Mental Trauma After a Car Accident

At our Chicago law firm, we know mental trauma after a car accident can be just as serious as physical injuries. Our legal team helps clients across Chicago recover compensation for the psychological impact of a traumatic event–including therapy costs, lost wages, and other damages.

What Is Mental Trauma?

Mental trauma is a psychological injury that results from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. In comparison emotional distress–like fear, sadness, or anxiety–is a common short-term reaction, diagnosed mental trauma involves more severe and persistent psychological conditions, such as PTSD after a car accident. People may respond to trauma with automatic survival mechanisms known as fight, flight, or freeze. When these reactions continue long after the event, they may indicate more profound psychological trauma requiring support from a mental health professional.

What Are Common Types of Car Accident Trauma?

Acute Stress Reaction

This response often appears within minutes or hours after a motor vehicle collision. It may include immediate shock, panic, emotional numbness, and intrusive memories of the traumatic event. Many people feel disconnected or dazed. While short-lived for some, symptoms can develop into more serious psychological trauma if left unaddressed.

Anxiety Disorders

Car accident trauma can trigger anxiety disorders, including driving anxiety, panic attacks, and generalized anxiety. Survivors may avoid intersections or highways due to intense fear. These reactions interfere with daily life and may grow worse over time without professional help, especially if linked to an unresolved traumatic brain injury.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can involve flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and extreme avoidance of anything related to the crash. Survivors may become hypervigilant or constantly on edge. This condition is a serious mental health issue that often requires therapy, including CBT, for long-term recovery.

Depression

Depression following a serious car accident is common, especially when injuries disrupt daily routines. Symptoms may include persistent sadness, withdrawal from social support, sleep changes, and a lack of interest or motivation. Left untreated, depression can make recovery from both physical and psychological injuries much more difficult.

Adjustment Disorders

Some individuals struggle to adapt to life after a car accident, even if the injuries seem minor. Adjustment disorders may lead to emotional instability, mood swings, irritability, or frustration. These issues can affect relationships, work, and personal routines, especially when support systems are limited or stress levels stay high.

Emotional Trauma Related to Physical Injury

Physical injuries like broken bones, spinal damage, or chronic pain can lead to emotional trauma. Ongoing frustration, reduced mobility, and fear of permanent disability may contribute to long-term psychological consequences. Many accident survivors find the emotional impact of their injuries harder to manage than the physical symptoms.

How Is Mental Trauma Diagnosed?

Emotional trauma after a car accident is typically diagnosed through a psychological evaluation, often involving interviews, self-reported symptoms, and standardized diagnostic tools. Common screening tools include the PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety disorders, and PTSD checklists. A diagnosis must align with criteria outlined in the DSM-5, which mental health professionals use to assess conditions like acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Referrals often come from primary care doctors or emergency room visits, especially when emotional symptoms appear early. Warning signs like excessive sleeping after a car accident, mood changes, or trouble focusing should be taken seriously.

How Is Mental Trauma Treated After a Car Accident?

Coping Strategies

Managing mental trauma after a car accident often begins with practical coping strategies. Deep breathing, relaxation techniques, exercise, and connecting with support systems can ease emotional distress. Joining a support group or speaking with a trusted loved one also helps create space to process emotional trauma and rebuild confidence.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for psychological trauma after a motor vehicle collision. It helps individuals identify and change harmful thought patterns tied to the traumatic event. CBT is commonly used to treat PTSD after a car accident, anxiety disorders, and depression related to emotional injuries.

Medication

For some, medication is a key part of recovery from post-accident trauma. Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can reduce the intensity of emotional symptoms and support daily functioning. Medication is typically managed by a mental health professional and may be combined with therapy for long-term psychological consequences.

How Much Can Chicago Car Accident Victims Recover for Mental Trauma?

According to Law.com’s VerdictSearch, the average award in cases involving psychological trauma after an auto accident is approximately $3,676,404, while the median award is $283,000. The value range is broad, with settlements and verdicts starting as low as $4,500 and reaching over $43 million in the most severe cases.

