The psychological and emotional distress caused by accidents can be just as devastating and long-lasting as physical injuries. If you are dealing with mental health issues after an accident caused by another party’s negligence in Maryland, it’s in your best interest to connect with a competent Prince George’s County Personal Injury Attorney to fight for the justice you deserve. Please continue reading as we explore how you can document your psychological injuries.
What Compensation Can I Seek in a Personal Injury Claim?
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Economic damages represent your tangible losses with a clear monetary value, including medical expenses, property damage, and lost income. Non-economic damages, however, represent intangible losses that are not readily quantifiable, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.
While economic damages can easily be proven due to their concrete monetary value, non-economic damages are much more challenging. Since pain is subjective, there is no objective way to measure it, and demonstrating the extent of your suffering can be difficult without strong evidence beyond personal testimony. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain detailed records of your injuries and their impact to accurately calculate the damages to which you may be entitled.
Why Should I Document My Psychological Injuries After an Accident?
Regardless of whether you are involved in a minor fender bender or a major collision, it can be a life-changing event. While physical wounds may heal with time, the mental and emotional scars of a crash can persist long after the physical trauma has subsided. Victims may experience a wide range of psychological symptoms, including recurring flashbacks, the constant fear of driving, trouble sleeping, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, mood swings, and overwhelming anxiety. Even in the absence of severe bodily harm, the psychological impact of an accident can be profound. As such, it’s crucial to document your psychological injuries to ensure you receive the just compensation you need to get your life back on track.
To document your psychological injuries after an accident, you maintain a detailed journal. You should use a pain scale to note your physical and emotional suffering. You should keep track of any new systems and record how the accident has impacted your daily life, work, and relationships. It’s important to document your emotional struggles, such as if you experienced anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks, or other emotional difficulties. Keep a list of the activities you can no longer do or have difficulty performing as a result of your injuries.
In addition to maintaining a detailed journal, you should obtain copies of your medical records. They can corroborate the extent of your injuries. Generally, the subjective impact of an injury can be assumed based on the severity of the injury. Keep track of objective evidence such as doctor’s notes describing your pain, pictures of visible injuries, testimony from friends and relatives regarding how you life has been affected, and psychological evaluations by professionals.
Furthermore, you should seek professional mental health evaluations. It’s important to consult with a therapist or psychiatrist to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for your psychological injuries. As mentioned, you should keep copies of all medical records.
At McCarthy, Winkelman & Mester, L.L.P., we are prepared to help you gather evidence of your psychological injuries and fight for the compensation you deserve. Connect with our firm today for advice and skilled representation.
