How PTSD and Emotional Trauma Can Affect Personal Injury Cases
When most people think about personal injury claims, they think of broken bones, medical bills, and time missed from work. But injuries caused by negligence often run deeper than what shows up on an X-ray. In Missouri, the law recognizes that accidents can cause serious psychological harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of emotional trauma.
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation not only for your physical injuries, but also for the emotional toll the accident has taken on your life. At The Goss Law Firm, we help injury victims throughout Missouri understand how emotional distress damages apply to personal injury claims and how to pursue full and fair compensation.
Personal Injury Damages Go Beyond the Physical
Personal injury lawsuits are designed to compensate victims for losses caused by another party’s negligence. These losses often include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. However, Missouri law also allows compensation for non-economic damages, which reflect the human impact of an injury.
Non-economic damages account for the pain, suffering, and emotional distress that often accompany serious accidents. Even relatively minor incidents, such as a rear-end collision or a slip-and-fall at a grocery store, can leave lasting emotional scars. While financial compensation cannot undo trauma, it acknowledges the real and significant impact the injury has had on your daily life.
Understanding Emotional Distress and PTSD After an Accident
Emotional distress is a common but frequently overlooked consequence of personal injuries. Victims may face months of recovery, uncertainty about their future, or permanent changes to their abilities or appearance. These challenges can trigger anxiety, depression, and, in some cases, PTSD.
PTSD and emotional trauma may develop after violent or frightening incidents such as car crashes, workplace accidents, or serious falls. Symptoms often persist long after physical injuries have healed and may include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Depression or mood changes
Missouri law generally considers emotional distress to be a direct result of the accident when it stems from the same negligent act that caused physical or financial harm.
Can You Recover Emotional Distress Damages in Missouri?
In most Missouri personal injury cases, plaintiffs must show that they suffered tangible damages, such as medical expenses or lost income, before recovering compensation for emotional distress. Claims based solely on emotional harm, without accompanying economic losses, are typically unsuccessful.
However, when emotional trauma is tied to a physical injury or financial loss, it can be an essential and legitimate component of a personal injury claim. A knowledgeable attorney can help evaluate how emotional distress fits into your case and work to ensure it is properly documented and presented.
Proving PTSD and Emotional Trauma in a Personal Injury Claim
The burden of proof in a Missouri personal injury case rests with the plaintiff. In addition to proving the defendant’s negligence, you must demonstrate how the accident caused your emotional suffering. This often requires clear, credible evidence connecting the trauma to the incident.
Typical forms of evidence used to support emotional distress claims include:
- Testimony from medical experts explaining how the injury affects your mental health
- Records or testimony from therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists
- Documentation of counseling or therapy expenses
- Statements from family members, friends, coworkers, or employers describing changes in your behavior, mood, or lifestyle
Emotional injuries can be just as disabling as physical ones. Many victims continue to struggle with trauma long after their physical recovery is complete, making proper compensation essential to long-term healing.
How The Goss Law Firm Can Help
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence and are experiencing PTSD or emotional trauma as a result, you may have the right to pursue compensation for those damages. Building a strong emotional distress claim requires experience, careful documentation, and a clear understanding of Missouri personal injury law. The Goss Law Firm is committed to helping injury victims pursue the full compensation they deserve, both for visible injuries and the unseen trauma that follows.
Contact us today by submitting an online form or calling our office at (816) 888-5000 for a free legal consultation.
