It is not at all unusual for people involved in serious car accidents to have delayed reactions to the trauma. If you are having difficulty sleeping after a car accident it is possible that you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. This is a serious anxiety disorder that occurs when an individual has experienced a frightening and traumatic event. While many people only associate PTSD with those who’ve actively served in the military, the reality is that anyone can suffer from this disorder.

The San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Hogan Injury have experience in handling cases involving post traumatic stress disorder. Our lawyers can help you obtain the compensation you are legally entitled to due to the trauma someone else caused you. The National Institute of Mental Health tells us that PTSD can develop up to a half a year after the triggering event which could include any number of things ranging fro violent personal assaults to life-threatening vehicular accidents.

Symptoms of PTSD

Typically, post traumatic stress syndrome begins with no warning and may include all or some of the following symptoms:

• Feeling emotionally empty
• Difficulty sleeping
• Easily startled
• Panic attacks
• Nightmares
• Uncontrolled displays of emotion
• Flashbacks
• Isolation
• Concentration problems

Some people suffer from PTSD due to natural disasters they’ve been involved in such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Others develop this condition due to the negligent behavior of other parties. For instance, a car accident victim who was in a very traumatic roadway accident may be able to directly attribute his or her development of PTSD to the negligent driver found responsible for the accident. If you have developed PTSD as a result of a preventable situation, you may be able to file a personal injury claim so that you can obtain compensation.

Difficulty Sleeping and Traumatic Brain Injury

Without question, one of the most devastating injuries anyone can experience is an injury involving the brain. When the brain sustains an injury, it can affect the victim’s memory, emotional state, personality, concentration and comprehension. A traumatic brain injury or TBI is defined as sudden trauma that does damage to the brain. These types of head injuries run the gamut from mild to severe and can come with a range of symptoms from headaches and sleeplessness to permanent memory loss and coma. Because a head injury can be so debilitating, it is imperative to seek immediate medical attention so that the injury can be stabilized so that further damage is prevented.

It can be challenging for medical personnel to determine whether or not a patient has sustained a traumatic brain injury following an accident. Even though MRI and CAT scans are used to find damage done to the brain, the results of these imaging studies are not always clear or definitive. Often times, family members notice unusual behaviors being displayed by the victim days or even weeks following the accident.

A person with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury often has difficulty sleeping, problems concentrating and is easily angered, distracted and disorganized. Special diagnostic clinical examinations are often done to definitively determine whether the patient does indeed have a traumatic brain injury.

Many people with traumatic brain injuries suffer from sleep disturbances. A review of sleep disorder studies and surveys suggest that sleep disorders are three times more common in TBI patients than in the general population and that up to 60 percent of people with traumatic brain injuries experience long-term sleep difficulties.

Insurance Companies Try to Discredit PTSD Claims

It is important to know that the responsible party’s insurance company will most likely offer you a minimal compensation amount to cover your damages when you file a PTSD personal injury claim. It is never a good idea to accept any settlement amount from an insurance company. Instead, you should seek the assistance of a San Francisco personal injury attorney who will help you recover all the compensation you are eligible for that will pay your bills and ensure that your life can eventually get back on track. Our Bay Area PTSD lawyers work hard to help our clients recover receive compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages and pain & suffering. We are available 24/7 to speak with you so contact us today for your guaranteed no-cost legal consultation.