Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Traffic accidents in Hollywood cause terrible pain and suffering for those who sustain serious head injuries, spinal cord trauma, whiplash, and other serious injuries. However, researchers also note that serious car and truck accidents also have a profound impact on the families of those who are injured. In fact, according to a new book, After The Crash: Assessment and Treatment of Motor Vehicle Accident Survivors, 10-45% percent of people who are injured in the country’s some three million car accidents suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In fact, the study’s authors, doctors Edward B. Blanchard and Edward J. Hickling, say that traffic collisions are the leading cause of PTSD in the non-military population.
What many people don’t acknowledge is that the impact of a serious car or truck accident in Hollywood or another city doesn’t impact just the injured party. If someone suffers from PTSD or a permanent injury such as a head injury or spinal cord trauma, it is likely that the patient’s entire family may suffer as well – and currently experts say that there is not enough support and not enough resources in place for family members who suffer in this way.
After a serious car or truck collision, someone who is seriously injured may not be able to return to work and may require years or even a lifetime of medical treatment. For the family of such a patient, the medical treatments and loss of a job can also prove a big challenge. For example, a family where an income earner has been seriously injured in a crash may face financial challenges. Members of the family who have never had to work may need to get involved in order to help replace lost income and pay for medical care.
Someone who is injured may also come to rely on their family more after being seriously injured. An amputation patient in Hollywood, for example, may rely on family and friends to get to and from medical appointments and may even rely on them for everyday tasks such as grooming or getting around. Emotional support may also be needed.
Some brain injury patients in Hollywood and other cities experience symptoms such as mood swings, depression, personality changes, loss of memory, and other symptoms which can affect family members as well. Family and friends may often want to help but may not know how or may feel guilty about being unhurt or even wanting time away from the injured family member. In some cases, families can have a hard time cooperating because of the turmoil of serious injuries or may not know how to function with a seriously injured person. Studies have shown that seriously injured patients may also withdraw from loved ones or can even become dependent on alcohol or medication to cope with the pain and loss after a serious accident. This, too, can also tear a family about.
What can be done in these situations? Acknowledging that families of patients suffer as well is an important first step. Psychologists also note that family counseling and support systems for family members is also important in helping the entire family deal with the aftermath of an accident. Support for all family members ensures that the patient has a supportive family at home and that family members get the help that they need.
Of course, counseling and other services for families can be expensive. It is one reason why personal injury attorneys advocate for fair settlements for injured patients who have sustained a serious injury through no fault of their own. If you have been injured in a truck accident, get a free legal evaluation of your case by contacting Flaxman Law Group today.