August 1, 2023 | By Greene Broillet & Wheeler
Sustaining a personal injury can be an incredibly traumatic experience that can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental and emotional well-being. While the physical pain and limitations can be difficult to manage, it is often the emotional and psychological impact of personal injuries that can be the most challenging. Read on to learn more.
The emotional and psychological losses of a personal injury may be recoverable in some cases and can be referred to as non-economic damages. These may include pain, emotional anguish, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of activities, disfigurement, impairment, inconvenience, grief, anxiety, and emotional distress.
Injuries can often lead to feelings of helplessness, frustration, and even anger, all of which can substantiate a claim for non-economic losses. The sense of control that we have over our own bodies is lost when we experience injury, and that loss can be a very difficult thing to come to terms with. This can lead to various emotional and psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which would warrant compensation.
Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are conditions that can be compensated for under both economic and non-economic damages. While each of these items can have economic damages associated with them (such as the cost of therapy or medication), there is also a non-economic component that a person who has sustained personal injuries has a claim for. For example, chronic pain can lead to ongoing feelings of frustration, irritability, and hopelessness, while the inability to take part in activities that were once enjoyed can also contribute to depression. Additionally, the financial stress that often accompanies an injury can also lead to feelings of sadness and despair, which should be factored into non-economic loss.
Anxiety is another condition that is commonly diagnosed after an injury. This can manifest itself in various ways, including panic attacks, constant worrying, and restlessness, all of which are non-economic damages. The fear of re-injury or the potential for further accidents can cause anxiety to linger long after the initial injury has healed, leading to continued non-economic losses.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can occur after a traumatic event, and it is not uncommon for individuals who have experienced a personal injury to develop symptoms of PTSD. This can include flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance of situations that are similar to the one in which the injury occurred, all of which would warrant non-economic compensation.
Ultimately, personal injuries can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, and it is important to seek support and treatment for these issues. Whether it is through therapy, medication, or support groups, there are resources available to help individuals cope with the aftermath of a personal injury. Even with these resources, it is important to acknowledge the long-lasting and even permanent impact that non-economic losses can have on a person’s well-being and factor these in to any non-economic damage claim.
If you’ve suffered an injury due to negligence, our team can help. Don’t delay—reach out now to learn more about your legal options.
Call our Los Angeles attorneys at (866) 634-4525 or contact us online to get in touch with someone from our team about the details of your case right away. We will fight to recover your full and fair compensation.