ATTENTION: If you have received a text from “Brown & Moore” alerting you to settlement funds, please be aware that this is a scam and was not sent from our law firm.

No Results, No Attorney Fee
704-335-1500 (Local)
800-948-0577 (Toll Free)

Fighting the Emotional War After a Motorcycle Accident

Jul 29, 2016 Brown Moore Motorcycle Accidents

Most Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers can quickly confirm that bikers are more likely to sustain severe injuries in accidents than most passengers protected by enclosed vehicles. Still, according to WebMD, car accidents do not have to be fatal or even cause serious physical injury to have a profound psychological effect on victims.

Between the severity of injuries and the dramatic nature of motorcycle accidents, it stands to reason that injured motorcyclists experience psychological trauma at levels that may exceed those of car accident victims.

Psychological Trauma Can Substantially Affect Daily Life

Even when bikers are fortunate enough to heal completely from their physical injuries, they can continue to experience psychological effects like the following, which are so severe that sufferers remain disabled:

  • Anxiety after a major accident can be so severe that suffers can experience panic attacks and excessive fear and worry. The attacks can cause physical manifestations, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, making it difficult for bikers to work even if their physical injuries have healed.
  • Phobias are generally an extreme form of anxiety that often prevents sufferers from participating in similar activities. Bikers in this state may avoid motorcycles in the future, but they may also avoid any type of motor vehicle transportation — or all roads — even if it means that they can no longer work or engage in social activities.
  • Depression is more than a temporary feeling of sadness. It can lead to headaches fatigue, sleeping difficulties, and other physical manifestations even as sufferers lose interest in formerly pleasant activities. Due to a possible feeling of guilt or loss of self-worth, sufferers may consider or attempt suicide.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is similar to being mentally-stuck in a motorcycle accident. Sufferers can be plagued by frequent flashbacks to the event, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts about the experience that can have a debilitating effect on every aspect of normal life.

These are all examples of pain and suffering, which is very real.

Pain and Suffering Deserves Appropriate Compensation

All too often, insurance companies and even juries view pain and suffering as a ploy to seek additional compensation from parties who are deemed liable for motorcycle accidents. Looking at the life-altering effects of this type of post-accident trauma, however, it is clear that accident victims are often incapable of returning to a normal life without first undergoing extensive therapy over a period of months — or even years.

Since the extent of therapy and the length of time is challenging to predict, it is important to seek guidance from an attorney who has demonstrated experience in accurately assessing the full value of pain and suffering claims. For help exploring the full value of a claim, call us at 800-948-0577 or use our convenient online contact form.