If You Suffer from PTSD‚ Help May Be Available
Post-traumatic stress disorder‚ commonly referred to as PTSD‚ is a psychological condition that afflicts people following a traumatic event. An estimated 8% of Americans – about 40 million men‚ women‚ and children – are said to struggle with PTSD on a daily basis. Symptoms include‚ but are not limited to‚ depression‚ social anxiety‚ general anxiety‚ flashbacks‚ and phobias.
Because symptoms of PTSD do not always manifest themselves physically‚ many victims do not realize they are suffering and may not seek treatment. Left untreated‚ PTSD can adversely affect a person’s ability to earn a living and cultivate relationships.
If your PTSD was triggered by a shooting‚ you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. But‚ PTSD claims can be difficult to prove without the representation of an experienced attorney and expert witnesses. For nearly two decades‚ the legal team at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has been successfully representing injury victims. To find out more about your legal rights and options‚ please call (888) 233-5020 for a free case evaluation.
Causes That Trigger PTSD
There is no limit to the types of trauma that can trigger PTSD. Though it is commonly seen in soldiers who have been in combat‚ it can also be the result of workplace bullying‚ physical assault‚ car accidents‚ racial discrimination‚ and shootings, to name just a few. Each person reacts to stress in their own way‚ so there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to PTSD.
A diagnosis of PTSD can only be made by a qualified medical professional‚ such as a psychiatrist. The medical professional can then be called as an expert witness if the case goes to trial‚ testifying that the PTSD sufferer exhibits symptoms of the mental condition‚ and that the condition was brought on by the traumatic event. An expert witness will first testify to his qualifications‚ such as being a licensed psychiatrist and having worked with other PTSD patients. He will then testify that the initial stressful event triggered the following reactions:
- Recurring flashbacks‚ intrusive thoughts‚ and dreams of the event.
- Avoidance of people‚ places‚ and situations that trigger thoughts of the event.
- Symptoms of anxiety‚ such insomnia‚ hyperactivity‚ exaggerated startle responses‚ etc.
- Disruption of important areas of the victim’s life‚ such as relationships‚ work‚ or school‚ etc.
PTSD Claims in the News
A number of PTSD claims have been lodged on behalf of survivors of the mass shooting that occurred at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in 2017. A lone gunman opened fire on the concert crowd from his room in MGM’s Mandalay Bay hotel‚ resulting in 58 deaths and 546 injuries. MGM is being sued for inadequate security policies‚ failure to properly train staff‚ slow response to shots fired at a security guard‚ and allowing the shooter access to service elevators that enabled him to stockpile weapons in the days leading up to the shooting. The festival’s promoter‚ Live Nation‚ is being sued for failure to provide sufficient exits‚ insufficient emergency training of employees‚ and failure to use media devices like loudspeakers and video monitors to reduce the number of injuries and deaths.
PTSD lawsuits can be difficult to prove‚ because symptoms may not become evident until some time after the traumatic event. This is why it is so important that you have an experienced personal injury attorney handling your claim. The legal team at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers will document your symptoms and how they’ve impacted your life‚ as well as procure the expert witnesses necessary to validate your suffering. To get your claim underway‚ please call a San Diego shooting victim lawyer at (888) 233-5020 for a free consultation.
