Mental Health After An Accident: 5 Statistics That Should Sadden Everyone

Much is written about people's physical health after an accident, but too little is spoken about with regard to people’s mental health. At Mighty, we believe that mental health is as important as physical health, and want to highlight some of the terrible statistics we’ve found that prove our point. 

1. A study conducted by an Oxford University department of psychiatry finds that one third of people involved in a crash suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, persistent anxiety, depression, and phobias one year after the incident. The study also found that the severity of the crash is not necessarily indicative of the level of trauma. Even in incidents where the physical injuries aren’t medically serious, long term trauma can remain.
   
   
2. This study found that patients who have been previously admitted for unintentional injuries are at a 5 times greater risk of suicide. 

3. This research cites approximately two dozen studies from mostly car accident victims, that indicates the presence of PTSD at least 30 days post-accident is approximately 25-33%.
   
4. This research says: It’s conservatively estimated that that MVA-related PTSD may affect 2.5 to 7 million people in the United States, reflecting a significant public health problem
   
   
5. This research states “Although preventative efforts ultimately may reduce the emotional toll of MVAs, the majority of patients do not seek help shortly after their MVA. More typically, individuals do not understand the emotional symptoms of PTSD and may not seek help for several years, at which point, PTSD has become chronic and may be difficult to treat.”

6. This research links PTSD after an accident with chronic pain, listing it as “the single most defining characteristic.” For example, in a study of PTSD in 229 MVA survivors, they found that 69% of people reported chronic pain that could be attributed to their accident.

7. This research shows that the current personal injury settlement process can have a negative impact on physical and mental recovery of an injured person. One explanation is that the process is a stressful experience and victims suffer from renewed victimization caused by the process itself. Victims can experience a lack of information, lack of involvement, lack of 'voice', and poor communication.

The National Highways Traffic Safety Administration reported that 5,250,837 crashes occurred in the U.S. in 2020 alone, even while the COVID-19 pandemic decreased travel by 11%. The statistics above don’t just apply to a small subset of our citizens - they apply to a large part of it. In order for us to truly help people after an accident is to think of mental health treatment the same way we’d think about physical health.

If you've been involved in an accident and are seeking legal support and representation, head over to Mighty's Car Accident Attorneys Directory to find a trusted attorney in your area today.