Trauma after a car accident is a real and serious condition. It most often takes the form of a TBI, PTSD, mental distress, emotional distress, or an adjustment disorder. It can interfere with an individual’s medical recovery, ability to return to work, engage in activities of daily living, and in severe cases, to productively resume their pre-automobile crash lives.
What is trauma after a car accident?
Trauma after a car accident is a crash victim’s emotional response to the distressing and disturbing nature of an automobile crash. As a result, a crash victim often feels a loss of control, loss of sense of safety, helplessness, pain, confusion, loss of sense of self and self-worth, and an inability to cope.
It is not uncommon for automobile crash survivors to fear driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle.
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What are five medical conditions that can result from trauma after a car accident?
The medical conditions that a crash victim may suffer as a result of trauma after a car accident include traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological distress, emotional distress, and adjustment disorder. Each of these conditions can significantly affect daily life, mental health, and overall well-being. We will explain each of these in more detail below.
TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of TBI-related hospitalizations. A TBI after a crash can disrupt the normal functioning of a person’s brain. Many significant brain injuries will not show on medical diagnostic testing like MRI or CT, but can still result in profound changes in emotional functioning, particularly in the frontal lobe.
Even mild or undetected TBIs can lead to symptoms such as memory problems, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, irritability, and increased anxiety or depression. These changes can affect work, relationships, and daily activities, making early recognition and treatment critical. Rehabilitation, cognitive therapy, and mental health support can help manage symptoms and improve recovery outcomes.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Research has shown that 20%-45% of automobile crash survivors suffer PTSD after a crash. It is caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as an automobile crash and it causes survivors to suffer intense fear, helplessness or horror.
PTSD can lead to recurring flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, and avoidance of anything that reminds the survivor of the crash, such as driving or being in a vehicle. These symptoms can interfere with daily life, work, and relationships. Early intervention through therapy, counseling, or support groups can help manage symptoms and improve long-term recovery.
Psychological trauma after after a car accident
Psychological trauma after a car accident refers to the mental and emotional distress that a crash can have, even when physical injuries are minor or absent. You might have trouble sleeping, feel on edge while driving, replay the crash in your head, or struggle with fear and anxiety that didn’t exist before. These mental and emotional effects are often referred to as psychological distress, and they deserve attention just like physical injuries do. Over time, if untreated, this psychological distress can affect daily life, relationships, and overall well-being, making professional support or counseling an important part of recovery.
These emotional and mental challenges can show up in many ways, such as persistent worry, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, or withdrawing from social activities. They may also cause physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or tension. Seeking professional guidance, therapy, or support groups can help manage these effects and promote a healthier return to everyday routines.
Emotional trauma after a car accident
Emotional trauma after a car accident involves intense feelings and mental distress following a crash. Unlike physical injuries, these affect your mind and emotions. You may experience fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, or helplessness, and avoid driving or situations that remind you of the crash. Symptoms can also include flashbacks, mood swings, or feeling emotionally numb. These reactions are a natural response to a frightening event, but they deserve attention and care just like physical injuries to ensure full recovery.
These emotional challenges can affect daily routines, work, and relationships, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. You might notice changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels, along with heightened irritability or withdrawal from others. Professional support, counseling, or therapy can help process these experiences, manage symptoms, and restore emotional balance over time.
Adjustment disorder
Adjustment disorder after a crash is a mental health condition that occurs when someone has a stronger-than-expected emotional or behavioral response to the stress of a crash. It goes beyond typical stress and can interfere with daily life, relationships, and overall functioning. Symptoms may include persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, trouble concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, and withdrawing from normal activities. Essentially, it reflects difficulty coping with the impact of the event, and treatment—such as counseling, therapy, or support—can help individuals adapt and recover more effectively.
Adjustment disorder can affect both personal and professional life, making it hard to focus at work, maintain relationships, or enjoy everyday activities. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop weeks after the stressful event. Early recognition and treatment, including therapy or counseling, can help manage emotions, build coping strategies, and support a smoother return to normal routines.
Symptoms
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you may be suffering from trauma after a car accident and you should report these symptoms immediately to your doctor so that you can be promptly diagnosed and start receiving necessary treatment:
- Flashbacks to or reliving the automobile crash
- Nightmares about the automobile crash
- Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the automobile crash
- Avoiding driving or riding in a vehicle
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Avoiding activities that you once enjoyed
- Feeling hopeless about your future
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of memory of events immediately before the crash
- Loss of memory of events immediately after the crash
- Feeling dazed, disoriented or confused
- Feeling drowsy and/or difficult to arouse
- Difficulty thinking clearly and reasoning
- Difficulty making decisions and solving problems
- Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
- Difficulty communicating
- Change in mood
- Decrease in energy levels
- Change in sex drive
- Change in sleep patterns
- Sleep disorders
- Difficulty with planning and organization
- Increased aggression
What to do for trauma after a car accident from a legal perspective?
From a legal perspective, if you experience trauma after a car accident, the first step is to document your emotional or psychological injuries. This includes visiting a mental health professional, keeping records of therapy or counseling, and noting how the psychological distress affects your daily life, work, and relationships. To pursue compensation, your injuries must meet the serious impairment of body function threshold. (MCL 500.135)
Next, gather evidence linking your emotional injuries to the crash, such as medical records, statements from mental health providers, and any expert evaluations. Consulting our experienced attorneys early can help ensure your claim is properly filed, your injuries are fully documented, and all potential damages—like therapy costs, lost wages, and reduced quality of life—are considered in your case.
How to deal with trauma after a car accident?
