What are the Psychological Effects of a Serious Injury?

When you suffer a sudden life changing injury in an accident, friends and family can often overlook the fact that the psychological impact of a serious injury can be just as significant as the physical effects.

In many serious injury cases, a new disability can mean:

• A questioning of life values
• A change of a role in the family
• Getting used to the involvement of healthcare professionals
• Dealing with a change in other people's perception of you
• Loss or reduction of earnings or income

A person who is recovering from a serious injury may also experience symptoms of depression, including:

• Loss of interest in what may have previously been an enjoyable activity
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Inability to concentrate
• Feeling overwhelmed and lacking in confidence
• Increase in alcohol and drug intake
• Significant weight loss or gain
• Trouble getting to sleep
• Feeling worthless and helpless
• Increase in irritability
• Feelings of unhappiness and/or frustration most of the time
• Suicidal thoughts

Furthermore, the daily stress and worry of coping with daily life can lead to symptoms of anxiety. These may include:

• Hot and cold flushes
• Quick heartbeat
• Tightening of the chest
• Worries that seem to snowball
• Repetitively going over the same thoughts

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can also develop after a serious injury, especially if the accident that led to your serious injuries was terrifying or life-threatening, and it was not your fault.

Common Signs of PTSD include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Vivid nightmares
• A constant searching for signs of danger
• Irritability
• Avoiding certain activities, places or people that are reminders of the event
• Lack of concentration
• Detachment from family and friends
• Emotional numbness
• Feeling upset after suffering a serious injury that has left a person

How a Serious Injury Claim Can Help You

But by making a serious injury claim, you could receive compensation including money to pay for private healthcare and rehabilitation support, ensuring you get the specialist help you need quickly; to help you gain a good quality of life and cope with new financial pressures if you’re unable to work.

Money received through a successful serious injury claim can also be used to help you cope with any new disability that you may have after suffering a life changing injury. By having the right equipment available, you can look towards a more independent and therefore happier future.

Money is one of the main causes of anxiety and depression, so the financial security that comes with securing compensation for a serious personal injury could hugely benefit your mental health.

Our Personal Injury Solicitors have many years’ experience of handling serious injury claims, and many cases can be dealt with on a No Win, No Fee basis – ask us for details.

Simpson Millar is a national law firm with over 500 staff and offices in Bristol, Cardiff, Kingston-upon-Thames, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Morecambe and Southport.