When Tulsa Truck Accidents Cause PTSD

Truck accidents are frightening. Cars are simply no match for tractor-trailers, semis, rigs, 18-wheelers, flatbeds, and other large trucks. When a large truck collides with a car, the occupants of the car are likely to suffer catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, severe burns, broken bones, organ damage, and nerve damage. Trucks that strike pedestrians and bicyclists often lead to even more horrific outcomes.

Many victims of truck accidents have difficulty coping with reliving the accident, surgery, working with numerous doctors, and spending day after day with physical therapists. When the physical pain becomes unbearable, the stress of worrying about the medical bills and daily living expenses becomes too much to handle – truck accident victims may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At Biby Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers work with all the health providers who treat your physical injuries. We also work with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to verify whether you have PTSD and understand what treatment you’ll need to begin to move forward with your life. Our attorneys take the time to appreciate every way that your PTSD is making your life difficult and determine the cost of the medical care you’ll need – possibly for the rest of your life.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD is a mental health disorder triggered by experiencing a terrifying event.  Symptoms of severe anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks that last for months or years and prevent you from functioning on a daily level indicate you may have PTSD. While many symptoms appear within a month of a truck accident, some symptoms may take years to appear.

PTSD symptoms are generally classified into the following four groups:

• Intrusive memories. These symptoms include:
  • Flashbacks – reliving the truck accident as if it were happening again
  • Upsetting nightmares
  • Distressing memories of the truck accident that are recurring and unwanted
  • Severe physical or emotional discomfort when you’re reminded of the truck accident
• Avoidance. These symptoms include:
  • Avoiding talking about or thinking about the truck accident
  • Avoiding any place, person, or activity that reminds you of the trucking accident
• Negative moods and thoughts. Possible symptoms include:
  • Negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world
  • Hopelessness
  • Difficulty remembering important details about the trucking accident
  • Not being able to sustain close relationships
  • Feeling separated from friends and family
  • Lack of interest in activities you did before the trucking accident
• Physical and emotional reactions. These symptoms include:
  • Constantly being on guard for danger
  • Being frightened easily
  • Drinking, speeding, and other self-destructive behavior
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Anger
  • Feelings of guilt or shame

The symptoms can vary depending on your experience.

It’s best to get professional help if the symptoms last for more than a month. If a truck accident victim shows signs of PTSD, the victim or friends and family should seek medical health help immediately.

PTSD can cause dangerous complications, including anxiety, depression, alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders, and thoughts or attempts of suicide.

How is PTSD diagnosed?

The Mayo Clinic states that PTSD is diagnosed by:

• Conducting a physical exam to look for any physical problems that may be underlying causes
• Conducting a psychological exam that reviews your symptoms
• Using the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association

What treatments help truck accident victims with PTSD?

The Mayo Clinic states that the main treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy. Medications may also be prescribed. These treatments aim to help truck accident victims with PTSD address their symptoms, have more positive views of themselves and the world, learn how to cope when symptoms reappear and treat any related problems such as anxiety, depression, or drug or alcohol abuse.

Psychotherapy generally involves three types of therapy:

• Cognitive therapy. This type of psychotherapy helps PTSD victims focus on the thoughts (cognitive patterns) that prevent them from functioning and moving forward.
• Exposure therapy. This type of psychotherapy helps PTSD victims face “situations and memories that you find frightening so that you can learn to cope with them effectively.” Therapists often use this therapy for victims who have nightmares or flashbacks. For example, a virtual reality program may help you re-experience the truck accident.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).“EMDR combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that help you process traumatic memories and change how you react to them.”

Your therapy sessions may include individual sessions, group sessions, or a combination thereof.

Some of the medications your doctor may prescribe include antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.

Are truck accident victims who have PTSD eligible for compensation?

Generally, you can seek compensation for PTSD if you have any type of physical injury. Your right to compensation is more complex if you didn’t suffer any physical harm.  For example, imagine a truck driving out of control right toward you, but the truck swerved out of the way at the last second. Our Tulsa truck accident lawyers can ascertain and explain the variables which will determine whether you can file a personal injury claim if you don’t suffer physical harm and only have emotional injuries such as PTSD.

When we file truck accident claims, we often file claims against the truck driver and any other responsible parties, including the truck driver’s employer or any truck companies involved with the load or the vehicles involved.

Our personal injury lawyers seek compensation for all your physical and emotional injuries, including PTSD. Compensation normally includes all your current and future:

• Medical expenses including psychological treatments and medications
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of income and benefits
• Property damage
• Inability to function
• Loss of quality of life

Biby Law Firm has helped countless truck accident victims obtain comprehensive recoveries for their physical and emotional injuries. We can work with your psychologists and other healthcare providers to understand the full scope of your trauma. You can call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation about how you can assert your rights. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis.