Criminal Injury Compensation Claims
Anyone who suffers an injury or illness due to someone else’s negligence is entitled to compensation for their pain, suffering and financial losses. The most…
Read moreCompensation for PTSD
If you suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and somebody else is at fault, you could be eligible to make a PTSD compensation claim.
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Have you been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an accident, an assault or witnessing a traumatic event? If you have, and somebody else was at fault, you may be entitled to claim PTSD compensation.
PTSD is a debilitating condition that can develop after a traumatic experience or prolonged periods of extreme stress and fear. Aside from being mentally draining, it can have devasting effects on your health, work, relationships and daily life and lead to financial losses.
Call 0800 470 0474 today or enter your details into our online claim form to arrange a free claim assessment. This is an opportunity for you to discuss your case with an experienced solicitor and find out if you have a valid PTSD claim. During your consultation, you are free to ask any questions you may have about the claims process or how much compensation you may be entitled to receive.
By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.
Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition caused by highly stressful or frightening events or experiences. Any situation that a person finds traumatic can lead to PTSD. For example, sufferers may have been exposed to prolonged distress during military combat. Or, they may have experienced a life-changing event such as a violent attack or emergency.
The symptoms of PTSD may become immediately apparent after the event that caused them. Other times, they might not reveal themselves until years later. For this reason, the symptoms might appear confusing or not linked to a specific occurrence. In the same way, they might last for a short period and then disappear, or more likely, they will be ongoing and present themselves for a long period.
While it is common to experience sleeplessness and anxiety after a traumatic event, these usually go away within a few weeks. When they persist or worsen, this may show that the person experiencing them suffers from PTSD and should seek medical attention. If left untreated, it can significantly impact all aspects of your life.
Approximately one in three people who undergo severe trauma may develop PTSD. The reasons why some individuals develop this condition while others do not remains unclear. Some risk factors may include:
Post traumatic stress disorder can affect the sufferer and their family and friends in several ways. Some symptoms may be less severe and limited to nominal disturbed sleeping or avoiding some activities. But extreme and untreated PTSD can have personality-changing effects. These can include disconnection from social circles, inability to work and function and suicidal tendencies.
The signs and symptoms usually develop within the first month after a harrowing event. However, they can sometimes take months or even years to appear, and these can be constant, or they may come and go. Some of the most common symptoms presented in PTSD compensation claims include:
PTSD can also affect children, which may have similar symptoms to adults. They may lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and experience stomach aches and other physical symptoms. Other symptoms that are common in children include problematic behaviour and re-enacting the traumatic experience through play.
Failure to promptly address the symptoms of PTSD can result in heightened and worsening symptoms. As these intensify, they can amplify emotional distress, creating a distressing cycle of suffering for the person affected.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with PTSD, you might be able to claim against the responsible party. The PTSD compensation payout can help cover your medical and financial needs and help you get through this difficult time.
Many events could cause you to suffer PTSD. Many people associate the condition with the military, as the term was first used to describe the impact of the Vietnam War on soldiers. But this is not an illness that is specific to combat, and as such, many people suffer from PTSD as a result of other events.
Some of the most common situations for which solicitors have secured a PTSD compensation payout include:
With the support of an expert medical team, injury solicitors are skilled at ensuring that whoever was liable for the cause of your PTSD is made accountable for their actions or inactions. They can help you make a claim and secure the PTSD compensation you deserve. To get started with a case or ask for some free legal advice, call 0800 470 0474 today or use our online claim form to request a call back.
After an accident, it is not unusual for victims to experience anxiety and stress in the weeks following the event. Often, these symptoms ease on their own within a couple of weeks without requiring medical attention. However, if they persist, this could indicate a more severe psychological issue, such as PTSD.
Consulting your GP is a good starting point for diagnosis. They will inquire about your symptoms to understand their nature and severity. If necessary, they may refer you to a mental health specialist for further evaluation, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or psychological therapist. They may ask you to go through a period of active monitoring, which involves carefully tracking your symptoms to see if they improve or worsen.
PTSD is becoming more readily diagnosed, so treatments are becoming more widely accessible. Depending on the symptoms that are presented in individual cases, some of the most common forms of treatment for PTSD include:
Injury solicitors are skilled in achieving the highest levels of PTSD compensation available and will seek to include the costs of any required treatments in your final settlement offer.
