Most people think of physical injuries when they picture a pedestrian accident, such as broken bones and spinal cord damage. However, the psychological toll of being hit by a vehicle can be just as debilitating, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common results in this regard.
If you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD following a pedestrian accident in Tennessee, you may be able to include it as part of your personal injury claim. Read on for more details about how this works and how our efficient Nashville pedestrian accident attorney can help you pursue money damages.
How PTSD Develops After a Pedestrian Accident
Being hit by a vehicle is a sudden, violent event that the brain struggles to process. For some people, the psychological impact fades within a few weeks. For others, it lingers and develops into PTSD, a condition that can interfere with nearly every aspect of daily life.
Common symptoms of PTSD after a pedestrian accident include:
- Flashbacks of the accident that feel like they’re happening again
- Nightmares related to the event
- Severe anxiety around traffic and crosswalks
- Avoidance of the location where the accident occurred or situations that feel similar
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Withdrawal from relationships and activities you used to enjoy
- Heightened startle responses and feelings of being constantly on edge
These symptoms can sometimes show up long after the accident actually takes place. They don’t always appear alongside a physical injury, either. A person can walk away from a pedestrian collision without a scratch and still develop PTSD from the experience.
Can I Recover Compensation for PTSD in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee law allows accident victims to recover non-economic damages for psychological injuries like PTSD. These damages fall under the broader category of pain and suffering and are meant to compensate you for the personal impact the accident has had on your mental health and quality of life.
To include PTSD in your claim, you’ll generally need documentation from a licensed mental health professional. A formal diagnosis, treatment records, and expert testimony can all help establish the connection between the accident and your condition. The more compelling this evidence is, the harder it becomes for the insurance company to downplay what you’re going through.
Why Insurance Companies Push Back on PTSD Claims
Insurance adjusters tend to be skeptical of psychological injury claims because they’re harder to see and verify objectively. They may argue that your symptoms existed before the accident, that they’re not as severe as you claim, or that they aren’t connected to the collision at all.
This is one of the reasons why getting professional treatment early on is best. Consistent therapy records and a documented treatment plan create a paper trail that supports your claim. It also helps to work with a Nashville auto accident attorney who has experience handling cases that involve psychological injuries, as they’ll know how to present the evidence in a way that’s harder to dismiss.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Tennessee Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for Legal Help
PTSD from a pedestrian accident is a real injury with real consequences; it deserves to be treated that way in your legal claim. If a careless driver caused the accident that led to your condition, you have every right to pursue compensation for the harm it has caused.
Call Woodard Injury Law at (615) 640-3648 today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll work hard to maximize the value of your claim from the moment you decide to hire us.