Ontario is the principal city of the Inland Empire area of California. It is known for its proximity to many L.A. attractions.
In 2022, there were 216,366 traffic accidents in California. This resulted in 165,978 injuries and 3,854 deaths, as declared by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Taking legal advice from an accident lawyer in Ontario is one of the best decisions you can make if you are injured in a collision. It is also important to take care of your health because accidents often affect the mental and psychological health of the victim.
As a victim, it is important to know the psychological impacts of accidents in Ontario, California. Read this blog post to learn more in detail.
Mental Health Issues After an Accident
As a result of the accident, you will suffer physical injuries and mental health issues. The following are some of the mental health issues that arise due to an accident.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a serious mental disorder that impacts the quality of your life.
An accident will affect your mental health condition, so you will experience extreme anxiety. Once you recover from physical injuries, you will slowly overcome your fear of driving.
Dealing with anxiety is a challenging thing for the victim.
Here are some of the types of anxiety disorders:
- Panic disorder
- Separation disorder
- Phobia
- Generalized anxiety disorder
If you experience any one of the above anxiety disorders after an accident, then you may fear driving or being a passenger in any vehicle. It will also impact your ability to commute or engage in daily activities.
It is always better to discuss this with an experienced therapist who can help you overcome your anxiety disorder.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
As a result of accidents, most victims experience an emotional disorder, which is known as post-traumatic stress disorder. The following are the symptoms of PTSD:
- Persistent fear
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Feeling guilty
- Trouble focusing
All these symptoms will affect your daily tasks and your quality of life. That’s why it is better to consult a therapist to overcome PTSD. If you have sustained injuries to your head (TBI), the chances of experiencing PTSD increase.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that accident victims may suffer from. It is very simple to find out whether you have depression or not. Losing interest in things that you enjoyed before the accident or experiencing sadness after an accident are major symptoms of depression.
Moreover, you need to deal with medical expenses and lost earnings. These expenses may cause extreme stress, which will later change into depression.
That’s why you should surround yourself with supportive people. These supportive people, such as your family or friends, will help you manage your depression.
How Can a Lawyer Help You?
Suppose you experience any of the above psychological impacts, then you are eligible to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.
Therefore, in this scenario, you need to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer. A lawyer will help you recover compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Psychological impacts fall under the category of non-economic losses. It is not easy to calculate them. Here, your lawyer will use the multiplier method or per-diem method to calculate the psychological impact of an accident.
Final Thoughts
Most victims consider only financial losses. They rarely take into account the psychological consequences of an accident. These consequences will affect your quality of life.
Most insurance companies will refuse to pay compensation for psychological impacts. An experienced attorney will fight on your behalf with the insurance company for compensation for psychological impacts.
By hiring a lawyer for your personal injury case, you can concentrate on your recovery. The lawyer will handle all aspects of the case and will work hard to get you fair compensation.