You can sustain a variety of damages in a car accident whether it is physical injuries, damage to your vehicle, or the development of mental ailments. While psychological injuries can be equally as devastating as physical ones, they are often harder to recognize and prove as they are generally not visible. However, just like physical injuries, psychological conditions can significantly impact your health and quality of life. It is essential that you understand how to prove your psychological injuries and the effect they have had on you after a car accident. For more information and experienced legal advice, reach out to a New Jersey auto accident lawyer today.
How Can I Prove Psychological Injuries After a Car Accident?
Being able to prove that you developed psychological injuries after a car accident and quantify the effect they have had on you both economically and otherwise is crucial for several reasons. If you are pursuing legal action against the liable party in your accident, you will be required to provide evidence establishing that the defendant caused the accident, that it directly led to the development of your mental condition, and that you sustained damages as a result.
Below are the best ways to prove your psychological injuries.
- Seek medical treatment: You need professional help to create a record of your psychological injuries. A licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can diagnose conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other forms of emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Keep medical records: Make copies of all medical records produced from your injury. This can include notes on your symptoms, test results, diagnoses, treatment plans, and more. These records will serve as important evidence supporting your claim to confirm that you were diagnosed with a mental health condition and establish the relationship between the injury and the accident.
- Keep a personal journal: Personal documentation of your lived experience can also be helpful in proving your injuries. Keeping a detailed journal will help create a timeline of your symptoms and document your thoughts, feelings, and struggles over time which offers insight into how your mental state has been affected by the accident.
- Document changes in daily life: Provide evidence of the impact your psychological injury has had on your daily life, whether it has affected your ability to work, take care of yourself, take care of your family, participate in social activities, etc.
- Obtain witness statements: Statements from friends, family, or those close to you can offer beneficial insight into the changes in your behavior and emotional state since the accident. Their testimony can bolster your claims and provide an outside perspective on the impact the accident has had on you.
- Document expenses: When attempting to secure compensation for a psychological injury it is important to keep in mind the financial burden of your ailments. Collect copies of receipts and bills from doctor visits, therapy sessions, medication, and other treatments.
For more information and legal assistance when pursuing a claim or lawsuit, work with a skilled attorney at Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC.
