The amount a person can seek as damages for car accident-related PTSD varies from case to case, depending on numerous factors. And there’s often a distinction between the amount you can claim and the amount you have a realistic shot at obtaining through a settlement or court award. Here’s what that means. Elements of a PTSD Damages Claim PTSD can take a heavy toll on virtually every aspect of your life. You deserve compensation for all of that harm. For example, you might claim compensation for: Costs of PTSD treatments like medication and therapy Diminished earnings due to PTSD preventing you from working Emotionally distressing PTSD symptoms Daily inconvenience and disruption caused by PTSD Damage to relationships caused by PTSD As you can see, PTSD can cause economic and non-economic damages. Proving the economic impact of PTSD generally involves producing documentation of your expenses and financial losses. Proving the non-economic impact, in contrast, frequently involves witness testimony describing the challenges you face and your prognosis for making a full recovery. Practical Factors Affecting the Value of a PTSD Damages Claim The elements above reflect the total value of a potential claim for PTSD damages. But a claim can also face practical hurdles that affect its value. For that reason, the total value of a claim might differ from the amount you can realistically expect to receive. One practical factor affecting claim value is the strength of your case. To have the right to claim compensation, your lawyer must have the ability to prove that someone else wrongfully caused the car accident constituting your trauma, that the accident led to your PTSD, and that your PTSD has had a demonstrably negative impact on your life. Proving those facts requires evidence and skilled advocacy. So, the more high-quality evidence your lawyer can collect and the more convincing the arguments your lawyer can make, the stronger your case and the better your odds of achieving a top-dollar settlement or court award. The financial resources available to the party who owes you damages constitute another practical factor to consider in valuing a car accident PTSD claim. Most car accident claims seek payment under the at-fault party’s liability insurance policy. Therefore, the amount of that policy can bear the amount you might recover. You might have a good shot at full compensation if you suffered $100,000 in proven damages and the at-fault party carries $200,000 in coverage. But if the at-fault party only carries $50,000 in coverage, that might represent the maximum you can realistically hope to receive.