Mental and Emotional Injuries in Car Accidents

In an automobile accident, victims can suffer from a variety of injuries, ranging from whiplash to broken bones. As most people are aware, however, there are injuries that are not visible to the naked eye. These injuries, such as mental and emotional injuries, can cause severe problems long after the accident occurred, and can interfere with daily life even more than physical injuries.

What are Mental and Emotional Injuries?

Mental and emotional injuries are typically considered to be part of the umbrella term known as “pain and suffering.” While there are people who may be familiar with the term, pain and suffering can cover a broad range of injuries, including:

• loss of enjoyment of life
• disfigurement
• past and/or future pain and suffering
• psychological distress.

In addition, just as with physical injuries, mental and emotional damages can range from moderate to severe in nature, and can affect people in a multitude of ways. Examples of mental and emotional injuries include, but are not limited to:

• emotional distress
• mental anguish
• anxiety
• embarrassment
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• guilt
• frustration

While some people might think that they can explain what they are going through to support their case or claim, your word alone will generally not be sufficient in order to convince a claims adjuster, or the court.

Proving Your Injuries

If your case ever goes to trial, or if an insurance claims adjuster investigates the accident, then you will need to provide proof in order to recover any damages. The primary type of evidence most people might think of when they want to prove an injury is the medical record. There are, however, many more types of evidence that can help prove the existence of any mental or emotional distress.

For example, evaluations from your counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist, can help provide a professional evaluation of your mental condition. A personal journal, on the other hand, can provide a personal narrative of your feelings or experiences during the recovery period. Even letters from loved ones or coworkers can go a long way to detail any changes in your emotional state since the accident.

Calculating the Cost

Even though you can never truly put a price on mental or emotional injuries sustained from an automobile accident, there are factors that most people, courts included, consider when calculating how much a case might be worth. These factors include:

• the severity of the injury
• the recovery time
• whether the injury was any permanent injury
• emotional trauma.

Contacting an Accident Attorney

Dealing with the repercussions of an automobile accident can be tough. Even though dealing with the court in order to gain compensation for your injuries can be stressful, you do not have to go through the process alone. If you are looking for a dedicated, experienced accident attorney, then contact David Aylor Law Offices for a free case evaluation. Attorney has offices in Charleston, North Charleston, and Walterboro, and is prepared to help you today.