A Closer Look at PTSD After Surviving a Truck Accident in Mississippi

Truck accidents are often the most dangerous types of vehicle accidents. When a standard passenger vehicle goes up against a vehicle that is 20 times heavier than it, it’s no secret that the passenger vehicle occupants lose. Severe and fatal injuries are far more likely in truck accidents than in other types of collisions, and for those who survive, PTSD is a common outcome.

If you’ve developed PTSD or other mental health issues as a result of a truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Call Gardner Law Group at 228-436-6555 to set up a consultation with our personal injury team right away.

How Truck Accidents Can Lead to PTSD

PTSD can occur after many types of trauma. Truck accidents are inherently traumatic because of the massive size disparity between passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers. Every single tractor-trailer accident has the potential to end in a fatal or severe injury, and that alone is enough to cause post-traumatic stress disorder. Those who are injured in these accidents are often left with intense feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, fear, grief, and shame. The latter emotions are particularly common if someone else was seriously or fatally injured in the crash but the survivor made a full recovery.

Unfortunately, PTSD isn’t always caught right away in truck accident survivors. Family members and friends may be so concerned about the survivor’s physical injuries that the mental trauma takes a backseat. This leads to a significant delay in treatment, which can worsen the prognosis and draw out the recovery process.

Signs of PTSD After a Truck Accident

It’s important for truck accident survivors and their loved ones to watch closely for the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Per the DSM-5, the symptoms of PTSD must last for at least a month to be considered post-traumatic stress disorder. While these symptoms may be observed in victims who do not have PTSD, when they last longer than a month, PTSD is a likely diagnosis. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Irritability and aggression

• Difficulty concentrating and focusing

• Difficulty sleeping or fatigue

• Intense startle reaction

• Risky and dangerous behavior

• Hypervigilance

• Avoiding stimuli that remind the victim of the accident

• Isolation and withdrawal from social situations

• Physical symptoms, including nausea, digestive issues, and headaches

Treatment Options

Treatment options vary quite a bit, depending on the care provider you choose and the type of symptoms you have. It’s important to reach out for support as soon as possible because the longer you leave PTSD untreated, the longer unhealthy thought patterns have to become entrenched in your mind. Potential treatment options include:

• CBT: Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of counseling that helps people identify negative thought behaviors and dismantle them. It can also help survivors develop healthy coping skills and strategies in the wake of trauma. This can minimize the issues that come with flashbacks and unexpected exposure to accident-related stimuli.

• EMDR: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is a unique therapeutic approach. It involves recalling traumatic memories while being taken through guided eye movements. This allows the individual to reprocess traumatic events and triggers, which limits the emotional distress caused by those memories.

• Group therapy: This can be helpful for some survivors, but it is often best for those who are further along in their recovery. For those who are still processing their trauma, hearing others discuss their accidents can be triggering.

• Medication: Medication is a powerful tool, especially when used with other therapeutic approaches.

Compensation for PTSD

Mental health treatment can be incredibly expensive, which often discourages people from even seeking assistance. Part of your truck accident claim may include compensation for mental health treatment, mental trauma, and pain and suffering. This can allow you to get the treatment you need to make a full recovery and get back to normal.

Fight for Fair Compensation with Gardner Law Group

Getting the compensation you deserve after a truck accident can be an uphill battle, but with the right legal team by your side, you can demand what you’re owed. Find out how Gardner Law Group can help you. Call us at 228-436-6555 or send us a message online to set up a time to meet.