When you read of someone suffering an injury in a car accident, an accident at work or a slip, trip and fall accident, your mind probably conjures up images of whiplash and broken bones or serious bodily injuries like traumatic brain or spinal injuries.

It’s unlikely your first thought will be that the accident victim may go on to suffer psychological injuries, such as anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), phobias, or flashbacks.

You wouldn’t be alone in thinking along these lines. Most people, even some personal injury solicitors, who regularly act for the victims of accidents in filing compensation claims, may think along the same lines.

Psychological injuries present themselves in any accident in the same way that physical injuries do. Often, though, they get overlooked.

In reality, even as the effects of the physical injuries lessen, the psychological effects can remain, and, in some cases, they do so for a very long time.

The hidden impact of personal injuries on mental health

If you’ve suffered injury in an accident, the advice is to prioritise getting treatment as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you will either go to A&E or visit your GP. Medical professionals who attend to you at this stage see their brief as treating your physical injuries. You may also appear shocked and shaken up, a natural reaction to being involved in an accident. The shock will often settle down as the days after the accident pass. 

Sometimes, the apparent shock is an early indicator of something more serious. Other times, the symptoms of psychological illnesses won’t manifest themselves until days, weeks or even months after the accident. 

Physical and psychological injuries go hand in hand. It can be the effect of the physical injuries that bring on psychological injuries such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. Alternatively, psychological anguish can hamper an individual’s recovery from the physical injuries they suffered, meaning it takes longer to recover from them. 

Mental health conditions can often remain undiagnosed or easily dismissed as something that will soon pass. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD are recognised psychiatric disorders that can’t be wished away. Neither will they peter out given enough time.

Is there evidence to support a link between physical injury and psychological disorders

There is a connection between accident-related personal injuries and psychological disorders, and this is supported by numerous studies, including those published in BioMedCentral, which found that distress is common among those suffering a broad range of injury types and severities and PubMedCentral, which concluded there is a high frequency of PTSD, depression, and anxiety in injury patients.

A study reported in the BMJ found that six weeks after the accident, a psychiatric disorder was still present in 48% of patients who suffered injuries in an accident. This percentage went down 43% after 6 months. The BMJ study also found that there was no relationship between the severity of the physical injuries and psychological status. In other words, psychological conditions manifest themselves in the victims of accidents irrespective of how badly they were physically injured.

A joint 2021 report by the Spinal Injuries Association, the University of Reading and the University of Buckingham detailed the findings of research into the prevalence of mental health issues among those who’d suffered spinal cord injuries compared to those people without injury.

The key findings were that:

• 27% said they’d had suicidal thoughts, which is a percentage three times higher than non-injured members of the population

• 47% had experienced assessed mental health problems (in a recognised mental health condition)

• 68% of those with assessed conditions withdrew themselves early from treatment without resolving their mental health problem.

Common psychological conditions after accidents

Depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD are three of the most common types of psychological disorders experienced by injured accident victims. Those affected often experience: 

• Troubled sleep and nightmares
• Ongoing sadness and loss of hope
• Constant worry and unease
• Unwanted memories of the accident
• Shifts in appetite and energy

Getting Professional Help

Professional support is the key to recovering from psychological injuries after suffering personal injury in an accident. Most people recover with proper help and support, though knowing the right time and where to seek help makes all the difference.

When to seek mental health support

The NHS recommends getting a professional consultation with an appropriate consultant if psychological symptoms last longer than four weeks after injury. Key warning signs include:

• Losing interest in usual activities
• Constant worry or troubling thoughts
• Disrupted sleep or eating patterns
• Daily tasks becoming difficult

Available treatment options on NHS

The NHS offers several mental health services free of charge. Your GP serves as your first point of contact and can:

• Assess your condition
• Provide initial treatment
• Refer you to be examined by a specialist 
• Point you towards local resources

NHS mental health care includes IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies), featuring proven treatments like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Round-the-clock mental health crisis services operate across England, ready to help during emergencies.

Claiming for physical and psychological injuries in a compensation claim

If you are thinking of pursuing a compensation claim for both physical and psychological injuries following an accident that wasn’t your fault, you must make the right choice of personal injury solicitor. 

Whilst many solicitors have experience in handling claims for physical injuries, claiming for psychological injuries is not always as straightforward. Insurance companies tend to view claims for psychological injuries with a heavy degree of scepticism. That’s why it’s essential to choose a firm of solicitors who solely specialise in personal injury claims, like Mooneerams Solicitors, to handle a claim involving psychological injuries. 

A highly experienced personal injury lawyer will obtain the relevant medical evidence from clinical psychologists and consultant psychiatrists to prove beyond doubt the veracity of your claim and make sure you recover the compensation you deserve.