Don't Deal With a Personal Injury On Your Own

Don't Deal With a Personal Injury On Your Own

Can You Receive Compensation For Your Child's PTSD After A Car Accident?

by Joan Bradley

It is common for those involved in a car accident to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder due to shock. A car accident can have a negative impact on children, in particular, with the actual accident and injury, the noise, the bright lights, and seeing others in distress. PTSD is not uncommon in kids in these situations. If your child was involved in a car accident and is dealing with symptoms of PTSD, you can potentially collect damages with a personal injury lawsuit. Here are some things you should know:

What Are PTSD Symptoms in Kids?

PTSD is a mental disorder that can happen when a person experiences a traumatic event. The symptoms vary in people and children of different ages. Children can easily become traumatized after a car accident. Some symptoms can include nightmares, bedwetting, fear of the dark, feelings of anger, fear of riding in a vehicle, or shifts in social behavior.

Pre-teen and teenage children can also show signs of PTSD through poor behavior, bad performance in school, problems sleeping, or even being scared to drive a car themselves once they are old enough to get a driver's license.

What Should You Know About Filing a Lawsuit?

Proving your child is suffering from PTSD after an accident can sometimes be difficult, especially in younger children who exhibit shyness or children who cannot fully verbalize their feelings after an accident.

An insurance company will require some specific proof that your child has this disorder to get compensation. They may even try to determine other causes for their symptoms and attribute it to other events in your child's life, such as the death of a loved one or a major shift in their lifestyle.

To have the best chance of receiving compensation for PTSD damages after a car accident, your child will need to relate their symptoms directly to the events of the car accident. The best way to do this is through medical testimony. Your child will need a psychiatric evaluation. The doctor will discuss the feelings your child is having and can base a diagnosis on what they believe is the cause. If your child's doctor believes the PTSD symptoms are due to the car accident, you can take the doctor's statement to the insurer for proof.

If you still cannot get a claim with the insurance company, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your attorney so he or she can help you build a solid case.

For more information, contact a personal injury attorney.


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About Me

Don't Deal With a Personal Injury On Your Own

You walk into your favorite grocery store and right away, you slip and fall only to sprain your ankle. You can't perform your job because it requires standing on your feet all day, which means that you can't make any money to support your family while your ankle heals. There was no warning that the floors were wet after being cleaned in the store – so what do you do? It's probably a good idea to think about filing a personal injury lawsuit. Of course, anyone with experience with a personal injury case will tell you just how important it is to work with an attorney throughout the process. I'd like to share insight I've learned through three personal injury cases that I myself have had to go through in the past. I think the information on this website can help people like you, who need some personal injury guidance.