After a car accident, physical injuries are often the most obvious and immediate concern. But for many people, the emotional and psychological effects don’t fade once the bruises do. Sleepless nights, sudden panic, flashbacks, and a constant sense of dread behind the wheel may begin to feel just as damaging—sometimes even more so. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a common disorder that affects many combat veterans, but it affects car crash victims as well. That said, it’s not always easy to prove. Emotional injuries don’t show up on an X-ray, and insurance companies often challenge claims for psychological trauma unless there’s strong evidence.
If you’re struggling to move forward after a serious crash, it may be possible to recover compensation for therapy, lost income, and emotional suffering—but getting there may require the right legal guidance and medical documentation.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying or traumatic event. While some people recover emotionally in the days or weeks after an accident, others experience ongoing symptoms that significantly interfere with daily life.
These symptoms may include:
PTSD can make returning to regular routines—like driving to work or riding in a car with loved ones—feel nearly impossible. The condition may lead to missed work, strained relationships, and a significant drop in quality of life.
For PTSD to become part of a personal injury claim in Ohio, it needs to be formally diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. That diagnosis, along with a clear connection between your symptoms and the crash, may form the basis of your legal case.
It’s important to see a doctor or therapist as soon as you notice signs that you may not be coping well after a car accident. You may need to be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist for a formal evaluation. Regular follow-up visits and treatment notes may also support your claim by showing that your symptoms are ongoing and how they are interfering with your daily life.
Keep in mind that simply saying you’re anxious or afraid to drive again is almost never enough to receive compensation. Having medical records that reflect your diagnosis and the impact on your daily life is often key to getting your claim considered.
When emotional injuries like PTSD are recognized in a car accident claim, compensation may be available for:
In some cases, the emotional toll of PTSD may be more severe than any physical injury you sustained. That’s not uncommon, especially when a crash is particularly violent or involves serious injury or loss.
However, insurance companies often try to limit the value of these types of claims. They may argue that your symptoms are unrelated, exaggerated, or the result of other life stressors. That’s one reason why working with an experienced car accident injury attorney may be helpful. Legal support can help you gather the documentation you need, find the right medical professionals, and deal with the back-and-forth that often comes with emotional injury claims.
In Ohio, car accident claims are based on fault. If the other driver caused the crash, their insurance may be responsible for compensating you—not just for physical injuries, but for the full extent of your damages, which may include emotional trauma.
However, Ohio also follows a rule called comparative negligence. This means that if you’re found partially at fault for the accident, your compensation could be reduced based on your share of responsibility. For example, if you were 20% at fault, any settlement or award might be reduced by that percentage.
For PTSD claims, this might be a double-whamy. If the other side argues that your symptoms are not related to the crash—or that you had a pre-existing condition—they may try to minimize what you receive. Having a well-documented diagnosis and treatment history may help counter these arguments.
It’s also important to remember that Ohio has a statute of limitations on personal injury claims, typically two years from the date of the accident. If you wait too long to act, you may lose the ability to pursue compensation altogether.
If you’re experiencing signs of PTSD after a car accident, you’re not being dramatic, weak, or overly sensitive. You’re responding to trauma, and that response is very real.
Here are a few steps you may want to consider:
You may not need to handle all of this on your own. Emotional injuries are often invisible—but that doesn’t make them any less real or less valid than a broken bone.
PTSD may not leave a scar you can see, but it often affects every part of your life—from how you sleep to whether you can work, socialize, leave the house, or feel safe in a car again. If you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD after a crash, and the condition is affecting your ability to earn income or care for yourself, you may be able to include it in your injury claim.
The keys are proper diagnosis, treatment, and documentation. The more thoroughly your condition is recorded by licensed professionals, the harder it becomes for an insurance company to ignore it. With legal guidance and the proper support, it may be possible to recover compensation that helps you access the care you need and begin moving forward. Contact Arthur Law Firm right away at (419) 782-9881 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.