When people think of a pedestrian or bicycle accident, they often concern themselves with a person’s physical injuries, not realizing how much harm such accidents can do to someone mentally. Incidents like these can cause a person significant mental trauma that doesn’t easily dissipate.
Symptoms can vary depending on the person. Some mental health diagnoses are more common among pedestrians hurt in accidents than others, though.
Pedestrian accident victims often develop post-traumatic stress disorder
Many people struck by vehicles experience recurring flashbacks of their accident. Constantly having to relive the event may make them feel like they’re stuck in a traumatic, abusive cycle that they just can’t escape. Individuals who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often may be so crippled by these flashbacks that it makes it challenging for them to do much of anything else.
Pedestrians who were stuck traumatically by a motorist may fear that their incident will happen all over again. These may leave them feeling raw or on edge, similar to how they felt after the shock subsided after their accident. This degree of anxiety can make undertaking everyday tasks, such as leaving the house, challenging to accomplish.
Pedestrian accident victims often spend significant time in the hospital, at home or in rehab recovering from their injuries. The lack of empathy from others or socialization that a victim may face may lead them to become depressed.
Help exists for injured pedestrians
You may feel like no one understands what you’re going through if you’ve had a pedestrian accident. A trained mental health practitioner will likely have experience in guiding accident victims like you through the healing process so that you can return to living your best life. An attorney can advise you of your right to recover the compensation you’ll need to get the help you deserve.
