World Mental Health Day is an international day for mental health education, awareness, and advocacy, celebrated on October 10th each year. Originally created in 1992, this day helps raise awareness and bring attention to mental illness and its effects on people’s lives worldwide.
While we often recognize that psychological disorders can be pre-existing or caused by stress, many don’t consider the impact that motor vehicle accidents can have on a person’s mental health. Motor vehicle accidents are typically thought of as causing physical injury and damage to the person. However, psychological conditions can arise after an accident — even if it is not serious.
In a 2021 study completed it was found that survivors of motor vehicle accidents reported substantial rates of mental health problems, with 32.3% suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 17.4% suffering from depression, and 5.8% suffering from anxiety.
It is important to recognize that motor vehicle accidents can cause physical, cognitive, and psychological damages, for which victims can be entitled to coverage.
The Psychological Fallout of Motor Vehicle Accidents
As a personal injury law firm, we see the devastating impact that motor vehicle accidents can have on individuals and their families. We understand how important it is for victims to be able to recover from their injuries, whether physical or mental.
Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around those who suffer from mental health issues like PTSD. This can prevent people from coming forward after an accident and seeking help.
It is time to change this. We need to raise awareness about PTSD, depression, and other ailments and how they can affect people who are involved in motor vehicle accidents. We want our clients to know that they are not alone and that we are here for them every step of the way.
Can you claim psychological damages after a car accident?
Sometimes, a motor vehicle injury can lead to a severe psychological illness. If your condition is causing you to be unable to work or carry out housework, you can claim monetary losses for your psychological damages. Non-monetary losses can also be claimed, such as difficulty interacting with others, a distraction from enjoying life, and other symptoms.
Roger R. Foisy and Associates understand the challenges facing individuals who experience these types of disabilities. We take a special approach to handling psychological or psychiatric disability cases.
Settling Mental Health Claims
Every legal case has its own circumstances and with that, individual considerations. Determining whether one should settle their claim requires the understanding of an entire case to give accurate insight.
Settling motor vehicle accident benefits for an amount of money which usually is within the $65,000 maximum when it comes to medical, rehab, and attendant care benefits may prove to be problematic if over time your injuries worsen and can still be traced back to their original cause.
It is important to remember that as a person’s physical or cognitive injuries fail to improve and become chronic, their mental and behavioural state can also become debilitating.
Suppose that condition on its own results in an accident victim becoming markedly impaired in three of four areas (activities of daily living, social functioning, concentration, persistence and pace or adaptation), or extremely impaired in one of the same four areas. In that case, that person could later be deemed catastrophically impaired.
The law also recognizes a combination of physical, cognitive, and mental behavioural whole person impairment of at least 55% (with 53% rounding up to 55%) resulting in a person being deemed catastrophically impaired.
For more information on catastrophic injury coverage, read our blog regarding optional benefits and how they can protect you in case of a motor vehicle accident.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. A lawyer can help you assess the situation and make decisions about filing a claim against the person responsible for the accident.
Roger R. Foisy, Harpreet S. Sidhu, and Daniel Berman are experienced Ontario Personal Injury Lawyers with extensive experience in motor vehicle accident cases. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, please get in touch with us for immediate support and a free consultation.