When many people think about personal injury claims, they imagine physical injuries, like broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. While physical injuries often result from accidents, they’re not the only types of injuries victims sustain. Some accident victims may also suffer emotional distress, which may include depression, anger, anxiety, shame and fear.
Unfortunately, accident victims are less likely to seek help for emotional injuries because they may feel ashamed and afraid of being judged. Emotional distress can take its toll after a while and decrease your quality of life.
How to Prove Emotional Distress
It is more challenging to prove emotional distress than it is to prove physical injuries in a personal injury case. However, if you take the proper steps, you can still receive compensation for your emotional wounds. Here are some different ways to prove emotional distress.
- See a mental health professional. If you are dealing with emotional distress after an accident, your personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL may advise you to see a mental health professional, like a therapist or psychologist. He or she will give you a proper evaluation and determine if you have a mental health condition or not. If you’re diagnosed with a mental health condition, you can use that as evidence in your personal injury case.
- Write in a journal. Keeping a journal will allow you to express emotional distress in your own words. Write down how you felt during the accident and what type of emotional injuries you’re dealing with right now. Express how they have impacted your life thus far. For example, if your depression has kept you up at night or made you avoid social situations, jot that information down.
- Ask your family and friends to testify. Your close family members and friends have likely noticed how your mental state has changed since your accident. Your personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL may have you ask them to testify on your behalf. They can describe the behaviors they’ve witnessed.
If you sustained an injury because of someone else’s negligence, you may want to consult a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL from Needle & Ellenberg. You may be entitled to compensation. A lawyer can help you bring a timely claim against the negligent party.
Schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL today.