How to Tell if You Have PTSD After a Truck Crash
It’s been three months since you were in a collision with a large big rig on a Fort Lauderdale road, but you can’t stop thinking about it. In fact, you hear the sounds of squealing tires, shattered glass, and screams in your dreams only to find yourself waking up reliving the crash all over again. You know a wreck can cause your heart to pound, but should it be causing you to stay awake in bed and have constant feelings of fear?
If you are experiencing worry, fear, nightmares, or sleep issues following a crash with a truck, it may be a temporary issue; however, before you dismiss these concerns as normal, there could be something more that’s going on. Many victims of traffic accidents suffer from mental and emotional issues that could cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
In light of National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day on June 27, it is important to bring attention to the fact that mental disorders can occur following truck, car, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian accidents. What was once thought of as a disorder soldiers only suffered, the public is starting to understand that PTSD is something that can affect anyone who has been through a traumatic event.
Even though more and more people are realizing that PTSD is a real disorder that can affect just about anyone, many accident victims don’t realize they are suffering from PTSD. This is why it is important that if you have been in a crash, you should ask yourself the following questions three months after your accident (which is how long symptoms of PTSD take to appear).
- Are you having nightmares or flashbacks of the crash?
- Have you avoided getting behind the wheel since the wreck?
- Do you have trouble sleeping?
- Do you have increased anxiety, fear, worry, and anger?
- Are you having difficulty working and concentrating?
- Are you emotionally numb?
- Do you feel disconnected?
- Are you avoiding people, places, and activities you once liked?
If you have answered “Yes” to any of the aforementioned questions, it is possible that you are suffering from PTSD. In order to determine if you were affected in this way following a truck accident, you should see your doctor and discuss your concerns. If you do have PTSD, it is critical that you seek professional psychological help to deal with this disorder correctly, and you should also seek legal help to make sure you are compensated appropriately.
If a truck driver was at fault for the crash, you need to file a personal injury claim that includes all your damages, which could include a financial recovery for your mental health that was altered. To talk about your case in more detail, contact the Law Offices of David Benenfeld at 866-9 HELP NOW or 866-943-5766 for a free consultation with a skilled injury lawyer in South Florida today.
