Most personal injury victims often want to know the emotional impact of their injuries before engaging a legal representative. It is a gray area for most injury victims. 

The mental and emotional impact of an accident can be significant and usually transcends physical pain and suffering. 

This article explains the core points of the mental and emotional impact of personal injuries:

Anxiety and Depression

Personal injuries can trigger or worsen the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Victims begin to feel sad, hopeless, worried, and fearful because of the pain, challenges, and physical limitations related to their harm. 

The daily struggles of personal injury victims often extend to strained relationships and social interactions. This can lead to a loss of friendships and influential circles, which may lead to isolation and loneliness. 

Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Fatal mishaps or injuries can cause trauma, leading to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is typical for injury victims to experience flashbacks, heightened emotional responses, nightmares, and anxiety. 

These feelings can impair your overall quality of life and well-being. You may become unduly anxious and moody. These feelings can also affect your productivity and interactions. 

Effect on Relationships

Some personal injuries impair the victim’s relationship with their loved ones, relatives, and romantic partners. The injured individual can become burdensome to their loved ones and relatives due to the need for extra care and support. 

Similarly, the changes in the victim’s mood, abilities, or personality can affect the intimacy and dynamics of relationships. Some people will dissociate from you immediately after you sustain severe injuries. 

Emotional Distress

Personal injury-triggered emotional distress manifests in various ways. Instances include irritability, frustration, mood swings, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and anger. 

“Many injury victims battle with a sense of loss or injustice, especially if they think the authorities did not dole out the appropriate punishment on the perpetrator,” says attorney John Shook of Shook & Stone Personal Injury & Disability. That is why you should engage a personal injury attorney immediately after your personal injury incident. They can help you boost your chances of a favorable outcome. 

The Typical Duration of a Personal Injury Matter

Several factors affect the duration of a personal injury case. The core factors that affect the timing include the parties involved, the matter’s complexity, the parties’ willingness to negotiate, and the court’s schedule. 

This section gives you an overview of what to expect on personal injury duration:

Duration of Medical Treatment

You must complete your medical treatment before instituting a personal injury claim. Alternatively, you must comprehensively know your prognosis. Knowing this feature in a severe case takes several weeks or months. 

Findings and Instituting the Claim

Your lawyer will investigate your claim and collate proof after treatment. It formally signifies the commencement of the legal process. Also, this process can take some weeks or months to conclude. 

Filing a Lawsuit and Discovery

The court process begins when you file a suit. Both sides proceed to a moment of discovery after filing the case. The parties exchange proof and take depositions during the discovery. 

This process often ranges from six to 12 months and can take longer during complex issues. 

Trial

If the parties fail to resolve the case during the discovery stage, it will proceed to trial. Trials take one day to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the matter. 

Thus, considering all these factors, an average personal injury case lasts between a few months and several years. You must be mentally ready for the delays and other unexpected issues. 

Final Words

From this piece, you can see that personal injury cases can be emotionally draining. However, you can relieve many of these stress by engaging a local personal injury attorney. They will help you bear the legal burden of your case while you focus on healing.