Is PTSD After a Car Crash Real?

 Posted on May 21, 2025 in Car Accidents

Minor fender benders can be upsetting. More serious car accidents, especially those causing severe injuries, often cause more intense emotional responses. Some people believe that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not a real condition or that it is a sign of weakness. However, it is a very real mental health condition that can severely impact a person’s quality of life.

Adults and children involved in car crashes can experience varying degrees of PTSD. You may be eligible for non-economic damages to address this condition. Insurance companies tend to argue about paying this type of damages because PTSD can be difficult to prove. Our skilled Hyde Park, IL personal injury attorney can fight on your behalf to help you secure much-deserved compensation for PTSD and other accident-related damages.

Why Can Car Accidents Cause PTSD?

Car collisions are sudden, often violent events. As they happen, drivers and passengers can feel helpless and extremely vulnerable. Experiencing an impact with another vehicle, rolling over due to a collision, and being trapped in a car can profoundly affect the mind. This is particularly true for younger children who do not fully understand what is happening.

Along with these specific emotional responses, severe injuries can add another layer of mental anguish. Children may tie riding in a car to significant pain. Adults who understand that the crash put their lives in danger can also develop a real fear of riding in a vehicle in the future. Even if you were not directly involved in a crash, witnessing one or losing a loved one in a fatal accident can also trigger PTSD.

How Can PTSD From a Collision Affect Your Life?

Accident victims can have mild to severe PTSD, and each person can have different symptoms. Fear of driving or riding in a vehicle, nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, and feelings of anxiety are common. Victims may want to avoid activities and places that remind them of the crash.

These and other symptoms can impact your everyday life. Strained relationships and an inability to focus at work or school can make it hard to get through the day. With proper treatment, PTSD symptoms and effects can lessen.

Can I Get Compensation for PTSD After a Car Crash?

If someone else’s negligence led to your accident, you may be entitled to several kinds of compensation. Along with accident-related financial losses, your damages could include compensation for intangible wounds, such as:

• PTSD, depression, and anxiety
• Pain and suffering
• Damage to personal relationships
• A lost ability to enjoy life
• Disability or disfigurement

Because these and similar conditions are not tangible, the liable insurer will probably attempt to avoid paying you for them. They may state that you lack credibility, that the conditions do not exist, or that their effects are not as severe as you claim.

Your attorney understands how insurance companies operate. We know how to prove that conditions like PTSD are affecting your quality of life. We will calculate all your available damages accurately and fight to help you collect the highest amount available.

Consult Our Experienced South Side of Chicago, IL Car Accident Attorney

When PTSD from a car crash is affecting you or your children, our dedicated Chicago, IL personal injury lawyer will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Your initial consultation is free of charge, so schedule yours today. Contact Kadzai Law Group, LLC online or by calling 312-229-0050.