PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Claim
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PTSD is not a specific medical condition with an easy diagnosis or attribution. It is rather a group of symptoms, and different people in the same accident with identical injuries may experience some or all of these symptoms in completely different combinations and with different levels of severity. Incidents may be continuous, or occur in certain situations.
For this reason it is essential to go to a solicitor with considerable experience in handling claims for PTSD. Psychiatric assessment will be crucial to the success of your claim.
Compensation for PTSD
It is very difficult to give general guidance, as victims experience such a wide range of differences in symptoms and severity. The following give some examples. Typical symptoms of PTSD are:
Avoiding places like the one where the incident occurred. Flashbacks, panic attacks, shaking, shortness of breath. Racing heart and loss of bowel/bladder control. Sleep loss, nightmares and headaches. Nausea and hot flushes. Forgetfulness, depression, lack of motivation and loss of confidence.
Minor PTSD from which the sufferer makes a full recovery in less than a couple of years. Up to £3,000.
Moderate PTSD. The sufferer will mostly recover and long-term effects will not cause major disability. £4,000 to £12,000.
Severe PTSD, in which the sufferer’s life is hugely affected and long-term professional treatment is required. £20,000 to £50,000.
Personal Injury Claim Lawyers
If you have suffered an injury which wasn’t your fault, you should consult a specialist personal injury lawyer. The effects of an injury can be wide ranging and more than your legal rights are involved in determining your eligibility for, and amount of, compensation. For this reason, a lawyer requires a combination of legal and medical expertise, and most personal injury lawyers will have built up a list of useful contacts and barristers’ chambers to call on when specialist advice is required.How can I recognise a specialist personal injury lawyer?
In the first instance, check that your lawyer’s firm includes lawyers who are accredited members of the two principle legal bodies in this field; the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIC) and the Law Society’s personal injury panel. You should also ask if they have lawyers who belong to associations for the specific injury your claim is about – for example the Spinal Injuries Association or the Headway Panel.
You should also ask your lawyer about their record in personal injury claims. Can they give you any case histories of successful claims similar to yours?
How can I pay the lawyer’s bills for my personal injury claim?
With the exception of medical negligence, legal aid is generally no longer available for personal injury claims. This means you will have to agree payment with the lawyer yourself. Fortunately, lawyers are able to act on a Conditional Fee (“No Win, No Fee”) basis. This means your lawyer bears the cost of the claim until you have been awarded compensation. Depending on the type of agreement you have, your lawyer will then either claim his fees from your opponent, or take a percentage of your compensation as a “success fee”.
Will my lawyer charge me for costs if I lose my personal injury claim?
Before agreeing to work on a conditional fee basis, a competent personal injury lawyer will assess the merits of the claim. If you and your lawyer decide to proceed you may have to take out an insurance policy to cover both your and your opponent’s lawyers’ fees in the event that you lose your claim.