When it comes to personal injury claims, most victims just think about the medical bills and property damage. However, the real focus should be on the emotional losses.

Through a personal injury claim, a victim can claim three types of damages:

• Economic damages
• Non-economic damages
• Punitive damages

The first two damages are known as compensatory damages, which compensate for the losses of the victim. The third type of damage is issued to punish the at-fault party for their negligence. Visit www.personalinjurybakersfield.com to learn more about damages you can claim and how a lawyer can help you claim them.

This article discusses the non-economic losses of an accident victim and how lawyers can help the victim.

Non-economic Losses and Emotional Damage

Non-economic losses are non-monetary losses for a victim. These losses are hard to compute, as they are personal to the victim.

Mental problems are highly likely in accidents. These mental problems can significantly reduce the quality of life of the victim.

The following are some of the mental struggles that a person will go through after an accident:

• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Mental distress
• Loss of companionship
• Depression
• Nightmares

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a very common consequence of accidents. This usually occurs in people who have gone through a shocking event, like a car accident.

People who have PTSD will have flashbacks of the event and tend to be startled easily.

Many small things, like a loud horn, can trigger PTSD. In the worst cases, PTSD can cause seizures.

It is best to see a psychiatrist and start treating it immediately.

Mental Distress

It is obvious that the people who got into an accident will have a lot to deal with. They will already be in immense pain. On top of that, the insurance company will also try to cheat them.

This all can add up and cause mental stress, which can be hard to deal with. In such situations, it is best to hire a lawyer. At least, they will take some burden off of your shoulders. They will take care of the paperwork and insurance company so you can focus on your recovery.

Loss of Companionship

This is a type of loss that people who have lost their loved ones will go through. The person who lost their loved one will miss their companionship.

This is especially true for partners, as they will miss having an intimate relationship.

One might simply just miss hanging out with a person too. This type of loss can make a person go into a state of depression.

If you have lost a loved one recently, try to surround yourself with your friends. It is the best way to overcome the loss.

Depression

Depression is a common side effect of accidents. Stressful events are the most common cause of depression. Remember that depression can lead to self-isolation and suicidal thoughts.

Get in touch with a doctor and start medication as early as possible. Do not think depression is a minor condition. It can interfere with your daily life and significantly reduce the quality of your life.

Nightmares

Another common consequence of accidents. Traumatic events can cause nightmares. This condition usually occurs in the stage of sleep called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

Nightmares cannot be treated directly. You need to treat your stress, anxiety, and other conditions to treat nightmares.

How a Lawyer Can Help

Claiming compensation for non-economic losses is quite hard. As said, these losses are personal to the victim. So, proving it is difficult.

Another problem is calculating these losses. Hiring a lawyer to prove and calculate your losses is important if you intend to obtain fair compensation for them.

They will use one of the two following methods to calculate the non-economic losses:

• The per-diem method
• The multiplier method

Trust experienced lawyers to get fair compensation for you. All you should be doing after an accident is focusing on healing. So, do that.