Establishing the Science and Effects of PTSD in Court
William Shakespeare was one of the first writers to examine Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in detail. In Henry IV Part One, Lady Percy asked her war veteran husband “O my good lord, why are you thus alone? For what offense have I this fortnight been a banished woman from my Harry’s bed? Tell me, sweet lord, what is ‘t that takes from thee thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep? Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth, and start so often when thou sit’st alone?”
Lady Percy didn’t understand why her husband was depressed, angry, hypervigilant, and displayed other classic PTSD symptoms. As outlined below, today’s doctors understand the medical nature of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This understanding makes it easier for a Sugar Land personal injury lawyer to obtain compensation in such cases, since it’s clear the victim didn’t over-react to a stressful situation or is “faking it.” The compensation in a car crash or other personal injury claim usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
PTSD and Medical Science
“Disorder” is a word that turns off many jurors. They associate this D-word with blame shifting (e.g. you aren’t a boring teacher who can’t hold a child’s attention because the child has ADD). That assessment is probably true in some cases.
Therefore, a Missouri City personal injury lawyer must stress the physical nature of PTSD and point out that it’s not a “disorder” that randomly, and inexplicably, affects some people.
A one-time stressful event, like a car crash, often causes PTSD. In fact, vehicle collisions cause more PTSD cases among civilians than any other kind of stress. Extreme stress shrinks the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that controls logical responses, causing the amygdala (emotional responses) to expand. The resulting imbalance causes the aforementioned symptoms.
Sometimes, the cumulative effects of smaller stressful events, such as a job loss, divorce, and a low-speed car crash, causes PTSD.
Whether a car crash was a standalone cause or the straw that broke the camel’s back, a Missouri City personal injury lawyer can obtain the compensation these victims need and deserve. That’s also true if the victim’s self-medication with drugs or alcohol intensifies the victim’s symptoms.
Everyday Effects of PTSD
Doctors testify about medical conditions, their causes, and general effects. But once the victim is discharged from a hospital, doctors don’t see how that condition affects victims on a daily basis. Witness statements, often from friends, family, and coworkers, often fill in this gap.
For example, a doctor might testify about Joe’s hypervigilance, a word that many people have difficulty understanding. Joe’s wife cannot testify about the medical nature of her husband’s injury, at least in most cases. However, she can testify that Joe cannot sit with his back facing the door, installed burglar bars on all the windows, won’t answer the door unless his pistol is nearby, and is almost paranoid about his family’s safety.
Such evidence often makes the difference between minimum compensation and maximum compensation. So, attorneys must pay close attention to small details.
Connect With a Thorough Harris County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Missouri City, contact the Henrietta Ezeoke Law Firm. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we start working for you.
