It’s enough to make anyone anxious. Even after the physical injuries have healed.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
The hidden psychological cost of personal injury lawsuits
The specific ways injury affects your mental health
How the lawsuit process can worsen anxiety
The mental health conditions common after accidents
How to protect your mental health while making a claim
Mental Injury Is Just As Real As Physical
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.
Most people who file a personal injury lawsuit have one primary goal:
To get compensated.
Money to cover medical bills, time off work, and other losses.
But there’s another injury that isn’t discussed enough:
The emotional impact of dealing with a lawsuit.
Physical injuries are easy to see. But dealing with legal teams and insurance companies can take a toll that very few people consider.
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Here’s why dealing with injuries — physical and mental — can lead to anxiety:
Victims are basically forced to re-live the accident again and again. They answer questions from attorneys. They give statements to insurance companies. They wait. They wait some more. They get lowball offers. They might even have to fight just to prove the injury was real.
That takes a toll on the mind.
Nobody should ever feel like that. But it happens.
How Does Injury Affect Mental Health?
When injured by something that was supposed to help, it wreaks havoc on life.
Trust gets placed in the products used for everyday tasks. Cooking dinner. Driving to work. Staying healthy.
But when that product causes injury? It’s hard to know what to trust anymore.
All it takes is one defective product to change the way the world is viewed.
A sudden feeling of not being able to trust everything around you. Avoiding everyday tasks out of fear it will happen again.
In fact, mental health problems are common after an accident:
One study found that up to 33% of accident victims suffer from some type of mental health issue one year after their accident.
And some injuries lead to anxiety right away — flash panic attacks when seeing or thinking about the thing that caused the injury.
Here are the most common ways injury affects mental health:
Anxiety and panic attacks — triggered by the accident itself, locations, or objects associated with it
Depression — feeling down because the injury impacts day-to-day life
Sleep deprivation — caused by stress, nightmares, and anxiety about the accident
Social withdrawal — avoiding everyday activities once enjoyed
Loss of confidence — a worry that injury will strike again while just going about the day
But here’s the thing…
Personal injury lawsuits can make these issues far worse.
Why Do Lawsuits Worsen Anxiety?
Let’s just address the anxiety caused by the lawsuit process itself.
Personal injury lawsuits take forever.
Seriously.
Some cases drag on for years. During that time, life is on pause. There’s nothing to do but wait and see what happens.
And every time there’s a delay. Every time an insurance company says no. The brain kicks into stress mode.
The nervous system thinks there’s an immediate threat that needs to be addressed.
This makes it difficult to heal emotionally — trapping victims in a state of chronic stress that can actually worsen physical injuries.
The constant worry revolves around questions like:
Will anyone believe what happened?
Will the settlement actually cover what was lost?
Is the case even going to go forward?
It’s a nightmare. And that anxious energy doesn’t just go away once the lawsuit is settled.
Personal injuries impact the mind as well as the body.
Why Not Just Shake It Off?
The most common mental health conditions after an accident don’t work like that.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Accidents are traumatic, no question.
But approximately 22% of serious accident victims go on to develop PTSD — and constantly reliving the event through a lawsuit will only make things worse.
General Anxiety
Some people are able to snap back after an accident. But what about when the insurance company keeps delaying?
Stress from an accident doesn’t just disappear. Constant worry and fear about something else happening can develop. Accidents can trigger full-blown anxiety disorders that require medical attention.
Depression
Loss of income, mobility, and independence can lead to serious depression. When the injury means no longer being able to do day-to-day activities, the emotional weight becomes very real.
Phobias
Phobias can also develop after an accident. A sudden terror of driving after a car accident. A fear of certain objects that resemble what caused the injury.
These things are common.
But here’s the good news. Having anxiety, PTSD, depression, or a phobia doesn’t mean weakness.
Nobody asks for these conditions. But they can be managed with the right therapy and legal support.
How to Protect Mental Health While Making a Claim
Personal injury attorneys are used to seeing these mental health conditions.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. And while anxiety during the lawsuit process can’t be completely avoided, its toll can be lessened.
Here’s how:
Work with a good injury attorney — a good personal injury lawyer will ease concerns about the legal process and protect rights throughout
Speak to a therapist — not only can a therapist help work through emotions, but if the decision is made to sue for emotional distress, they can document the injuries
Talk it out — talking about the accident with friends and family can help process what happened
Journal — writing down thoughts and emotions can help make sense of what happened, without needing to share it with anyone
Practice self care — eating right, exercising, and getting good sleep all help the body and mind feel better
These are just a few ways to protect mental health after an accident and during a lawsuit.
Final Thoughts on The Anxiety of Waiting Caused by Lawsuits
Personal injury trauma is very real.
Whether it comes from the accident itself or the long lawsuit process, stress can wreak havoc on the mind and body.
Remember:
Personal injury accidents cause both physical and mental trauma
Dealing with insurance companies and lawyers can cause anxiety
Up to 33% of accident victims struggle with mental health disorders a year after their accident
These disorders include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and phobias
All of these mental health conditions are real and can be documented
There’s no way to fast forward through the legal process.
But educating yourself and knowing what to expect can reduce stress levels moving forward.
Nobody is alone in this fight.
Need some advice about legal options? Talk to an injury lawyer about the accident. They’ll walk through everything and help protect your rights every step of the way.