There is a reason psychological trauma is classified as an injury in court. Psychological trauma can affect your life significantly, potentially causing you to develop various mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or insomnia. This means you could have legal options for seeking financial recovery if another party is responsible.

Psychological trauma is one of many intangible damages you could receive compensation for in a claim or lawsuit. A personal injury lawyer from our firm can help you understand your options if you were a victim of psychological trauma or abuse in Indianapolis or the surrounding community. 

What Are Possible Causes of Psychological Trauma?

Any event that sends a shock to your nervous system can result in psychological trauma. Every person is different, so an event that does not phase one individual could be devastating to another. This means that no experience is too minor to be overlooked as the potential impetus of suffering. 

While psychological trauma can stem from a multitude of sources, the following are common causes:

• Witnessing a violent crime: Being a bystander to a sudden violent crime, such as assault, can be traumatic and lead to psychological irregularities that often require medical intervention. 
• A motor vehicle accident: Even if you did not suffer physical injuries, the trauma of a traffic collision could cause you to develop a fear of driving or being in a vehicle, among other mental effects.
• Medical malpractice: When you entrust your care to a doctor or medical facility, you expect to receive a certain standard of care. If a medical professional commits malpractice, causing you injury or illness, you may develop trauma around medical procedures and other health care.
• Suffering catastrophic injuries: When you suffer a near-death experience that leads to devastating injuries, it can also affect your mental health.

How Psychological Trauma Could Change Your Life

Psychological trauma can affect your life in several different ways. You may only experience short-term symptoms, but you could also be impacted in ways that linger for quite some time.

For example, the effects of emotional trauma can lead to increased stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and more. In a severe case, you could even require professional therapy or medications for treatment.

The Cost of Treatment

There are various forms of treatment available for victims of psychological abuse or trauma. Therapy is a common method. Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe medication to help chemically treat the emotional effects of a traumatic experience. While such ongoing treatment can be costly, you could recover these expenses through a claim or lawsuit against the liable party.

Other Potential Effects of Psychological Trauma

It is not unusual for the lasting effects of psychological trauma to cause physical pain, as well. Your ability to enjoy activities you once loved could also be affected. In addition, you may find yourself having a hard time finding or maintaining stable work, decreasing your income opportunities and impacting your ability to support yourself and your family. 

Given these potentially wide-ranging effects, it is not a surprise that psychological trauma is considered an injury in court. There could be several benefits to taking legal action for victims. If you were the victim of a traumatic event, it could be helpful for you to learn more about your options and evaluate the best course of action for a brighter future. 

Legal Options for Victims

No one deserves to suffer psychological trauma, particularly due to another party’s negligent actions. If you experienced psychological trauma, it is important to remember that you have legal options as a victim. 

Because psychological trauma is categorized as an injury in court, you could file a personal injury lawsuit for the suffering you incurred. A personal injury lawyer from our firm can help you explore your options if you are considering action following a traumatic event caused by a third party. 

Recoverable Compensation for Psychological Trauma

For victims of psychological trauma in Indiana, filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit could result in compensation. If you are able to prove that a third party caused your suffering, you can build a case against them seeking various forms of compensation. Under IC 34-24-4-4, this may include reimbursement for: 

• Medical expenses, including medications and therapy
• Emotional distress
• Medical anguish
• Decrease in quality of life
• Loss of productivity
• Pain and suffering damages
• Lost wages

Our lawyers are familiar with cases like yours, so we can help you understand your legal options if you were the victim of psychological abuse or other injuries. If you are interested in learning more about potentially available compensation, consider reaching out to our firm for a complimentary case assessment.

Contact Our Team for a Free Consultation Today

If you experienced any form of psychological trauma, you could have been the victim of negligence, qualifying you to seek financial recovery. 

Our team at Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., is available to discuss your case today. Call for a free consultation before it is too late.