Dealing with trauma after a car accident involves both addressing your emotional and physical well-being. Practical steps include maintaining a routine, practicing stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness, avoiding isolation, and leaning on friends and family for support. It’s important to acknowledge your feelings and seek support from mental health professionals, such as therapists or counselors, who can help process anxiety, fear, or depression. Early intervention can prevent symptoms from worsening and support a healthier recovery over time.
Can I make a claim for No-Fault benefits?
In order to make a claim for No-Fault benefits you must file an application for No-Fault benefits with the responsible auto insurance company within one (1) year of the automobile crash. (MCL 500.3145(1))
The No-Fault law’s “priority” rules will identify the auto insurer with which you must file your application. This auto insurance company will pay your auto No-Fault insurance benefits, which cover your medical bills and your lost wages if you cannot return to work.
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Can I sue for trauma after a car accident?
You can sue for trauma after a car accident if another driver’s negligence causes serious emotional or psychological injuries. To recover pain and suffering compensation, you must meet the state’s serious impairment of body function threshold, with medical records and expert testimony supporting your claim.
To support a claim in Michigan, medical records, mental health evaluations, and expert testimony are often necessary to demonstrate the severity of the emotional impact. Compensation can cover therapy, counseling, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Consulting an experienced attorney can help ensure your claim fully addresses all aspects of your emotional injuries.
If your auto insurance company refuses to pay for – or cuts-off – your auto No-Fault insurance benefits related to the injuries you suffered, then you can hire an attorney to bring a lawsuit and sue for unpaid and overdue medical bills, attendant care, medical mileage, replacement services and lost wages because your stress and emotional injuries have prevented you from returning to work.
Additionally, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver for other economic damages, such as excess and future medical bills and lost wages.
How much compensation for trauma after a car accident?
In Michigan, there is no law limiting how much compensation you can receive for trauma after a car accident. Recovery depends on the severity of your emotional or psychological injuries and whether they meet the state’s serious impairment of body function threshold. Compensation can cover therapy, counseling, lost wages, medical bills, and reduced quality of life, with stronger cases supported by medical records and expert testimony typically recovering more.
To learn more about how much compensation your case may be worth, please check our “Settlement Calculator.”
How long does a settlement take?
The time it takes to reach a settlement for emotional trauma after a car accident in Michigan can vary based on the complexity of the case and the severity of the injuries. Cases with clear liability and well-documented emotional or psychological injuries may settle in a few months, while more complex cases—especially those meeting the state’s serious impairment of body function threshold—can take a year or longer.
Several factors affect the timeline, including gathering medical and mental health records, obtaining expert evaluations, and negotiating with the insurance company. If the case is disputed or goes to trial, the process can take even longer. Working with an experienced Michigan attorney can help ensure all emotional injuries are properly documented, streamline the process, and maximize potential compensation.
Do I need a lawyer?
You do not strictly need a lawyer to pursue a claim for trauma after a car accident, but having one can make the process much easier and more effective. Emotional or psychological injuries—such as PTSD, adjustment disorder, or psychological distress—are often harder to prove than physical injuries. State law also requires that these injuries meet the serious impairment of body function threshold to qualify for compensation.
An experienced attorney can help document your injuries with medical and mental health records, obtain expert evaluations or testimony, and negotiate with insurance companies to maximize your recovery. Legal guidance also ensures that deadlines are met and that all damages, including therapy, counseling, lost wages, and reduced quality of life, are properly considered in your case.
How can a lawyer maximize a trauma after a car accident settlement?
A lawyer can maximize a trauma settlement after a car accident by ensuring that all emotional and psychological injuries are properly documented and clearly linked to the crash. This includes gathering detailed medical and mental health records, obtaining evaluations from psychologists or psychiatrists, and securing expert testimony to show the severity of conditions like PTSD, adjustment disorder, or psychological distress.
Our attorneys will work to accurately quantify all potential damages, including therapy and counseling costs, lost wages, reduced quality of life, and any related expenses. We will handle all negotiations with insurance companies, present strong legal arguments, and ensure that our state’s serious impairment of body function threshold is clearly met. By managing all filings and court deadlines, we make sure your claim proceeds smoothly and on time, helping achieve the highest possible settlement for your emotional injuries.
Why choose Michigan Auto Law for your case?
Michigan Auto Law is uniquely qualified to handle crash survivors’ emotional and psychological distress claims due to our exclusive focus on motor vehicle crash cases for more than 50 years. This specialization allows us to navigate our state’s complex No-Fault and third-party injury laws with precision, ensuring that PTSD, adjustment disorder, and other emotional injury claims are properly documented, evaluated, and pursued for full compensation.
Our law firm is also one of the most awarded and recognized auto crash injury law firms in the state, with attorneys consistently named among Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms and holding the highest ethical and legal ratings from Martindale-Hubbell. We have secured record-setting verdicts and settlements — including multiple eight-figure recoveries — demonstrating a proven ability to maximize compensation in serious injury cases.
Clients also benefit from a personalized, client-first approach. Each case receives focused attention, clear communication, and compassionate support, and clients pay no legal fees unless compensation is recovered. With over 3,000 five-star reviews and decades of peer recognition, We combine legal excellence with trusted advocacy for people injured in automobile crashes.
Suffering from trauma after a car accident? Call Michigan Auto Law now!
If you have suffered trauma after a car accident call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.
Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in automobile crashes.
Our secret? Our personal injury lawyers deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms. This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.
Unlike other law firms, our auto crash injury lawyers are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions.
We have more than 3,000 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.
More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle crashes than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck crash and auto crash settlement in the state.
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