Psychological Trauma in Survived Truck Crashes: PTSD, Anxiety & Compensation

In a recent meta-analytic study, the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among traffic accident survivors was estimated to be approximately 22.25%. That means, nearly one in four victims will develop PTSD in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. Given the particularly catastrophic nature of truck crashes, this figure may be even higher for survivors of accidents involving commercial trucks like 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers.

In many cases, the emotional toll of an accident can be just as significant as the physical and financial toll of a crash. While personal injury cases often focus on the physical injuries and quantifiable financial losses suffered by a victim, emotional symptoms like PTSD, anxiety, and depression are just as deserving of attention and compensation. Let’s take a closer look at some of the emotional symptoms commonly associated with serious truck crashes and discuss how a personal injury lawyer can help accident victims fight for the emotional damages they need to move forward in their recovery process.

Emotional trauma in truck accidents

All traffic accidents have the potential to be emotionally devastating and even traumatic. Truck crashes, however, may pose an increased risk of emotional suffering due to the fact that these accidents often unfold on a much grander scale than accidents involving passenger vehicles. Between violent impacts, crushed vehicles, multi-car pile-ups, and roll-overs, it’s no wonder so many truck accident survivors find themselves experiencing symptoms of emotional trauma in the days, weeks, and years after a crash.

Some of the psychological conditions survivors may develop after a truck accident include:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Depression/changes in mood
• Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Paranoia
• Sleep disturbances and nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Survivor’s guilt

These conditions may not leave visible scars, but they can disrupt survivors’ daily lives much in the same way that physical injuries do. Emotional distress has the potential to impact nearly every facet of a person’s life, leading to relationship difficulties, professional challenges, and even physical symptoms.

Signs of trauma: What to watch for

Psychological trauma from truck accidents can bubble to the surface in subtle or more obvious ways. Some victims experience symptoms immediately, while others don’t recognize the signs of emotional trauma until much further down the line.

Early intervention is key in helping survivors manage and mitigate symptoms of conditions like PTSD, so it’s important for truck accident survivors to monitor their emotional symptoms in addition to their physical ones.

In the days and weeks after a crash, survivors and their families should watch for warning signs like:

• Avoidance of driving or riding in vehicles
• Intrusive memories or flashbacks of the accident
• Little interest or pleasure in doing things they once enjoyed
• Irritability, hypervigilance, or trouble concentrating
• Frequent crying spells
• Increased or changed substance use

Additional symptoms can also be indicators of emotional trauma, so it’s important to consult with a mental health professional as soon as possible after a crash to evaluate whether you might be experiencing any markers of trauma or emotional distress. Even if you feel a little nervous about asking for help, it’s important for you to remember that these symptoms aren’t just “in your head” — they are legitimate, well-documented side effects of traumatic experiences that require dedicated care and treatment.

Hallmarks of PTSD

Given the high risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a motor vehicle accident, it is particularly important for truck accident survivors and their loved ones to keep an eye out for potential symptoms of PTSD. Even witnesses to accidents can develop and be diagnosed with PTSD if they fit the symptom profile, so passengers and other eyewitnesses should also pay close attention to their emotional state in the period after an accident.

Some of the key diagnostic criteria mental healthcare providers use to assess for PTSD in truck accident survivors include:

1. Recurrent, distressing, involuntary memories of the accident
2. Recurring nightmares about the accident
3. Dissociative reactions during which the victim feels like they are re-living the crash
4. Intense, and/or prolonged distress when reminded of the accident
5. Avoidance of memories related to the accident or of external reminders of the accident
6. Negative changes in mood, emotional state, or thought patterns
7. Irritability, trouble concentrating, reckless behaviors
8. Hypervigilance
9. Trouble sleeping

If an accident victim meets a certain number of the criteria outlined above, a mental health professional may diagnose them with PTSD and begin the process of treating their condition. PTSD can have a pervasive impact on a victim’s personal and professional life, so it’s important to try to address PTSD symptoms early and thoroughly with the help of a trained professional.

Proving emotional distress in a personal injury claim

Unlike physical injuries, emotional injuries aren’t always as visible to the naked eye. In Oklahoma, mental anguish and emotional distress are compensable damages under personal injury law, but that doesn’t mean these damages are easy to prove or recover. Generally speaking, personal injury lawyers will rely heavily on medical documentation, personal testimony, and expert witnesses to convey the full extent of their client’s emotional pain and suffering.

Records from therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals can be used to support a victim’s claims of emotional distress. A victim’s friends and family members can also add veracity to claims of psychological suffering by sharing personal accounts of their loved one’s mood and/or behavioral changes after an accident. The more supporting evidence you can pinpoint, the better, as proving emotional damages isn’t always as straightforward as proving economic losses.

Final thoughts

While we never want to assume the worst in truck accident cases, our current body of research suggests that PTSD, anxiety, and other kinds of emotional distress are real and common consequences of serious motor vehicle crashes. The consequences of a victim’s emotional distress can permeate multiple areas of their lives and leave them struggling in more ways than one.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can help their clients fight for non-economic damages related to their emotional pain and suffering, as well as economic damages to help cover the costs of mental healthcare treatment, lost wages, or other accommodations victims might need to help them cope with the emotional toll of an accident.

If you or a loved one has been struggling under the weight of truck accident-related emotional distress, you don’t have to continue fighting the battle alone. Contact the team at Cunningham & Mears today for a free case evaluation. We’re prepared to hear you out, fill you in, and do everything in our power to help you heal.