PTSD claims used to be notoriously complex as it can be challenging to determine the cause of your symptoms and the liability of another party. That said, the awareness of the condition has vastly increased in recent years, and acceptance of claims have risen.
Expert solicitors have vast experience in this field, and they will be pleased to discuss the details of your case in a free initial consultation where they can assess and confirm your eligibility. As a general rule, a PTSD compensation claim should be possible if:
You do not have to be too concerned about proving a duty of care. Your solicitor will check this for you by referring to the relevant legislation. Generally, you are owed a duty of care at work, on the road, in public places, while receiving medical assistance, or on a company’s premises. You can help prove liability and support your claim for PTSD by providing evidence of what you went through and how this has affected your life.
To be awarded PTSD compensation, you must have evidence that you were injured due to negligence. The proof you may collect will be specific to your circumstances and how you suffered the psychological injury. Here are some types of evidence that can support your PTSD claim:
Your solicitor will review any proof you already have and help you gather any other further evidence you may need to claim for PTSD. Once your case is ready, they will contact the defendant and inform them of your intentions to claim PTSD compensation. You can read more about the claims process in the section below.
If you are thinking about making a PTSD compensation claim, you might want to know more about how the legal process. Although each personal injury claim is different, they follow some basic steps, which are detailed below:
The solicitors we work with are committed to making the whole process as straightforward and risk-free as possible for you. They will provide you with comprehensive guidance and unlimited advice at every step of the claim.
The PTSD compensation payout you may receive will depend upon the severity of your condition. As part of your claim, you will have a thorough assessment from an independent medical expert. This will help determine the extent of your symptoms and their impact on your daily life. The more severe your condition and impact on your life, the higher the compensation amount awarded is likely to be.
When negotiating how much PTSD compensation should be paid to you, your solicitor will ensure that the following are considered:
The compensation for financial losses and expenses is calculated based on actual evidence, like receipts and wage slips. The award for pain, suffering and other non-financial damages often relies on guidelines provided by similar cases and the Judicial College Guidelines. According to these, you could receive the following amount of compensation award:
To discuss the details of your case during a free no-obligation consultation, call 0800 470 0474. If you have a valid claim, your solicitor will happily work on a No Win No Fee* basis. So, if they are unable to win PTSD compensation, you will not have to pay them a penny.
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there is a three-year time limit to start a claim for compensation, which begins from when the PTSD condition was diagnosed. You should carefully observe this deadline, as your case will become time-barred if you do not start legal proceedings within the time limit, and the court may no longer accept it.
There are several exceptions to this limitation date:
Regardless of your circumstances, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. Starting your claim earlier will make it easier to gather evidence and talk to witnesses and will ensure you will not miss any deadlines.
If the claimant is a child under 18 or lacks mental capacity according to The Mental Capacity Act 2005, a suitable adult could claim on their behalf. That is usually a parent, partner, friend or family member. If you want to make a PTSD claim for a loved one, you must apply to the court to be appointed as their litigation friend.
As a litigation friend, you can make decisions on behalf of the injured person and will have several responsibilities, such as:
If you win PTSD compensation, the court will manage the funds until the child turns 18 or an incapacitated adult regains their mental capacity (if they do). You can make a request for early release of part of the compensation if you can prove this will be in the claimant’s best interest.
The solicitors we work with will offer you a 100% no win no fee service if you have a valid post traumatic stress disorder claim. Under this arrangement, you do not have to pay any upfront fees for legal representation, which ensures everyone has access to justice, regardless of their financial situation.
Moreover, if your claim fails, you do not have to pay them a single penny. Your solicitor will only receive a success fee if they secure a PTSD compensation payout for you. This fee cannot be more than 25% of your settlement and will be discussed and agreed upon from the outset.
Your solicitor will also take out After the Event (ATE) insurance on your behalf, making sure you do not have to pay any legal costs and disbursements if your case fails, such as:
To find out if you have a valid claim and could pursue PTSD compensation on a no win no fee basis, call 0800 470 0474 today. An experienced legal adviser will offer a free consultation to discuss your case and options. Alternatively, you can enter your details into the contact form below to request a call back.