Identifying Child PTSD Symptoms Following an Automobile Accident

PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s a mental health disorder that leads to intense and disturbing feelings or thoughts after a person has seen or experienced a traumatic event. PTSD used to be called “shell shock” after it was recognized in many war veterans, but today, we’ve learned that PTSD can occur in anyone, including children.

Auto accidents are stressful for anyone and can be particularly difficult for children. Young humans may have a harder time understanding what has happened and how to deal with pain and fear resulting from an accident. Therefore, parents should watch for and identify PTSD symptoms after their child has been in an automobile accident.

Understanding PTSD Symptoms in Children After Auto Accidents

According to Georgia’s Consumer Protection Division, automobile accidents are the leading cause of injuries and death for children from ages one to 12. Suffering such a sudden and violent event like a car crash often leaves extremely deep emotional and mental scars that can negatively impact your child. 

Don’t let the insurance company try to downplay the psychological damages you or your child have suffered. PTSD is debilitating and requires extensive treatment, sometimes over the course of a lifetime, to fully recover from. Therefore, you and your child deserve financial compensation for all damage related to PTSD. 

Recognizing Symptoms of PTSD in Children

PTSD symptoms can look different depending on the age of the child. Maturity level also plays a part, which can vary based on gender and other factors. In very young children, around age five or below, they might experience:

• Separation anxiety
• Bedwetting
• Thumb sucking
• Excessive clinginess
• Or fear of darkness

6 to 11-Year-Olds

Children from around ages six to 11 with PTSD may show symptoms like:

• Being very withdrawn
• Nightmares or other sleep issues
• Disruptive behavior
• Problems at school
• The inability to pay attention
• Headaches, stomach aches, or other physical complaints caused by mental stress
• Or other sudden or significant changes in behavior

12 to 17-Year-Olds

Children from 12- to 17-years-old may present symptoms of PTSD like:

• Problems in school, such as missing class or poor performance and grades
• Nightmares and other sleep problems
• Risky behavior
• Changes in their regular behavior
• Getting into fights or having other issues with peers
• Headaches, stomach aches, or other physical complaints caused by mental stress
• Depression or suicidal thoughts

Child PTSD symptoms at any age can also include feeling overly or unusually anxious, avoiding any reminders of the accident, such as avoiding getting into vehicles, reliving what happened in their mind, or other sudden behavior changes.

PTSD does not look the same for every child. If you are worried your child might have PTSD following an automobile accident, it’s essential to get them evaluated right away. Only a medical or mental health professional can truly identify child PTSD symptoms and know the best course of treatment. They can also help you help your child during their recovery from the emotional effects of the crash.

Supporting a Child with PTSD

Besides seeking expert treatment, parents and caregivers can help their child cope with stress from the accident by:

• Letting their child talk about how they are feeling and any concerns they have.
• Tell their child that they are safe.
• Spending more time around supportive family and friends
• Returning to a normal routine.
• Recognizing that the child may react to the accident differently than others if more than one family member was in the accident.

If you were also involved in an automobile accident, it’s important to take the time to feel your own feelings, as well. If you are experiencing emotional damage from the accident, speak to a medical professional.

Get Compensated for PTSD After an Accident

If your child was injured in an automobile accident, you can file a claim for compensation for what they’ve suffered. It’s best to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the details.

In Georgia, you can seek compensation for damages if another person was responsible for your accident injuries. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to drive independently, so they typically cannot be at fault for an auto accident. It’s essential to know your options.

Damages you may be able to recover after an auto accident in Georgia include:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

PTSD typically falls under “pain and suffering” damages in a personal injury claim. To seek pain and suffering in Georgia, you must have suffered a physical injury as well. The PTSD and other pain and suffering damages must result from the accident and their physical injuries.

Our Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You

You don’t have to go through settlement negotiations or a legal battle alone. So while you focus on healing and helping your child from your traumatic car accident, our experienced car accident lawyers are ready to fight on your behalf. 

Even though you’re not required to have a lawyer assist you, trying to win financial compensation without one is known to be highly stressful and challenging. Insurance companies often have lots of legal resources and powerful attorneys on their side that can successfully challenge the claim you file against them.

If you don’t have any experience in car accident law, you don’t have to worry. When you hire one of our lawyers to assist you, you even the playing field and increase your chances of winning a fair settlement. We never charge upfront for any of our services, and if we can’t win compensation for your claim, you owe us absolutely nothing. 

Don’t Wait to File Your Claim

One of the worst things you can do is wait too long to file a claim. While we understand and acknowledge that blindly rushing to file a claim isn’t wise, neither is sitting on your hands waiting for the “right moment.” The right moment is now. The longer you wait to file your claim or get started on your case, the harder you will find it to negotiate for compensation.

In addition, you will want to take action promptly, so you meet the general statute of limitations for car accident claims, which is two years under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §9-3-33. Two years may seem like a long time, but don’t underestimate how fast it can pass. Unfortunately, plenty of car accident victims let time slip by and fail to file within the deadline, thus forfeiting their right to pursue a settlement. 

Talk to a Georgia Car Accident Attorney for Free Today

At John Foy & Associates, we are committed to helping families seek compensation for a car accidents’ physical and emotional effects. Many of us are parents ourselves, and we understand the pain of seeing your child deal with PTSD symptoms or other mental health issues.

Call us today so we can discuss your options and how we can help during a free consultation. Call or contact us online today to get started with your free consultation. We are available 24/7.