Can a Motorcycle Accident Cause PTSD?

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A man lies in the street after a serious motorcycle accident with a carYes, any significantly traumatic experience can cause PTSD. One study found that motor vehicle accidents of all kinds are a leading cause of PTSD in the general population. Because motorcycle accidents have a much higher risk of injury than car accidents, bike riders may be even more likely to experience serious injury and trauma. Some factors increase your risk of PTSD, but anyone can develop it after a motorcycle or other vehicular crash. In this article, we’ll talk about risk factors and symptoms of PTSD, and how you can get treatment.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you may struggle to recover physically and mentally. It might take weeks or months before you’re able to return to work, and in the meantime, medical bills could be piling up. When this happens, you need qualified legal advice from a motorcycle accident lawyer to help you navigate the challenges of getting compensation for your injuries.

Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to help people get the compensation they deserve after an injury and quickly turned it into the fastest-growing law firm in the country. When he’s not fighting for clients in the courtroom or negotiating with insurance companies, Mr. Awad also offers accessible legal knowledge to more than a million followers on social media. When you need help after a motorcycle accident, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is available for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Are the Risk Factors for Ptsd After a Motorcycle Accident?

Although anyone can develop PTSD, several factors increase the likelihood of it happening after a bad motorcycle accident:

  • Women are more likely to develop PTSD after trauma.
  • Having a history of depression also increases risk.
  • Another contributing factor is a history of other violent injuries, assault, or trauma.
  • If there was a death in the crash, particularly the death of a family member, there is an increased risk of PTSD.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Not everyone will have the same symptoms, but diagnosis is usually based on the patient having at least one or two symptoms from each of four categories: re-experiencing, avoidance, arousal and reactivity, and cognition and mood. Here are some common ways these symptoms may appear:

  • Flashbacks or repeatedly remembering or re-experiencing the accident.
  • Nightmares, difficulty sleeping, or insomnia.
  • Disturbing thoughts.
  • Avoiding things that remind you of the accident, which may include people, places, objects, or experiences.
  • Avoiding talking about the accident.
  • Feeling anxious or tense.
  • Having a strong or sensitive “startle” response.
  • Outbursts of temper or other mood changes.
  • Difficulties with memory, concentration, or cognition.
  • Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy.
  • Negative thoughts about yourself or life in general.
  • Feeling guilt or responsibility for the accident even if it wasn’t your fault.

Getting Treatment for PTSD After a Motorcycle Accident

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms after an accident, you don’t have to continue to suffer. Talk with your doctor about getting evaluated for PTSD. This usually begins with a physical exam to ensure you don’t have any physical issues that could be causing your difficulties – head injuries, for example, can cause some of the same symptoms as PTSD. If physical injuries have been ruled out, you should be evaluated by a mental health specialist, who will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD, there are several treatment options. Some may work better than others for different people:

  • Talk therapy or psychotherapy helps patients process their feelings and learn coping mechanisms for dealing with their symptoms. This may include cognitive therapy to help change thought patterns and exposure therapy to help you safely address anything you’ve been avoiding due to the accident.
  • Group therapy or support groups may be an additional source of help.
  • Medications for depression, anxiety, or sleep problems may be helpful in some cases.
  • Sometimes other therapies like Eye Motion Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are beneficial.

Some people may struggle with paying for treatment, especially if their physical or mental condition has left them unable to work after an accident. This can create a difficult situation where they need help but cannot access it or complete treatment. For example, some health insurance policies may only pay for a certain number of therapy sessions each year. Talk therapy can take time to be effective, and some patients find that just when they’re starting to get results, their insurance coverage abruptly ends.

Taking steps to protect your legal rights after a motorcycle accident can help ensure you have the resources to treat your physical and mental injuries. PTSD is considered a damage in personal injury situations, the same as a broken bone or other physical injury. If you’ve been hurt in a bike crash due to another driver’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your injuries so you can focus on your recovery.

If you or a loved one have been hurt in a motorcycle collision, a motorcycle injury lawyer can help by explaining your options and assisting you with the process moving forward. In many cases, we can secure a settlement from the responsible party’s insurance company without ever going to court. It’s vital to consult an attorney if the other driver’s insurance carrier has already made you a settlement offer – frequently, these are much lower than the claim is worth. Your attorney will help you understand the extent of your damages and the appropriate compensation amount. They will negotiate with the other party or fight for you in court if needed.

Call the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm

If you have questions or concerns about your motorcycle accident, please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. There is no obligation, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions about your situation. If we take your case, we have a no-win, no-fee guarantee, so there is never any up-front cost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!

Contact us now (833) 254-2923.

Help Negotiating with Insurance Carriers

To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

Personal Injury & Accident Firm

Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney?

During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.

Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.