If you’ve been in a car accident, you know that it can be a traumatic experience. Even if you aren’t seriously injured, the physical and emotional trauma of being in a car accident can be difficult to cope with and may take a toll on your mental health.
If you are experiencing pain and suffering related to a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. to file a personal injury claim.
Car Accidents And Emotional Trauma
Car accident victims not only face physical injuries but emotional injuries as well. These emotions can be especially strong if you were injured in a serious car accident or if someone you love was killed or seriously injured.
Car Accident Trauma Symptoms
Symptoms of car accident trauma can include physical pain, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about the accident, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Because trauma after a car accident doesn’t look the same for every car crash victim. Here are some other signs and symptoms to look out for:
Shock
Shock is a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by extreme stress. Symptoms of shock include shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, confusion or disorientation, feeling cold and clammy, weakness or dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Shock can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress is a legal term that refers to the psychological harm caused by an event or series of events. For example, emotional distress can be caused by physical injuries, such as car accidents.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of fear or unease that can be mild or severe. It can cause physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Anxiety can interfere with your ability to concentrate, sleep, eat, and enjoy life.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after you have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. PTSD can cause flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and feelings of isolation and helplessness.
How Long After a Car Accident Can Symptoms Appear?
How long does it take for symptoms to appear? Trauma symptoms after a car accident can appear immediately or days, weeks, or even months, after the accident. Symptoms may get better on their own over time or persist for a lifetime.
How to Treat Trauma After a Car Accident
If you are a car accident victim, there are often underlying physical injuries caused by a car accident that is the real culprit affecting your emotional health. Going to a doctor to heal your physical body may be the first step in healing your mind and getting you back on track.
If you continue to experience symptoms of trauma after a car accident and need help coping with your emotions and dealing with the aftermath of the accident, contact a mental health professional. They can provide treatment and determine whether your symptoms are related to the car accident.
Seeking treatment is also a way to document and prove your damages if you pursue a personal injury claim.
Legal Options for Victims of a Motor Vehicle Collision
If you have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault and suffering mental or emotional trauma, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. A lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve for your emotional and physical injuries, including reimbursement for medical expenses and lost wages, as well as damages for emotional distress.
To determine whether you have a case, speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who can review the facts of your situation and advise you on your best course of action. If you decide to file a lawsuit, your attorney will help you gather evidence to support your claim and negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company for fair compensation.
What Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Can Do For You
The Washington, D.C. car accident lawyers with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated we have the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources needed to conduct thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence to establish liability and negligence.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has achieved more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the most respected attorney-ranking service organization in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – there is no type of case that is too complex for us to litigate.
Determining the Value of Your Case
The amount of your settlement will vary depending on the facts and circumstances of your case.
Here are some settlements the personal injury lawyers with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have obtained for injury victims:
Here are a few of our case results:
- $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
- $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
- $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
- $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
- $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
- $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.
Contact an Accident Lawyer Today
If you are looking for the highest level representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.
