PTSD Awareness Day: Supporting road traffic collision survivors beyond the physical injuries

Each year, PTSD Awareness Day helps to remind us that not all injuries are visible. For many survivors of road traffic collisions, the trauma doesn’t end when the physical wounds heal. In our work supporting survivors of road traffic collisions, we see firsthand how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can profoundly affect individuals long after the crash site has been cleared.

Understanding PTSD after a collision

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by extremely stressful, frightening or distressing events. In the context of road traffic collisions, as serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, we frequently see symptoms in survivors, witnesses, and even first responders.

Following a road traffic collision, one in four people develop PTSD. 

The symptoms of PTSD can vary greatly from person to person, but often include:

• Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks – Individual often relive the incident repeatedly, through flashbacks or nightmares.
• Avoidance – Those with PTSD may try to avoid thoughts, feelings or situations that remind them of the trauma. This can often lead to isolation and withdrawing from people and places previously enjoyed.
• Negative thoughts and mood – This can include negative thoughts about oneself, difficulty with emotional regulation and feelings of hopelessness.
• Hyperarousal – Survivors often experience increased anxiety or irritability and difficulty sleeping.

It is a common misconception that PTSD always occurs immediately after the traumatic event. While this is often the case, the reality is that it can occur at any time after, even months or years down the line. 

One of the key challenges of PTSD for our clients is its invisibility. Clients often come to us focused on their physical recovery, unaware that their emotional and psychological distress is part of a diagnosable and treatable condition. 

The role of legal support in PTSD recovery

Our role in supporting clients extends far beyond legal representation. We are often some of the first professionals to hear the full story of a client’s trauma, placing us in a unique position to:

• Identify signs of PTSD and encourage early intervention
• Signpost clients to specialist psychological support and advocate for long-term support
• Value compensation claims to reflect the full impact of PTSD, including the day-to-day impacts on quality of life, loss of earnings and treatment costs

Despite the misconception that PTSD is untreatable, a key part of our role is to support our clients in receiving the best treatment and care available. PTSD is often successfully treated through talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), or medications. 

Through our work, justice is about more than just financial compensation. It is also about building support networks and regaining independence and hope for the future.

Breaking the silence

On PTSD awareness day, we hope to continue to break the stigma around PTSD and encourage those suffering from PTSD to seek out the support they need.  

Legal support can be a powerful part of the healing process, validating survivor’s psychological trauma and allowing them to reclaim their lives. 

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting people impacted by serious injury at our dedicated section on the website.