Addressing Post-Collision Emotional Trauma: Driver Anxiety and Stress
Let’s pose a scenario about post-collision trauma. Mary was driving up a hill in the inside lane of a three-lane highway. She was passing a semi-truck traveling in the center lane when the truck suddenly, without warning, moved over into her lane. Mary honked her horn and slowed her vehicle. However, the truck continued on its course, slamming into the side of Mary’s vehicle.
Immediately, Mary felt a sharp pain in her neck and her ears were ringing from the noise of the collision. However, that wasn’t the end, as the passenger’s side of Mary’s car ended up pinned under the truck’s rear wheels. The truck continued driving, dragging Mary’s vehicle approximately 1000 feet up the hill before the truck pulled off on the shoulder of the road and stopped.
For months following the collision, Mary asked herself, “I was not seriously injured, so why am I still having bad dreams about this accident, a hard time driving, and trouble relaxing?”
Does this sound like any of your clients? This is a classic case of post-collision trauma. It’s time you help your patients get the treatment and healing they deserve with traumatic brain injury (TBI) screens.
Post-Collision Emotional Trauma
Mary’s hand and neck healed within three months. With a lawyer’s help, she was able to get compensated for those injuries. However, six months later, Mary was still suffering from anxiety and stress-related symptoms which were impacting her quality of life.
Research shows that individuals who experience a serious motor vehicle accident are at increased risk for psychological problems, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)1.
Though psychological trauma is a common reaction to a motor vehicle accident, it is often undervalued as an injury in our society.
Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of PTSD2? Unfortunately, suffering from PTSD post-collision can be prevented if the correct neurocognitive screens are completed. Driver anxiety and traumatic stress symptoms are common following a motor vehicle crash.
Most symptoms will disappear or decrease within the first month and will not have a lasting impact on a client’s daily life. However, many studies have shown that in up to 40% of cases, people still have symptoms of emotional trauma with a long-lasting impact on their quality of life3.
Some studies report a level as high as 40% of victims, post-collision who suffer from serious mental disorders such as PTSD4. Post-trauma anxiety and stress-related disorders are not being identified, reported, or treated effectively. Therefore, post-collision, people who experience anxiety and stress following a crash have developed PTSD one-year post-crash5. These symptoms cause clients to suffer, even if for a limited time.
Neurological screening for anxiety and stress-related symptoms helps to identify clients who need further interventions.
Get Help for Your Patients with Agile Screening
Clients with post-collision trauma such as anxiety and stress deserve better outcomes than what they have been given in the past. Your clients suffering from post-collision PTSD deserve better treatment, proper support recovery, and compensation for their suffering. This all starts with the correct neurological screens to identify the trauma. Also important, screens can be used in court as evidence.
Agile Screening has what your patients need to get the treatment that will give them long-term recovery.
Contact Agile Screening today for more information or to place an order for a screen.
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