When you survive a serious accident, your mind usually goes straight to sprained ankles and cracked bones.

Not…

Traumatic brain injuries and shattered psyches. PTSD is one of the most common — and overlooked — aftereffects of a traumatic accident. Not only can it turn your life upside down, but it can also impact your personal injury case results.

Here’s the thing…

Personal injury cases are about more than sliced knees and sprained wrists. Psychological injuries like PTSD are commonly just as severe and lifelong as physical ones. That’s why Calgary personal injury lawyers know PTSD documentation has become so crucial to fair and full personal injury case results.

Here’s What You’ll Cover:

• What Is PTSD After a Traumatic Accident?
• Signs and Symptoms of PTSD After a Traumatic Accident
• How PTSD Is Diagnosed
• PTSD Treatment Options
• Why PTSD After a Traumatic Accident Matters in Personal Injury Cases

What Is PTSD After a Traumatic Accident?

PTSD, or Post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs when someone experiences psychological symptoms after being involved in — or witnessing — a traumatic accident.

Car accidents, workplace injuries, slip-and-falls, falls, and pedestrian accidents are some of the most common types of traumatic accidents that lead to PTSD.

What most people don’t realise…

Symptoms can be delayed. PTSD doesn’t always rear its head immediately after an accident. It can take weeks, months, even years for symptoms to arise. When they do, they can infiltrate every aspect of your life. Your relationships. Your sleep. Your work performance. PTSD from a car crash is not a “going to happen to me” kind of deal. It’s a serious injury that needs to be recognised as part of your personal injury case.

Approximately 9 million Americans suffer from PTSD every year. That’s a lot of people suffering.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD After a Traumatic Accident

PTSD symptoms fall into four categories after a traumatic accident:

1. Symptoms of re-experiencing the trauma include:

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the accident
• Recurrent nightmares related to the accident
• Heightened emotional or physical distress when reminded of the accident

2. Symptoms of avoidance include:

• Avoiding driving or riding in a car
• Avoiding situations or people that remind you of the accident
• Becoming numb or detached from friends and family

3. Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood include:

• Guilt, blame or shame
• Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
• Hopelessness or inability to feel positive emotions

4. Symptoms of heightened arousal include:

• Jumpiness or startling easily
• Serious sleep disturbances
• Irritability or angry outbursts
• Difficulty concentrating

Need help? PTSD symptoms are absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Millions of people suffer annually. Reach out to your family doctor or visit MentalHealthAmerica.org for more resources.

Diagnosing PTSD

When left untreated, PTSD can become chronic. Seeking a clinical diagnosis is the only way to guarantee you’re receiving effective treatment for your symptoms.

In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, an individual must have persistent symptoms for more than one month which cause significant impairment to relationships with others, work or daily activities.

Someone must also have been directly exposed to — or witnessed — a traumatic event. These symptoms must continue for longer than one month and cause significant distress to personal relationships, job function or daily activities.

There are nine criteria that doctors use to determine if you have PTSD, as outlined in the DSM-5:

• Criteria A: Trauma exposure
• Criteria B: Intrusion symptoms
• Criteria C: Avoidance symptoms
• Criteria D: Negative alterations in cognition and mood
• Criteria E: Alterations in arousal and reactivity
• Criteria F: Duration of symptoms
• Criteria G: Functional significance
• Criteria H: Distinction from substance-related causes
• Criteria I: Specify if dissociative symptoms are present

PTSD Treatment Options

PTSD from a traumatic accident is treatable. Up to 40% of people with PTSD recover within one year. Mental health disorders are most commonly diagnosed in adults ages 25–35 — many of whom are prime working ages impacted by an accident.

Good news…

Here are some treatment options that have been proven to help individuals cope with PTSD:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

One of the most common and researched treatments for PTSD. Through CBT, an individual learns how to pinpoint and address the negative thoughts attached to their accident. Trauma-focused CBT is specially designed for accident survivors.

EMDR Therapy

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) allows patients to reprocess memories associated with the traumatic event through guided eye movements. Studies show this treatment method is especially effective for accident-related PTSD.

Medications

Antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, have shown to be effective at treating PTSD when used in conjunction with talk therapy. On their own, medication isn’t likely to provide full recovery, but can be used as a complementary treatment option.

Group Therapy

There’s power in numbers. Group therapy for PTSD allows individuals to connect with others who have been through similar experiences. Building a support system with fellow survivors is a crucial step in the healing process.

The bottom line is getting help as soon as possible. Ignoring mental trauma will not make it go away — and can drastically exacerbate symptoms.

Why PTSD Matters in Personal Injury Cases

PTSD should never be taken lightly. Suffering from PTSD because of someone else’s negligence shouldn’t be something anyone tries to tough through alone.

Why?

Because PTSD can affect:

• Ability to work. PTSD can make commuting to work, meeting deadlines, and maintaining relationships with coworkers difficult. It may even force someone out of their job entirely.
• Quality of life.
• Family relationships.
• Future therapeutic costs.

If proper PTSD documentation isn’t in place when seeking treatment for symptoms, there’s a chance personal injury case results could come back with offers that don’t reflect the true psychological damage experienced. Take PTSD seriously. Mental health depends on it.

To Recap…

• PTSD is common in traumatic accident survivors.
• PTSD symptoms fall into four categories: flashbacks, avoidance, mood changes, and heightened arousal.
• Seeking a proper PTSD diagnosis from a mental health professional is the first step to getting better.
• PTSD treatments include CBT, EMDR, medication, and group therapy.
• Strong PTSD documentation can strengthen personal injury case results.

While not every accident results in a traumatic brain injury, it’s important to understand that serious accidents can deeply affect mental health. PTSD is sneaky. The symptoms may not appear until months down the road. And once they do manifest, they can make even the smallest task feel impossible.

Recognising PTSD symptoms sooner rather than later is the first step toward getting the treatment needed — and building the strongest possible personal injury case results.

Last modified: April 15, 2026