Emotional distress following a traumatic brain injury can be both real and debilitating. Oftentimes, severe emotional distress will mimic many of the characteristics of organic brain dysfunction. It is the treatment that differs in each case, however.

In the litigation setting, it is common for insurance companies, and their lawyers, to contend that the dysfunction and deficits experienced by the victim did not result from any trauma sustained, but rather from pre-existing emotional difficulties. So standard is this defense that it is encountered in virtually all cases of “mild” traumatic brain injury. Therefore, for purposes of treatment, and in order to prevail over unmeritorious defenses, it is important to understand the distinction between an organic brain injury and a debilitating emotional injury.

If you are dealing with an organic brain injury or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being involved in a negligence-related accident, you may be unsure how to proceed or where to go for help. These kinds of cases require the attention of a knowledgeable and diligent attorney with decades of experience as a brain injury advocate. We invite you to contact Scarlett Law Group for an initial consultation.

We proudly offer free case reviews to our potential clients. Call (415) 352-6264 to schedule yours.

PTSD is an emotional injury that occurs when someone experiences a traumatic event. While most individuals associate PTSD with war veterans, it can also occur to civilians as well. For example, it is not uncommon for some individuals to give up driving after experiencing a serious car accident due to their debilitating trauma.

Symptoms of PTSD can include the following:

• Avoiding places or activities related to the traumatic event experienced
• Nightmares
• Recurring flashbacks of the traumatic event
• Emotional outbursts
• Sleeping trouble
• Emotional numbness and decreased responsiveness to the outside world

Acute PTSD involves symptoms lasting less than three months, while chronic PTSD involves much longer-lasting symptoms. Symptoms that don’t present themselves until six months or more after the traumatic event signify delayed onset PTSD.

Severe car accidents or other threatening life events can trigger PTSD. TBI patients who have intrusive memories of the traumatic event, and who experienced fear and helplessness in avoidance of the event, are likely to develop PTSD. In a vicious cycle of compounding symptomology, PTSD has been found to exacerbate the cognitive deficits experienced in mild TBI.