Case outcomes can vary widely based on several factors:

• Diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, or other anxiety disorders
• Severity and duration of symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, or panic attacks
• Impact on daily life, including driving anxiety or fear of highways and intersections
• Documentation from a mental health professional and use of diagnostic tools like the PHQ-9 or PTSD checklists
• Need for long-term therapy or psychiatric medications
• Lost wages and diminished ability to work due to mental distress
• Emotional trauma related to physical injuries, like chronic pain or traumatic brain injury
• Quality of medical records, therapist notes, and expert testimony supporting psychological injuries

What Damages Are Awarded in Personal Injury Claims Involving Mental Trauma?

In personal injury claims involving emotional trauma after a car accident, damages typically fall into two main categories: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages may include medical bills for therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication, and any ongoing care from a mental health professional. Lost income and reduced earning capacity are also common, especially if symptoms like panic attacks, flashbacks, or difficulty sleeping interfere with work.

Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and long-term psychological consequences such as PTSD or adjustment disorders. The more severe and lasting the mental health impact, the more significant the potential compensation. Thorough documentation helps strengthen these claims.

Example Motor Vehicle Accident Cases Involving Mental Trauma

$21,300,000 Verdict for Family of Deceased and Injured Victims of Police Pursuit Crash

On December 12, 2015, Maria Carrion-Adame was killed in Chicago when a stolen minivan being pursued by police crashed into the SUV she was riding in. Several of her family members, including her daughters, siblings, and niece, were also seriously injured. The pursuit, involving Chicago police officers, was found to violate department policies. Plaintiffs argued that officers acted with willful and wanton disregard for safety in a high-density area over a property crime.

The jury found Reed (the fleeing driver) 67% liable and the officers 33% liable, awarding $21,337,419 in damages to the family.

$14,564,000 Award for Motorcyclist After Collision with Transit Bus Leads to Amputation and PTSD

On August 11, 2011, William Hickey Jr. was riding his motorcycle when a Pace bus turned left in front of him, causing a severe collision. Hickey suffered catastrophic injuries, including a crushed leg that later required amputation, pelvic fractures, and shoulder damage. He also developed post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and emotional distress, which required ongoing therapy.

The defense argued Hickey was speeding and partially responsible. The jury found him 45% contributorily negligent, awarding a total of $14.56 million, reduced to $8.01 million.

What to Do If You’re Experiencing Mental Trauma After a Car Accident

If you’re experiencing mental trauma after a car accident, getting a psychological evaluation as soon as possible is essential. A mental health professional can help diagnose conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder and begin the right course of treatment. Track symptoms and emotional triggers, and avoid downplaying changes in mood, sleep, or concentration. Follow your treatment plan closely, including any medication prescribed. Keep a record of how the trauma affects your work, relationships, and daily life–but don’t share mental health details with insurance adjusters. These conversations can be used against you. Instead, consult a Chicago car accident lawyer early to protect your rights and build a strong personal injury claim that includes psychological injuries.

How an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

A skilled Chicago personal injury attorney can be essential when seeking compensation for mental trauma after a car accident. Emotional injuries are often overlooked or minimized by insurers, especially when physical injuries are more visible. Our experienced lawyers understand how to document psychological trauma, gather expert testimony from a mental health professional, and prove the impact on your daily life. They can also protect you from unfair settlement offers and ensure your personal injury claim includes the full extent of your emotional distress, therapy costs, lost wages, and long-term psychological consequences. Legal guidance can make a real difference in your recovery.

Book a Free Consultation and Seek Justice for Your Mental Health Injuries

If you’re suffering from psychological trauma after an auto accident, you deserve support–and compensation. Our legal team understands the emotional effects of a serious car accident and works to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Schedule your free consultation today to discuss your legal options. Let us help you take the next step toward healing.