Accidents with semi-trucks can cause a lot of different injuries for the victims. Many of the injuries, such as broken bones, head injuries and cuts, are easy to see, there are other injuries that are more difficult to see. In the case of a severe truck accident, some victims might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is a serious mental health condition.
How common is PTSD?
PTSD affects 5 to 10 percent of the United States population. Generally, men aren’t as susceptible to PTSD as women. In order to suffer from PTSD, a person must have gone through or seen a traumatic event. For most people, PTSD treatment involves prescription drug treatment and counseling.
How do PTSD and acute stress disorder differ?
It is normal to have some nightmares and feel anxious following an 18-wheeler crash. When you are having a normal reaction, which is called acute stress disorder, those feelings will diminish over time. In the case of PTSD, those feelings get worse and last over a month. In some cases of PTSD, the symptoms might not appear for weeks or months following the accident.
Anyone who has been involved in a serious accident might suffer from PTSD. Keeping in contact with medical professionals and discussing how you are reacting to the accident might help you to learn if you have PTSD. If you are diagnosed with PTSD, you will need to undergo treatment. This might be costly, but you have the option of seeking to help reduce the impact the treatments have on your bank account.
Source: PDR Health, “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” accessed May. 29, 2015
