Any accident can impact one’s life in an unimaginable way. Apart from financial mayhem, plaintiffs also suffer from severe injuries and emotional trauma that almost always goes under the radar. Great lawyers like the ones at Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys believe that most victims overlook the non-economic losses they sustain.
In this article, we shall briefly touch upon the non-financial losses that every accident victim experiences.
Emotional Effects of Accidents
Auto accidents can have psychological and emotional consequences that are just as crippling as some physical ones. For instance, sufferers could develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and have flashbacks. Unknown to many people, PTSD resulting from a vehicle accident is really more common.
A few examples of mental health issues caused by auto accidents are as follows:
- Acute depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Sleeping difficulty
- Concentration issues
- Abnormal mood swings
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Sexual dysfunction
- Emotional detachment
Non-Economic Damages: What Does That Mean?
In a typical personal injury claim, you can get paid for medical bills, lost income, and other out-of-pocket expenses. These are monetary losses.
But when someone hurts you, you lose more than simply the money you spent on medical bills or the income you could not earn. You should also receive compensation for other losses that are equally significant but don’t have a monetary value.
You can receive compensation for these additional intangible losses resulting from your injuries through non-economic damages. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for various non-economic damages, such as the following.
Pain and Suffering
Several kinds of injuries can inflict overwhelming physical pain. For weeks, months, years, or even the rest of your life following an injury, you may experience excruciating pain from burns, shattered bones, or concussions. You are entitled to compensation for the physical pain rendered due to injuries sustained in the accident.
Emotional Anguish
When you are hurt by someone, the events leading up to the damage can be quite painful. Your injuries can cause you to experience mental suffering. For instance, getting to know that you have been permanently disfigured or paralyzed is naturally a difficult pill to swallow.
You ought to receive compensation if the incident causes emotional or mental problems. This includes circumstances that lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, phobias, depression, personality changes, memory or cognitive function impairments, and a variety of other mental or emotional problems.
Loss of Partnership or Consortium
Your inability to relate to your loved ones the same way you did before you sustained severe injuries from the accident. For instance, if your injuries rendered you paraplegic, you might not be able to play on the ground with your kids or engage in intimate activities with your romantic partner.
Decreased Quality of Life
It can also be a significant loss if your injuries and the ensuing emotional distress make it impossible for you to engage in activities you used to love or make life less enjoyable.
For instance, if you used to be an enthusiastic swimmer but your injuries have prevented you from pursuing it, you should be awarded non-economic losses to compensate for the loss of your favorite pastime.
Long-term Illnesses, Disability, or Disfigurement
In the event that your impairment or disability is permanent, it can have a heavy toll on the rest of your life. The toll could be physical or emotional. Life-long injuries of such types often demand huge compensation for non-economic damages.
Important Takeaways
Therefore, you need to take the initiative to ensure that you move on from the auto accident in the most beneficial way. Here are some key points to keep in mind.
- Even if you don’t believe you are injured, get medical assistance.
- Gather information about the accident and the other parties involved.
- Consult your counselor or a therapist.
