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What Is Mental Anguish?

Published on Aug 27, 2024 by Thomas Law Offices.

What Is Mental Anguish?

Mental health issues show up in 1 out of every 5 adults. That is according to data collected by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. One of the reasons that those issues can develop is the result of an accident.

Physical and emotional trauma can also be considered a compensable damage.

Before an accident victim can attach a value to those damages, it is essential to understand what mental anguish is all about and how it can manifest in an accident victim’s life.

Mental Anguish Definition

The best way to think of mental anguish is a kind of emotional distress that is caused by one person to another. In personal injury lawsuits, mental anguish can arise as the result of an accident that was caused by someone’s negligence.

In extreme cases, that anguish can lead to a clinical diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The National Institute of Mental Health defines PTSD as “a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.” A car accident would certainly qualify.

The Effects

The effects of mental anguish can manifest at different levels for different people. Here are some of the effects of mental anguish that can be caused by an accident:

Sleep Disruptions

Your sleep patterns can be thrown off when you experience mental anguish. That means you have more difficulty falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning. You could also experience restless sleep that prevents you from achieving consistent, quality sleep. That can impact your entire day.

Weight Fluctuations

Mental anguish can also disrupt your eating habits. That can mean gaining or losing weight at a significant rate. You could engage in stress eating or be put off food altogether.

Anger

If you experience mental anguish, you could find yourself dealing with anger issues. That can look like lashing out at your family, friends, and coworkers. It can also show up as rage against minor things that didn’t bother you before.

Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Unexplained headaches, bouts of stomach distress, and recurring pain can all show up as part of your mental anguish symptoms. These would be the kinds of problems that would not always have an explanation. In other words, your mental anguish can manifest as physical ailments.

Forgetfulness

You can experience confusion and forgetfulness as a symptom of your post-accident mental anguish. That can trigger frustration and compound the issues that you’re dealing with.

Avoiding Social Interaction

Your mental anguish could also keep you from going out with friends or attending family gatherings. You might also experience a decrease in the desire to be with your partner.

Depression

All of the above issues can compound the issues of feeling depressed. It all ties together in feelings of low self-esteem and lack of confidence. That can impact every aspect of your life.

Calculating Mental Anguish Damages

In addition to any economic damages, such as medical bills and property losses, you can also ask for noneconomic damages for pain and suffering. That would include your mental anguish. In order to prove a causation between your accident and the mental anguish, you’ll need to gather the following evidence:

  • Testimony from any type of mental health professional, such as a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
  • Depositions from your friends, family, and coworkers who can testify to how you were before and after the accident.
  • Copies of personal journals that document your mental health issues.
  • Medical records that relate to prescribed medications related to your mental anguish.

Assigning a dollar amount for these issues can be challenging. That is why you need to discuss these issues with the Thomas Law Offices.

We have a team of experienced personal injury attorneys in Chicago who understand the nature of how mental anguish can turn up after an accident. We can discuss the option for applying the multiplier method to determine a fair remedy for your situation.

Call to set up a consultation to discuss your potential case.

 

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At Thomas Law Offices, our personal injury attorneys recognize that our potential clients are likely going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We don't want you to have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal advice when you're just starting to learn your legal rights and options. That's why we provide free case evaluations. We'll offer our expert advice about your potential case and walk you through how we can help you.

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

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