Motorcycle Crash Lawyer Assisting in Psychological Trauma

Leading the Way in Assisting Sufferers of Psychological Trauma

Long-term psychological trauma (known generally in the legal arena as “pain and suffering”) is one of the most common and persistent, but least understood aspects of a NJ motorcycle crash. Lawyers who handle these cases regard these psychological injuries, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) in much the same way as they have long regarded physical injuries. That is, as legitimate elements of a potential damage claim.

As a New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer of long-standing, I think that this is exactly the right direction for our profession and our society to go. For too long our culture has refused to treat psychological injuries with the seriousness they deserve, often seeming to tell sufferers they are “crazy,” or that they basically just need to “get over it.” The end  result of this cavalier attitude has been to leave victims of these injuries to years of lonely struggle.

In fact, the serious emotional and mental health impact of motor vehicle crashes has been documented in the medical literature for nearly a half-century. PTSD and other emotional injuries are real, and can be just as damaging in the long run as physical injuries.

Symptoms of Psychological Injuries After a NJ Motorcycle Crash

Lawyers for motorcycle accident victims will be required to prove a broad range of emotional symptoms in order to secure damages to which their clients may be entitled:

• Anger, irritability, mood swings
• Confusion and poor concentration
• Generalized anxiety and fear
• Fear of riding or extreme hesitance to get back on the bike
• Panic attacks, nightmares and flashbacks
• Increased difficulty coping with everyday tasks and events
• Survivor’s guilt regarding others who were involved in the accident
• Inability to return to work due to persistent symptoms of depression
• Problems maintaining your intimate friendships and relationships
• Physical symptoms, such as headache or tachycardia

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms as a result of a motorcycle accident, remember these feelings are perfectly natural, and are just as surely the result of negligence as any physical injuries you may have suffered. As such, you are fully within your rights to seek just compensation, which can have a significant impact on your total damages.

Experienced NJ motorcycle crash lawyers strive to recover damages for both physical and psychological injuries.

Proving psychological injuries is challenging because of their apparently subjective nature. Insurance companies and other liable parties will try to prove that your injuries are minor, or even faked. Some resources your NJ motorcycle crash lawyer may tap into during your case include medical, psychological and forensic experts.

But you should not rely on others to build the strongest argument in your favor. Keep a journal recording the day to day effects of your injury(s). Make sure to include details documenting instances of the symptoms referenced above, such as your sleep patterns, whether or not you obsess about the accident, and how often you think about it, etc.

If possible interview your friends, family and co-workers to establish a baseline for your emotional health prior to the accident. This can help identify changes in temperament and behavior that may be invisible to you.

By acknowledging the seriousness of these issues, motorcycle accident attorneys can become valuable allies to sufferers of PTSD, ASD, and other forms of psychological trauma.

Contact New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer The Cycle Attorney at 1-888-292-5352 (888-cycle-law) to discuss the emotional and psychological impact of your case. New Jersey and Pennsylvania consultations are free.

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