If you were in an apartment that caught on fire, you might feel fear, anxiety, and experience sleeplessness as a result of the incident. This is a normal experience to have and is a result of your body's survival mechanism. However, the suffering you experience as a result of the trauma may also be something that you deserve compensation for.
The Effects of Trauma
PTSD is a condition that anyone can experience if they suffer a great deal of stress. The fear, panic, and uncertainty of a fire can lead to you possibly developing PTSD. You may experience reoccurring nightmares, a desire to avoid your apartment because it reminds you of the fire, and a constant feeling of being on edge.
You may find that your life has been disrupted as a result of PTSD. For example, if you are unable to sleep, you may be exhausted and this might affect your ability to work. PTSD might also affect your outlook on life. This condition is usually permanent if you do not treat it through cognitive behavioral therapy with a licensed therapist.
The Importance of Therapy
If you are suffering from PTSD, one of the first things you will want to do is speak with a therapist. Recovering from PTSD can take a long time and your regular therapy sessions can be used as evidence that you have suffered psychological harm and should be entitled to compensation.
How to Prove PTSD
One of the challenges of receiving compensation for PTSD is proving that you suffer from this condition. If your case goes to trial, the jury might not understand how PTSD works and you will need help from an experienced personal injury attorney who has handled cases involving psychological trauma.
Your attorney will likely call upon an expert witness who can appear in court and testify as to the effects that the accident may have had on you. Ideally, the expert witness should also be the therapist who has treated you. Otherwise, the expert witness will only be able to explain how PTSD works and the symptoms associated with it.
You may also call upon eyewitness testimony who may testify to the impact that the event has had on your life. With all of the evidence presented, your personal injury attorney will also argue why the defendant was responsible for the fire and should compensate you for your mental health disorder.
For more information on how to prove PTSD in court, contact personal injury attorneys near you.
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