Can I Claim Damages for Anxiety After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, FL?

Gregg Hollander | August 3, 2022 | Car Accidents

Can I Claim Damages for Anxiety After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, FL?

Car accidents can cause plenty of physical injuries, such as fractures or whiplash injuries. However, some of the longest-lasting injuries may be mental in nature, such as anxiety at the thought of driving again or remembering the traumatic accident. 

If you were hurt in a car accident and have suffered anxiety or other psychological injuries because of it, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover damages. Anxiety is a form of non-economic damages commonly awarded in personal injury cases, including car accident cases. Continue reading this blog post for further information.

Why People Suffer Anxiety After a Car Accident

Studies published by the National Library of Medicine show that up to one-third of people involved in non-fatal motor vehicle accidents suffer from some type of emotional trauma. 

Car accidents can be traumatic experiences that involve:

  • The scary anticipation of the crash about to occur
  • Devastating damages to the vehicle victims were in, such as crushing metal and shattering glass
  • Life-altering injuries
  • Bloody and gory scenes

Many people also suffer after the event as they recall it and things in their normal life trigger these memories.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Accident victims may experience various psychological injuries following an accident. For example, panic attacks after a car accident are common. Victims may also suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. 

In some cases, anxiety is so serious that victims develop a panic or anxiety disorder. They may have trouble functioning on a daily basis and have difficulty controlling their responses to stressful situations. 

Symptoms of a panic disorder include:

  • Sudden and repeated panic attacks
  • Overwhelming anxiety
  • Intense worry
  • Fear or avoidance of places or activities that trigger a panic attack
  • Pounding or a racing heart
  • Sweating and/or chills
  • Trembling
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest or stomach pain
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Nausea

These symptoms are similar to those of post-traumatic stress order, which may also involve symptoms of:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Vertigo
  • Feeling of exhaustion
  • Restlessness
  • Problems thinking or concentrating
  • Irritability

Many anxiety disorders and similar psychological disorders are treated through counseling and/or medication. Inpatient treatment is recommended in more extreme situations. 

Can You Receive Compensation for Anxiety After a Car Accident?

You can claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages that stem from a car accident. Economic damages may include compensation for the actual medical bills you have incurred, such as for counseling or prescription drugs, as well as future medical expenses you anticipate incurring in the future that are related to the accident. You can also seek compensation for the actual mental, emotional, and physical effect the accident has had on your life. These are called non-economic damages.

Can You Claim Damages for Emotional Distress After a Car Accident?

Yes. Your emotional distress can be used to support your claim for non-economic damages, which may also include your:

To receive compensation for emotional distress, you must first usually show that you suffered some other physical injury. 

Keep your medical records following your car accident, which may include doctor’s notes about your anxiety and emotional distress. Along with notes from your primary care physician, you may also want to provide notes from your counselor or psychologist to help demonstrate how the accident has affected you. 

Personal injury lawyers are aware of the types of damages you can recover in a car accident and can help you maximize the value of your claim. They can also help gather evidence to support your demand for damages. This is important because, as the personal injury victim, you will have the burden of proof to provide evidence to support your claim for damages, including your claim for non-economic damages such as anxiety.

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in South Florida

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

We proudly serve Palm Beach County, Broward County, and its surrounding areas:

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Boca Raton Law Office
7000 W Palmetto Park Rd #500
Boca Raton, FL 33433
(561) 347-7770

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Fort Lauderdale Law Office
200 S.E. 6th Street #203
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 287-0566

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – West Palm Beach Law Office
319 Clematis St #203
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 556-7873