Yes, you can get PTSD after a car accident, even one you walked away from. The VA’s National Center for PTSD says most people start to feel better after a few weeks. If symptoms last longer than a month and cause problems in your life, it could be PTSD. Tell a doctor, because that record matters later.
Can you get PTSD from a car accident if you weren’t badly hurt?
You can. PTSD comes from fear, not from the size of the injury. The VA says the trauma is a shocking, dangerous event where you think your life or someone else’s life is in danger. A rollover on I-26 counts. So does a near-miss outside Bamberg with your kids in the back seat.
About 6 out of every 100 people in the U.S. will have PTSD at some point in their lives (VA National Center for PTSD). Getting it isn’t a sign of weakness.
What does PTSD after a car accident look like?
The VA sorts PTSD into four types of symptoms, and a diagnosis needs each type. The first is reliving the crash. That can mean nightmares, or a flashback when brakes squeal behind you. The VA lists “seeing an accident” as a common trauma reminder.
The second is avoiding. You drive the long way around the intersection. Or you stop driving altogether. In rural South Carolina, that can mean you stop working too.
The third is a darker mood than before. You feel numb or guilty, and you lose interest in things you used to enjoy. The fourth is feeling on edge. You jump at sounds and grip the door handle as a passenger.
When does normal shock become PTSD?
The line sits at about a month, per the VA. The National Institute of Mental Health puts it this way: most people recover, and PTSD may be diagnosed when symptoms last and begin to interfere with daily life, such as relationships or work.
Symptoms can also arrive late. The VA says they may not appear until months or years later. Feeling fine at the scene proves nothing. Only a licensed doctor or counselor can diagnose PTSD.
How does a South Carolina claim prove an injury nobody can see?
It proves it with records. A broken arm shows up on an X-ray. PTSD shows up in a chart. If you never told a doctor, the insurance company will argue it never happened. A gap like that can hurt a claim.
So tell your doctor about the nightmares and the driving, not just the neck pain. Keep your counseling appointments. Write a short note each week about what you avoided and what you missed. Be careful with recorded statements, too. A quick “I’m fine” two days after the wreck can get quoted back to you later.
At Wilson Law Group, LLC, we’ve written about how a personal injury affects mental health more broadly. PTSD can also travel with a head injury, so read about traumatic brain injury cases if you hit your head.
South Carolina sets a deadline for injury lawsuits, and exceptions exist. Talk to a lawyer about your own dates instead of counting them yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does PTSD last after a car accident?
The VA says many people with PTSD recover and no longer meet the criteria after treatment.
Can you sue for PTSD after a car accident in South Carolina?
Emotional harm can be part of an injury claim when another driver caused the crash. Whether yours qualifies depends on the facts and your records, so talk to a lawyer.
What are the common car accident PTSD symptoms?
The VA groups them into four types: reliving the event, avoiding reminders, more negative thoughts and feelings, and feeling on edge.
Is it normal to be scared to drive after a car accident?
In the first weeks, it’s common. If the fear lasts longer than a month or keeps you from work, tell your doctor.
Don’t Wait Long to Call After a Frightening Crash
Chris Wilson and Lauren Dangerfield bring more than three decades of combined experience to injury cases. Read about our work as a South Carolina car accident lawyer and on 18-wheeler accident cases. Then call Wilson Law Group, LLC at 803-245-7799 or use our contact page for a free consultation, with no obligation. The filing deadline may look far off. Still, call right away. Evidence needs to be preserved, witness statements need to be taken, and every insurance policy that might apply needs to be found early.
This article is general information about South Carolina law, not legal or medical advice. Reading it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship.
