When the majority of people hear the phrase “personal injury claim” they have an image of someone slipping on split water in a public place, an image of whiplash following a road traffic accident or an image of someone falling from a ladder in the workplace. Many people don’t visualize psychological injuries.
I thought that personal injury referred to physical injury…?
In some cases, psychological injuries can be even more severe than physical injury. Whilst many physical injuries heal within a matter of months or years, psychological injuries can prevent a claimant from leading a normal life ever again. According to statistics, around a quarter of those who have been involved in a traumatic incident go on to suffer from psychological issues. If the event that the incident was the fault of another party – such as a road accident or a work incident – you may be entitled to claim compensation for personal injury.
What type of psychological injury could I claim for?
The effect that a psychological injury has on an individual can vary from one person to the next. Some people suffer from anxiety or depression. In severe cases, people can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. When suffering from one of these conditions, an individual may find it difficult or even impossible to work again.
How does an accident result in psychological injury?
Depending on the event and the after effects, the psychological injury sustained varies greatly from one case to the next. Many people suffer from psychological repercussions following a road accident. If you have been in a car crash, you could find that you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks to the point that you may struggle to get behind the wheel again.
Similarly, if you suffer from an accident in the workplace, this could result in anxiety in the future, preventing you from doing normal work based activity due to your fears.
If you are harassed, bullied or discriminated against in the workplace, you could suffer from long term problems such as depression, anxiety or stress which make it difficult for you to return to your workplace.
A common form of psychological personal injury claim is military related incidents. Soldiers often witness horrific things whilst out in the field and the effects of their experiences can hit them later and result in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Are cases of psychological injury taken seriously?
There are a wide range of situations which can result in psychological injury and it is important that you don’t suffer in silence. Although psychological personal injury claims can be more sensitive to discuss, it is important that you remain strong and get the compensation that you deserve.
Psychological injury can prevent you from leading a normal life and in some circumstances, you may never recover. If another party is responsible for this chance in your life, it is only fair that you get the justice that you deserve. You can be assured that courts will take psychological cases equally as seriously as cases for physical injury.
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