Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition caused by having or witnessing a life-threatening experience. As with any other serious injury, PTSD may interfere with a victim’s lifestyle, requiring extensive recovery and sometimes causing a permanent impairment. The Miami catastrophic injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help PTSD victims whose injuries were caused by negligence pursue proper compensation to cover their recovery costs. PTSD may arise from a serious car accident, a medical procedure, an assault, or any other severely distressing event.

PTSD is often known for its association with war veterans. However, other traumatic events may cause an individual to develop PTSD, including:

• A severe car or truck accident
• A physical attack or threat of harm
• Rape or molestation
• Abuse, such as an incident at a nursing home

Of victims who have been through a traumatic event, almost 20 percent of women and 10 percent of men will show symptoms of PTSD. These may include depression, issues affecting memory, and drug or alcohol abuse or addiction. There are three types of PTSD. Acute PTSD is present when the symptoms persist for less than three months, chronic PTSD sufferers experience symptoms that last longer than three months, and delayed PTSD occurs when sufferers do not develop symptoms until six months after a traumatic event. In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, a victim must be evaluated by a psychiatric professional who finds that the individual was exposed to a life-threatening event and that they have re-experienced that event, according to certain criteria.

PTSD may affect many aspects of a victim’s life, including being unable to return to the same work that they once did or needing to undergo extensive counseling to treat symptoms. The treatment and life changes associated with PTSD may also take a toll on a victim’s finances. If PTSD is a result of a negligent act, the negligent person or entity may be held responsible in a personal injury claim. Negligence is shown when a defendant has breached a duty that they owed to a plaintiff to act with a certain level of care under the specific circumstances. That breach must have been a proximate cause of the victim’s PTSD and have resulted in damages. For instance, nursing home facilities and their staff owe a duty to residents to provide adequate care. If a resident is abused and later found to suffer from PTSD as a result of that abuse, the facility and any responsible individuals may be held liable for the resulting harm.

At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami catastrophic injury lawyers are committed to advocating for people suffering from PTSD after a traumatic event as they pursue compensation from responsible parties. If you or a loved one has been injured by another party’s negligence, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free consultation about your situation. We represent people who need a car accident attorney or guidance in other personal injury claims in Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and other cities in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties.