While most people’s minds jump immediately to broken bones or concussions when they think of an injury, accidents can leave emotional and psychological scars as well. Psychological injuries are just as real as physical harm and can have a significant and devastating impact on your everyday life. If you are suffering from psychological injuries after being involved in an accident, understanding how best to document your symptoms is crucial for your health and to ensure your legal rights are protected. Read on and reach out to a knowledgeable New Jersey personal injury lawyer today to secure skilled legal advice and representation.
What Are Psychological Injuries?
Psychological injuries are any type of mental and emotional impact that results from a traumatic event like an accident, abuse, the death of a loved one, or some source of significant stress. While physical injuries impact the body itself, psychological or mental injuries affect a person’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, and mental well-being.
Examples of how psychological injuries can manifest include the following.
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks
Psychological injuries can impact a person’s ability to function on a daily basis, concentrate, sleep, participate in social activities, and more. They may be moody, depressed, numb, isolated, have flashbacks and nightmares, etc.
How Should I Document Psychological Injuries After My Accident?
Documenting your psychological injuries is crucial to make it easier for you to be treated and diagnosed, as well as ensure your rights to compensation are protected. Consider documenting your ailments in the following ways.
- Seek professional help from a licensed therapist or psychologist who can evaluate your symptoms, diagnose you, and create a paper trail of medical records.
- Keep a personal journal of your daily experience living with your new injuries. Write down your thoughts, feelings, and how your mental condition has impacted your life and abilities at work and socially. You can also document physical symptoms like hallucinations or trouble sleeping.
- Collect statements from family, friends, coworkers, and employers. The people close to you can speak to the changes they have noticed in your behavior and emotional state and provide a third-party evaluation of how you have been impacted.
- Gather evidence of your medical records and treatment plans. Make copies of any notes or information given to you by doctors including treatment plans, session notes medication prescriptions, and more.
- Document how your psychological injuries have financially impacted you as well including payments for doctor visits, medication, lost wages, etc.
Accurately documenting your psychological injuries is beneficial in a personal injury claim or lawsuit as it allows you to prove the severity and ways in which you have been impacted so your compensation reflects the detrimental effects your mental state has caused in your life.
Consulting a personal injury attorney who has experience handling similar cases is important as they can help you document and prove your injuries to ensure your rights are protected. Reach out to a skilled attorney at Falcon Law Firm today to set up a free consultation.
