Whether you’re a motorcyclist or the driver of another vehicle involved in a crash, victims of motorcycle accidents can suffer serious long-term physical and emotional pain. At Thomas, Conrad & Conrad, our motorcycle accident attorneys understand that recovering compensation for medical bills, lost income and other damages is critical, but the emotional distress you may suffer after a motorcycle accident can also have a negative impact on you and your loved ones for the rest of your lives.
Emotional Distress
Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a harrowing and traumatic experience, even if you haven’t suffered severe physical injury. Everyone reacts to trauma in different ways, and you may feel overwhelmed and frightened by memories of the event itself. In addition to physical pain, many motorcycle accident victims suffer from:
Emotional Pain and Suffering
The mental anguish that many victims face after an accident can include emotional pain, deep sadness, fear and a loss of enjoyment of the things you used to love. A motorcycle accident can have a lasting impact on your relationships and can lead to other serious long-term problems including an impending sense of doom, mood swings and insomnia.
Psychological Damage
In certain cases, emotional distress can lead to serious psychological disorders, including:
- Depression: A feeling of constant sadness, emptiness, worthlessness and lack of interest in life could mean you are suffering from depression. If left untreated, depression can lead to an inability to function in your daily life, recurring thoughts of suicide and worsening physical ailments. Medication and therapy can help you manage and recover from depression.
- Anxiety: After an accident, you may start feeling intense anxiety around common situations that were easy to deal with before. Driving, riding your motorcycle or even riding as a passenger in a car can be panic-inducing and prevent you from enjoying your life. Medication and counseling can help you manage your anxiety.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Accident victims suffering from PTSD may have intense fear, nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks of the accident and mood swings or outbursts of anger.
Victims of motorcycle accidents often suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI can cause or exacerbate the conditions above and require lifelong treatment for cognitive and memory problems.
Recovering Compensation For Emotional Distress And Psychological Damage
Seeking professional psychological treatment for these types of emotional damage is crucial for healing and moving on from the trauma of your accident. Placing a monetary value on noneconomic emotional damages can be challenging. That’s why it’s vital to seek the counsel of an experienced and compassionate motorcycle accident attorney who understands what you’re going through. Collecting evidence and the testimony of your physician, therapist, and psychiatrist can be very useful in determining appropriate compensation. A skilled attorney will know how to evaluate the evidence and your injuries to determine a reasonable amount of compensation for all your damages.
Emotional Distress From Your Motorcycle Accident Doesn’t Have To Ruin Your Life
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident, our motorcycle accident attorneys provide the legal and emotional support you need to help you make a full recovery and enjoy life again. Call Thomas, Conrad & Conrad at 610-867-2900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.