Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Representing Memphis Victims and Others
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a disorder that some people develop in response to a frightening or shocking event. Many people experience extreme fear after a trauma such as a truck accident or the collapse of a building. Sometimes people naturally recover from their initial emotional response, but other people may feel stressed or frightened long after the traumatizing event, and they may be diagnosed with PTSD. If you suffer PTSD after a serious accident caused by someone else in Tennessee or the surrounding states, you should retain the Memphis catastrophic injury lawyers at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz to assist you in seeking damages.
Seeking Compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Some people who experience trauma develop chronic or acute PTSD. Sometimes the sudden unexpected death of a loved one, particularly when the trauma and death are witnessed, may cause PTSD. In most cases, PTSD symptoms develop within a few weeks or months of the traumatic event, but in other cases, they develop in a more delayed fashion.
In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, certain symptoms must endure for longer than a month and must be serious enough to interfere with family relationships, friendships, work, or daily living. These symptoms include re-experiencing the traumatic event, mood alteration, cognitive alteration, avoidance, arousal, and reactivity.
You may recover damages for PTSD arising from an accident caused by someone else. What will need to be proven depends on the situation, but in many cases, you will need to establish the defendant’s negligence. In other words,you will need to prove that the defendant failed to act in accordance with a duty of care, and this failure was the actual and legal cause of your PTSD. For example, if a truck driver is texting while driving and does not brake in time at a stop sign, thereby T-boning your car and killing a loved one, you may suffer physical injuries as well as PTSD because of the experience.
Similarly, if you were involved in an explosion as a result of a defective product, you may suffer PTSD afterward. You may use theories of strict liability, breach of warranty, or negligence in a lawsuit against a manufacturer. Generally, the theory considered most favorable to plaintiffs is strict liability, which requires a plaintiff only to establish that there was a defect and that the defect caused their injuries.
If liability is established for an injury such as PTSD, you may recover damages that naturally flow from the accident, including both economic and noneconomic losses. Common treatments for PTSD are psychotherapy and medication, such as antidepressants. Psychotherapy may be expensive, depending on the type of psychotherapy and the length of time that you need to be treated. You may be able to recover costs for these items. It may be useful to retain a medical expert to establish that you have PTSD and require a particular type of treatment. You may also be able to recover damages for lost income, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Retain an Experienced Memphis Attorney for Your Catastrophic Injury Case
Some insurers may not believe that your PTSD is a result of an accident. Consulting with a knowledgeable Memphis attorney may ensure that your case is presented in a persuasive way for the purpose of obtaining fair value for your claim or bringing your case to trial. At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, we employ over attorneys and 100 staff members and are the largest plaintiff’s personal injury law firm based in Tennessee. We serve victims throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi, including in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, and Jonesboro. Call Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz at 800-LAW-4004 or complete our online form to set up a free appointment with a truck accident attorney or seek assistance with another type of personal injury claim. NST is the way to go.
