Are the Risk Factors of Developing PTSD From a Car Accident?
Not everyone who experiences a car accident will develop post-traumatic stress disorder. There are certain risk factors that may make you more likely to develop PTSD, including the following:
Severity of the Accident
More serious accidents may increase the chances of developing PTSD. A minor fender-bender that occurs in a parking lot probably isn’t too stressful. On the other hand, a life-threatening or multi-vehicle highway crash may be particularly impactful.
Previous Trauma
Everyone handles stress differently. If you’ve experienced other traumatic events, your brain may already be primed to react strongly to additional stress.
Lack of Support
If you don’t have many close friends or reliable family members, you may feel more isolated after your crash. This lack of support can increase your risk of developing PTSD.
Mental Health History
If you already suffer from a mental health condition, your crash can make it worse. Chronic anxiety or depression can increase your risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Role You Played
Even if what happened was totally out of your control, you may be tempted to blame yourself. For example, if you were driving and one of your passengers got hurt, you may convince yourself that the injuries are somehow your fault. This guilt can make PTSD symptoms stronger.
How to Treat PTSD After a Car Accident
It is in your best interest to seek professional medical help after any car accident. Connecting with a licensed mental health professional is one of the best options if you are showing signs of PTSD. They can recommend therapy to help you process what you went through. Your doctor may also recommend antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications to help address some of your psychological symptoms.
Additional things to try at home
Along with your prescribed treatment plan, there are some things you can do that may provide additional comfort:
- Try meditating or yoga, which force you to focus on your breathing and the way your body moves.
- Set yourself a schedule or routine and follow it.
- Get some exercise, take up a creative activity, or try journaling.
- Seek support from your friends, loved ones, and community.
While it may be tempting to avoid everything and everyone, don’t do it. Be patient with yourself, and gradually open yourself back up to people, places, and activities you used to enjoy.
Can You Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?
Yes, you can sue the other party if you develop post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident. However, depending on where you live, you may also have to have physical injuries to make a claim for emotional harm. If not –if you are able to file a claim solely for the emotional trauma and harm – you'll need to prove that you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and that it resulted from the crash.
You should speak to an experienced car accident attorney if you are considering legal action. They can gather evidence to support your case and negotiate a car accident PTSD settlement on your behalf. An attorney can calculate damages, which can include lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering, to ensure your needs are met.
