Wisconsin PTSD Lawyers

Post-traumatic stress disorder, more commonly known as PTSD, is often shown in the movies, usually portrayed in order to heighten drama, and often shown as completely cured. In real life, however, it is a serious illness that requires medical care, and manifests in many different forms. Specifically, PTSD is a mental health condition some individuals develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. This can include being involved in or witnessing combat, a serious accident, a physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster.

It is normal for anyone to have difficulties after these types of events. For weeks or months, witnesses and survivors may have vivid memories, feel agitated, and have sleeping and eating issues. However, for some individuals, they are able to maintain their normal life and eventually, these symptoms of trauma fade away. If a person’s symptoms do not improve within a few months, appear later on, or worsen over time, then that person may suffer from PTSD and require mental health care.

An individual suffering from PTSD due to an event that was caused by another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct may have the right to recover compensation for their injuries. By contacting the experienced Wisconsin PTSD lawyers of Studinski Law, LLC, individuals and their families can learn more about their rights and this type of legal claim. Call us at (715) 343-2850 to talk about how we may be able to help.

Symptoms of PTSD

The symptoms of PTSD can be so severe or persistent that the condition can make it extremely difficult for a person to remain independent and go about their normal daily activities. The condition can make it incredibly difficult or impossible to get through school, maintain a steady job, or maintain healthy romantic and family relationships. These disruptive symptoms include:

• Re-experiencing the traumatic event.
  This can include memories, nightmares, and flashbacks.
• Avoiding situations that are reminders of the event.
  This includes avoiding people, places, and things that may trigger memories of the traumatic event. It also includes trying to avoid thinking or speaking about the event.
• Experiencing an increasing amount of negative thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.
  After the traumatic event, an individual may have a more negative opinion of themselves and others. They may feel negative emotions like anger, guilt, or shame more often or to a greater degree. This symptom also includes feeling disinterest toward activities a person previous enjoyed or finding it hard to feel happiness.
• Experiencing hyperarousal.
  Individuals with PTSD often suffer from hyperarousal, which is being overly alert all the time. Individuals may feel tense, which can lead them to feel angry and irritable. This often results in unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drinking and symptoms like trouble sleeping or paying attention.

The Damaging Effects of PTSD

It is hard to describe the true psychological and financial costs of PTSD. Individuals who suffer from this mental condition may have to leave school because they are unable to concentrate, be around all the different people, or cooperate with teachers. This delay in their education can set them back years in their intended field.

Individuals with PTSD may have a hard time maintaining steady work or moving up in their job. The symptoms of PTSD can make it difficult to work well with others on a regular basis or to concentrate throughout an eight-hour workday. Also, if a person with PTSD falls into unhealthy habits including drinking or drugs, this can impact their career, even causing them to be let go. While individuals suffering from a mental health condition like PTSD should have protections at work and be encourage to receive medical care, the truth is they are often misunderstood or discriminated against in the workplace.

PTSD can also have dire consequences for an individual’s marriage, family relationships, and friendships. Because this condition inherently changes how a person functions, feels, and interacts with others, it can do immense damage to their personal relationships.

The Economic Cost of PTSD

PTSD is treatable through a variety of methods including cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, prolonged exposure, and medications. However, finding a qualified mental health care provider can be difficult and expensive. Also, continuing treatment for months or years and paying for prescription medications can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, particularly if the person does not have any or a comprehensive insurance plan.

If a person’s PTSD has made it difficult for them to work, then the economic impact is far worse. An individual can lose out on months or years of income because of this condition.

Recovering Compensation for PTSD

Individuals who suffer from PTSD because of being involved in or witnesses an accident or violent event caused by another person may have the right to recover compensation for their injuries.

When a person has PTSD in addition to physical injuries, the serious injury lawyers at Studinski Law, LLC will make sure the physical, psychological, and financial costs of the disorder are included within the personal injury compensation. We strive to ensure that mental health conditions like PTSD are not overlooked in calculating personal injury damages.

How Our Wisconsin PTSD Lawyers Can Help

Anyone suffering from PTSD after being the victim of a car accident, work-related accident, or crime should contact our experienced Wisconsin PTSD attorneys at Studinski Law, LLC as soon as possible. We understand the financial and personal costs of this and other mental health conditions. We want to help survivors gain the compensation they are entitled to under the law for this psychological injury.

Contact us online or call us today at (715) 343-2850 to schedule a free consultation.