Recovering Damages for Psychological Injuries
The physical consequences of another person’s negligence can be devastating for unsuspecting victims. For instance, a property owner’s failure to keep her premises clean and safe could lead to a slip and fall accident, resulting in serious and debilitating injuries. What many people don’t realize, however, is that accidents based on another person’s negligence also cause significant psychological injuries that are much more difficult to identify and treat. Fortunately, in Florida, accident victims are allowed to seek compensatory damages not only for their economic losses, but also for damages that are more difficult to calculate, like psychological injuries and pain and suffering. To learn more about recovering damages for your own accident, please contact one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys today.
Types of Psychological Injuries
Psychological injuries can and do take a number of different forms. For instance, someone who was injured during the commission of a crime due to negligent security could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD often causes flashbacks, insomnia, anxiety, mood swings, and depression, all of which can take an enormous physical and emotional toll on victims. Others who become permanently disabled as a result of an injury sustained in an accident could suffer from depression and have difficulty adjusting to their new limitations. Still others suffer from anxiety disorders, which can cause insomnia, weight loss, and debilitating panic attacks. In many cases, the symptoms of psychological injuries actually outlast the symptoms of the physical injuries associated with the same accident.
Collecting Compensation for Psychological Injuries
After an accident, injured parties are often able to recover compensation through their insurers or by taking the at-fault party to court. However, in order to recover this compensation, the injured parties must document their injuries. Fortunately, the symptoms of physical injuries are often observable and can be confirmed through x-rays and lab tests. Psychological injuries, on the other hand, are not so easily diagnosed, and even when they are, may not manifest physically.
While this can make it difficult to link a psychological injury to an accident, such an endeavor is not impossible, although injured parties will require the testimony of expert witnesses and need to produce medical records related to therapy sessions and prescription medications in order to prove mental anguish. Seeking prompt medical attention as soon as possible after an accident or noticing a symptom is also critical when it comes to establishing a link between an accident and a psychological injury. Once such a link is established, injured parties could be eligible to collect compensation for the costs of counseling, prescription medications, and other forms of treatment, in addition to lost wages.
Contact Our Office Today
To schedule a free case evaluation with a dedicated personal injury lawyer who can walk you through your options for recovery, please call Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale at 954-566-9919 today, or complete one of our brief online contact forms. A member of our legal team is standing by to help you through each step of your case.
Resource:
nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
https://www.booneanddavislaw.com/determining-damages-in-your-personal-injury-claim/
