Suffering physical injuries due to another person’s negligence is painful enough. However, those injuries often manifest into psychological trauma from the accident itself or the limitations that the injuries pose on daily life.

If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, or another personal injury accident and have psychological impacts, you’ll need a mental health attorney in Washington to provide trauma legal representation. Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law is committed to seeking justice and advocating for the rights of trauma survivors.

With over 100 years of combined legal experience, we have what it takes to handle complex trauma cases. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation with a psychological trauma lawyer from our team.

Understanding Psychological Trauma

Psychological trauma is an emotional response from enduring or witnessing a stressful event. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fear, phobias, adjustment disorders, and depression are just a few examples of psychological trauma.

One of the most common ways that psychological trauma develops is after enduring motor vehicle accidents. The terrifying nature of these events themselves may cause a victim to engage in avoidance of specific situations that either involve driving or riding in a vehicle. They may stay away from the intersection where it occurred or find alternative ways of commuting.

Victims who witness the death of a loved one in an accident may be emotionally tattered as well. Additionally, those who suffer extensive physical injuries may be traumatized by the limitations of those injuries. Some may have visible scars or disfigurement, while others may have permanent mobility issues.

Psychological trauma can also arise from accidents at the workplace, slip, and fall accidents, and in countless other ways. In Washington State, victims are allowed to file claims for psychological trauma if someone negligently or intentionally causes it. It is also possible to claim psychological trauma even if a serious injury didn’t occur as long as the threat was there. However, it can be much more difficult to prove without a psychological trauma lawyer.

Legal Rights for Trauma Victims in Washington State

If you suffered physical or emotional harm or both, you have the right to seek compensation under personal injury law. It can be a challenge to prove your case without legal representation due to the state’s laws that include an at-fault insurance model and pure comparative negligence.

While Washington State holds the at-fault party liable for paying damages to the injured, it requires proof from the injured party. To have a valid case, all four elements of negligence must be satisfied. Additionally, even if negligence was a factor, the state also uses a pure comparative negligence rule.

With this rule, you may be held partially at fault for your role in the accident. You can be up to 99% at fault for your injuries, though the higher the percentage you are assigned, the more significant the reduction to your compensation.

Insurance companies use standard tactics to reduce settlement payouts for injured people, finding ways to blame them in the process. They may also refuse to pay, issuing a denial on the claim. A mental health attorney in Washington can help make this process smoother, as they know how to anticipate and resist the insurer’s tricks of the trade.

If you or a loved one were harmed physically or emotionally, you also must file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations. Washington State sets this time limit at three years from the date of the accident. As you grapple with what has occurred, much of this time may have already elapsed, leaving you scurrying to take legal action.

The role of an attorney in trauma cases is to fight for your legal rights and get you the money you deserve for your economic and non-economic damages. Contact Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group today to get an advocate in your corner who will investigate, negotiate, and take over all aspects of your case while abiding by state laws and deadlines.

Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law’s Approach to Trauma Legal Representation

Choose a car accident attorney with Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group to get the client-focused approach you deserve. We look at state laws and case precedents to help craft personalized legal strategies built on a foundation of strength.

Enduring psychological trauma is difficult enough, and no one going through these types of impacts should be left feeling alone in the complex legal landscape. We take on every aspect of your case while collaborating with mental health professionals to fully demonstrate the depth of your trauma.

We know that what you have been through is upsetting and difficult. We aim to navigate the legal system smoothly to get you back to normal as soon as possible. Contact us today for a compassionate helping hand that will see you through to better days ahead.

Steps to Take if Experiencing Psychological Trauma

After any kind of personal injury or accident, it is vital to take the proper steps to protect your legal rights moving forward. Here is what you need to do when experiencing psychological trauma:

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Whether you were in a car crash, slipped and fell, or were injured in some other way, the need for medical attention cannot be understated. You may not see visible injuries, though that does not mean that you do not have organ damage or brain injuries that could be life-altering.

Since physical injuries tend to cause psychological trauma, seeking medical care for them establishes medical records. When these emotional impacts arise, it is easier to connect physical and mental implications in your case.

In the event that you had a close call or simply witnessed something horrific that has traumatized you, you need to get mental health treatment as soon as possible to document the impact.

Documentation and Evidence Gathering

As the plaintiff, you have the burden of proof to show that the defendant was negligent, which can only be done through thorough documentation. For both physical and emotional injuries, you need to document everything you suffered to have a better chance of a favorable outcome.

A psychological trauma lawyer will help you gather a variety of evidence that can be used to strengthen your case.

Medical Records

You’ll need medical records from your physical injuries, if applicable, as well as medical records that show you sought treatment for your emotional state.

Reports from Counselors or Psychologists

It stands to reason that if you are suffering from psychological trauma, you will get help for your condition. Attending appointments with a counselor or psychologist is a massive step in healing and recovering from this trauma. Showing proof that you are seeing a licensed professional will demonstrate the extent of your mental suffering.

Statements from Loved Ones

Your family and friends know you best, and having them make statements about how this personal injury accident has affected your mental health can be crucial.

Keeping Journals

Your mental health attorney in Washington will likely advise you to keep a journal about your injuries and mental state. Your physical injuries may be the reason your mental health has also suffered, or the traumatic experience could be the whole reason. Keeping a diary that details how you feel, any changes you notice, and how all this impacts your daily life can show a judge or jury the depth of what you have faced as a result of the negligent party.

Proof of Missed Activities

Whether you’ve missed work or activities you used to enjoy, or both, showing that you have missed them due to the impacts you suffered can also shed more light on the extent of your psychological trauma.

Seeking Legal Representation

One of the most critical steps to take for anyone who has suffered physical or mental injuries after a personal injury is to discuss what happened with a lawyer. Our attorneys at Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group will use our extensive experience to fight for justice on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve and help you restore normalcy to your life.

Why Choose Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law

At Jacobs and Jacobs, we have well over a century of combined experience helping victims of physical and psychological traumas in Washington State. Our successful track record has allowed us to recover over $113 million for our clients in just the last few years, and we are committed to fighting for your best interests in the same way.

While we negotiate proper settlements, we also work to make you feel at ease. Injuries, both physical and mental, can leave you feeling like all hope is lost. No one should ever feel this way, and our duties extend beyond our legal representation to fighting for the community at large in our client advocacy.

Contact us today to get legal representation for trauma from our legal team. We offer free initial consultations at no obligation to help you view your legal options.