Can I Recover Compensation for Mental and Emotional Injuries?

 Posted on April 28, 2021 in Personal Injury

If you have been in a car accident, your physical injuries may be the most readily apparent, and you may assume that these are the only injuries for which you can recover compensation. However car crashes also often lead to mental and emotional injuries that may affect your life just as much, if not more so. Fortunately, Illinois law allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages related to mental injuries, and a skilled attorney can help you do so.

Common Mental and Emotional Injuries in Illinois Car Accidents

If you have been injured in a car crash, you may be coping with one or more of these effects on your mental and emotional well-being:

• Anxiety and depression, perhaps as a complication of a traumatic brain injury or as a result of stress related to financial struggles, changes in your appearance, or impairment of your physical abilities.
• Posttraumatic stress disorder, which may result in panic attacks and other reactions when you are faced with a situation similar to the one in which you were injured.
• Personality disorders related to traumatic brain injuries, which can affect your ability to regulate emotions and maintain relationships.
• Impaired cognitive abilities including memory loss and comprehension difficulties, also often the result of a traumatic brain injury.
• Grief related to the loss of a loved one or the loss of something you enjoyed in your own life.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages

Mental and emotional injuries can have tangible and intangible costs, both of which can be recovered through a personal injury lawsuit. Economic damages can include the costs of medication, therapy, and rehabilitation to treat mental health problems, as well as lost wages if a mental injury affects your ability to work. For example, if you were injured while driving for work, posttraumatic stress order could make it difficult for you to perform your job duties on a regular basis.

Non-economic damages, often referred to as pain and suffering damages, account for the effects of your emotional and mental injuries on your day-to-day life, including your personal relationships and your ability to engage in activities you enjoy. In a wrongful death case involving the loss of a loved one, it is also possible to recover damages for grief and sorrow.

If you are suffering from mental injuries, seeking treatment as soon as you become aware of your condition gives you a better chance of recovering compensation. Mental health professionals can testify regarding your condition, the connection to your accident, and the treatment you require.

Contact a DuPage County Personal Injury Attorney

If you are unsure about the damages you are able to recover after a car accident, the attorneys at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can review your case and provide qualified legal advice and representation. We strive to help our clients recover for the full extent of damages related to physical, mental, and emotional injuries. Contact our Naperville personal injury lawyers today at 630-932-9100 for a free consultation.