Can I Sue for Insomnia after a Car Accident?

Being in a car accident is a traumatic event for your body, as well as your mind. Car accidents are often caused by careless or reckless drivers, but dangerous weather conditions and unsafe roadways can also lead to an auto-related injury. If you or your loved one suffered a car accident, please don’t wait to seek medical attention. Immediate care and treatment are vital to the recovery process, especially in the prevention of long-term health complications.

However, bodily injuries are not the only ways you can be hurt when you are the victim of a traumatic accident. Attention must also be paid to the victim’s emotional state, which can be affected by various symptoms of psychological damage. These symptoms include insomnia, which is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. As a result, you may fall asleep too late or wake up too early, leaving you in a permanent state of fatigue, anxiety, and irritability. Insomnia can affect many areas of your life, including your job and personal relationships. It can even increase your chance of an accident, thereby exacerbating your injuries and adding more complications to your life.

Most people are aware that you can sue for physical injuries, like broken bones and whiplash, after a car accident. But what about health issues that affect your psychological well-being? Can you seek compensation if you have trouble sleeping after a car crash, a rollover, pedestrian accident, or a multi-vehicle pileup?

It’s extremely common for victims to develop mental health disorders from an accident, even if their physical injuries are relatively minor. We can help you if you are struggling mentally due to an auto accident that was caused by another party’s negligence. Please take some time to speak with one of our attorneys, who can advise you of your legal options.

Why do People Develop Insomnia after a Car Accident?

Being in an accident is a stressful event, and any amount of stress can lead to disruptions in your sleep pattern. These effects are temporary in most cases, but if you’ve suffered an accident, the stress hormones in your body can linger for months – maybe even years. As a result, your mental health can take a hit in many other ways. In fact, insomnia is often an underlying symptom of a more serious disorder, such as depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). It can also indicate the presence of serious damage to your head, such as traumatic brain injury.

The pain of recovering from an accident is another reason people develop insomnia. Pain from an accident can last even after the actual injury has healed, which is known as chronic pain. Living day to day with pain that can’t be explained by an existing injury can be confusing and frustrating for many victims. Mental health issues are very common among chronic pain sufferers, especially if they are left with visible reminders of their accident, such as scars or a missing body part.

That’s why you should never ignore disruptions to your normal sleep pattern if you’ve been in an accident. Make sure to discuss your symptoms with a doctor, who can run the necessary tests and help you find a licensed therapist to assist you with your emotional trauma.

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What are my Rights if I can’t Sleep after an Auto Accident?

So, now that you’re aware of the link between insomnia and traumatic incidents, you may be wondering, “Can I sue if I’m having trouble sleeping after a car accident?”

Yes, you can seek compensation through a lawsuit if your accident was caused by another individual or entity, either through misconduct or an act of negligence. Establishing how the other party is responsible for your accident is the most challenging part of any personal injury claim. You will need an experienced car accident lawyer, who can investigate your accident, gather the necessary evidence, and fight aggressively for the settlement you deserve.

Our attorneys have decades of experience with auto accident cases involving emotional distress. If you are dealing with the psychological effects of a car accident injury, contact us to learn about your rights and get started on the legal process to recover your losses.

Compensation from an Auto Accident Lawsuit

Essentially, a car accident injury claim will help you recover two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. When we refer to economic damages, they generally include tangible losses that are relatively easy to calculate. Medical expenses, wages you’ve lost from missed time at work, damage to your car and other personal belongings would fall under this category.

Non-economic damages are a bit more complicated, as they relate to a victim’s emotional pain and suffering. These damages compensate you for the physical and emotional ordeal of being in a car accident, and the mental health issues you have developed as a result. Pain and suffering and emotional distress are the most common forms of non-economic damages. Mental health disorders such as insomnia are a form of emotional distress, which you can include in a car accident lawsuit.

However, it’s very challenging to make a case for emotional distress, considering that these are “invisible” injuries. With our skilled accident injury attorneys by your side, it is possible to prevail in a case for non-economic damages after a car accident.

What is the Average Case Value if I have Sleeping Problems after an Auto Accident?

Auto accident cases involving insomnia and other forms of emotional distress may be worth around $250,000 to over $1 million, depending on the degree of injury. The severity of one’s physical injuries plays a big role in the level of emotional trauma, especially in cases of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputation, and loss of function (paralysis). However, some people experience significant mental health symptoms even if they’ve suffered minimal bodily harm. These victims struggle with intense fear and anxiety, and have trouble performing their job duties, interacting with loved ones, or doing simple tasks like going for a drive or crossing the street. Thus, trauma-based disorders like insomnia are an important factor in determining what a victim is entitled to.

How long will it take to Settle my Case?

When we represent a client, it’s our goal to submit a demand package and negotiate a settlement within 6 to 8 months. However, there are many complications that can come up, which can add another 6 months to a year to the settlement process. If we are unable to achieve a fair settlement with the insurance company, we will move forward with a lawsuit, which will take one or more years to resolve. In conclusion, settling a car accident lawsuit can take anywhere from a few months to several years.

What is the Deadline to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?

Knowing the statute of limitations, or the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit, is essential to recovering the funds you are entitled to. If you exceed the deadline to bring a legal action, there is very little chance that the courts will allow you to sue the responsible party. In California, a car accident lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of your accident, or from the date of discovering an injury from the accident. The discovery rule is particularly important with emotional injuries, like insomnia, which can take time to manifest. However, this is a complicated concept that should be discussed with an attorney. Our lawyers are happy to answer any questions you have, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

Second Opinion on Pending Auto Accident Cases

Do you have questions about your existing auto accident claim and need advice from another attorney? This is very common among accident victims, and frankly, it’s never a bad idea to verify that your case is on the right track. We are happy to provide you with a free case review and make recommendations based on our many years of experience in auto injury cases. No matter what you decide at the end of the consultation, you will never be charged for a second opinion on your existing accident claim. Please give us a call to speak with a car accident lawyer in the Los Angeles area.

Normandie Law Firm is Here for You

As personal injury attorneys, we’re all too familiar with the fear, stress, and anxiety that takes over a victim’s life when they’ve been involved in a car crash, hit and run, or any other type of auto accident. The emotional trauma can take months, even years, to recover from. In the meantime, you shouldn’t be cheated out of the compensation you are entitled to.

The legal experts of Normandie are here to advise you of your rights and legal options. This is a confusing and scary time in your life, but understanding the legal process is an important part of the recovery process. We will help you decide on the right course of action and fight tirelessly to bring you the highest possible settlement. While we are working on your case, you pay us absolutely nothing under the terms of our Zero fee guarantee. We don’t make a cent until the end of your case, when you are paid by the at fault party. If we fail to recover your settlement, you won’t be charged for any of our expenses.

A California auto accident attorney is standing by to assist you, so please reach out to us as soon as possible.

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