Being in a traumatic car accident caused by a drunk driver can result in serious physical pain; it may also cause emotional pain for Atlanta DUI victims. A drunk driving crash not only ends up causing physical losses but psychological complications, emotional issues, stress, and other problems. A crash of this nature can cause a victim or survivor multiple issues, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- A feeling of hopelessness
- Social losses
- Grief and sadness
- Anger
- Fear
- Psychological issues
While all of these reactions are normal following a drunk driving crash that involved serious injuries and fatalities, psychological complications are more serious and can be long lasting – affecting how a victim functions emotionally and physically. When a victim lives through a traumatic event such as this, he or she often experiences memories or flashbacks of the accident. This is referred to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Georgia DUI Victims Often Suffer from PTSD
When victims relive their traumatic experiences over and over again, it can cause them distress, panic, anxiety, and more. Sometimes these feelings come over victims without warning, causing them to be on edge or feel emotional pain. This can lead to victims avoiding places, people, or situations and cause tension in their relationships.
Recollecting the crash can be overwhelming and long lasting. It can affect a victim’s sleep, social skills, thoughts, and every aspect of the survivor’s life. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is just that – traumatic. Sadly, the mind’s visualization of the accident can be permanent. For instance, if the crash occurred at night, the victim may never want to drive at night again.
Seek Help!
If you are reliving the accident over and over again in your mind and if you have some of the symptoms listed above, you may have PTSD. Make sure you seek professional help as well as legal help. Professional help will help you with your mental health so that you will receive treatments to diffuse the impact of these memories. And legal help will help you seek justice against the drunk driver and get you the compensation you deserve.
If you are Georgia drunk driving accident victim, call Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656 and speak with a Fulton County DUI victim lawyer in a free consultation today.