Not every serious psychological injury from a car accident meets the full diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many accident victims develop anxiety disorders, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, or adjustment disorder that cause profound and lasting impairment — but may not receive the PTSD label. These psychiatric conditions are fully compensable under Nevada personal injury law regardless of their specific DSM-5 diagnosis. Marathon Law Group represents Las Vegas accident victims suffering from psychological injuries beyond PTSD.
Psychiatric Conditions Caused by Car Accidents
Car accidents cause a spectrum of psychiatric injury: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — persistent excessive worry, muscle tension, and hyperarousal that impairs daily functioning; Specific Phobia (particularly vehophobia — fear of driving — and amaxophobia — fear of being a passenger) that prevents the accident victim from returning to work or normal activities requiring vehicle travel; Panic Disorder — recurrent unexpected panic attacks triggered by driving-related cues (traffic sounds, intersections, highway on-ramps); Major Depressive Disorder — persistent depressed mood, anhedonia, sleep disruption, concentration difficulties, and hopelessness following a traumatic accident; and Adjustment Disorder — maladaptive emotional or behavioral response to the identifiable stressor of the accident and its aftermath. Each of these DSM-5 conditions causes functional impairment that is quantifiable and compensable, even without a PTSD diagnosis.
Proving Psychiatric Damages Without a PTSD Diagnosis
Proving psychiatric damages requires the same evidentiary structure regardless of specific diagnosis: a licensed psychiatrist (MD) or psychologist (PhD) who conducted a formal clinical evaluation and rendered a diagnosis; standardized testing — the GAD-7 for anxiety severity, PHQ-9 for depression severity, PCL-5 for PTSD symptoms (even when below diagnostic threshold), and neuropsychological testing when cognitive symptoms co-occur; treatment records documenting medication management and psychotherapy; functional impact evidence — employment records showing missed work, supervisor testimony about performance changes, family testimony about personality and behavior changes before and after the accident; and causation testimony establishing that the accident, rather than pre-existing conditions or life stressors, caused or substantially contributed to the psychiatric condition. Nevada allows full recovery for all forms of psychological injury caused by another’s negligence, with no cap on non-economic emotional distress damages. Contact Marathon Law Group for a free Las Vegas personal injury consultation.