A car accident injury attorney in West Des Moines, IA may be able to help a family if it appears as though the incident caused serious mental illness in the victim of the collision. The individual or the family must not have already accepted a settlement from the liable party’s insurance company. They must also provide verification from a qualified health care professional that the mental illness was most likely a result of the accident. In addition, their claim must be within the time frame for the statute of limitations in Iowa.
The Burden of Proof
The accident victim and the family are the plaintiffs in this type of case, which means the burden of proof is their responsibility. The insurance company may have been completely willing to pay for medical expenses for physical injuries and damaged vehicle repairs or replacement. However, insurance adjusters may be skeptical that mental illness can be caused by a vehicle collision, no matter how serious.
Relevant Research
Research has determined that post-traumatic stress is relatively common among car accident victims. In some individuals, this emotional trauma may be severe, preventing them from leading a normal life. They may experience panic attacks, chronic anxiety or depression, and frequent insomnia and nightmares. They may be too fearful of riding in a car to go anywhere if they can’t walk there.
The Possibility of Traumatic Brain Injury
A car accident injury attorney in West Des Moines, IA will want to know whether the person experienced any sort of impact to the head in the accident. This includes any collision in which the person’s head was jerked violently forward or backward, even if there was no impact on the windshield or other hard surface. Traumatic brain injuries are sometimes associated with the development of delusions, hallucinations and psychotic breaks. Statements from medical experts and at least one psychiatrist will be necessary.
Concluding Thoughts
When unexplained noteworthy personality changes occur in a family member after a vehicle collision, the relatives may want to confer with attorneys like those from the law firm Dutton & Drake. Contact them to schedule a free initial consultation.
