Anxiety After an Accident: Can You Claim?
Many people think that personal injury claims are limited to physical damage or financial losses only. While these injuries are serious incidents and are some of the most popular cases that individuals claim for in personal injury accidents, there are other circumstances that the affected party can gain compensation for too. Mental injuries can occur instantly after an accident takes place, but they can also appear several weeks or months afterwards. Mental injuries can be just as serious as physical or financial damage, and in the worst cases, they can be more severe. This is typically because mental injuries can be easily disguised and harder to identify than physical injuries. If the claimant has never experienced mental health issues before their accident, they may also be in denial about the psychological harm that the accident has caused and put off asking for legal and medical support for much longer than is recommended. Mental health injuries can worsen if they’re not treated correctly, which is why, in this article, we will discuss specifically about anxiety after an accident, and how you can claim for mental injury compensation.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a psychological reaction to environments that are stressful or threatening. Some individuals are more likely to experience anxiety in their lifetime than others. While anxiety can be caused by family genetics, experiencing anxiety can also be down to several other factors, both internal and external. Common experiences that can trigger anxiousness and develop into anxiety are painful or high-stress events like losing a family member or experiencing financial difficulties. Being involved in a road traffic accident or experiencing a life-threatening fall or injury at work can also give rise to anxious feelings and emotions. Usually, when individuals develop anxiety from a personal injury, they will become fearful of other environments and concerned over a similar situation happening again. Of course, anxiety looks slightly different for everyone, but in general, symptoms of anxiety include shortness of breath, irritability, increased heart rate and feeling overwhelmed.
How can I claim?
Many legal firms, such as Liverpool-based personal injury solicitors, Bond Turner, have specialised teams that work specifically on mental injury cases. Before you reach out to a professional team, it’s recommended that you obtain an official medical record from a doctor or psychiatrist outlining that your mental condition was caused by the accident you suffered. As well as this evidence, both yourself and your solicitor will be expected to put forward evidence that proves your case. This could include witness details, emails and even a symptom diary that records how you felt each day following the accident. Once your evidence is submitted to the court, your personal injury solicitor will manage the legal process for your case and keep you informed about the progress of your application. Claiming compensation is important if you’ve experienced a mental injury from an accident that wasn’t your fault, as you may require professional support from a therapist or psychologist so that your mental injuries don’t get worse.
