After a traumatic injury, healing doesn’t end when the bandages come off. For many, the real struggle begins later — in one study, nearly 70% of patients screened positive for depression in the year following their injury, and 45% showed signs of PTSD.
Yet mental health challenges after an accident are often overlooked or downplayed by insurance companies, by juries, and sometimes even by the injured person themselves. Emotional suffering is typically harder to document than a broken bone, and stigma still prevents many from seeking help.
At Slater & Zurz, we take these mental health impacts seriously. That’s why we work not only to build strong legal cases that account for emotional harm, but also to connect our clients and their families with trusted mental health resources across Ohio.
Understanding the Mental Toll of Serious Injuries
While there’s no simple formula for predicting who will struggle with post-injury trauma, certain injuries come up again and again in cases where psychological effects are long-lasting and severe:
- Amputations: Losing a limb often brings immediate psychological shock, followed by long-term struggles with identity, independence, and chronic pain.
- Crushing injuries: Common on construction sites and in motor vehicle accidents, these can cause lasting physical impairment, mobility issues, and fears around re-injury.
- Severe burns: These injuries involve intense pain, long recovery periods, and permanent scarring, often leading to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Even mild TBIs can result in memory loss, personality changes, and emotional instability. Many survivors also experience PTSD symptoms tied to the trauma itself.
These are life-altering events. Survivors don’t just have to cope with pain and medication; they have to learn how to live differently: re-learning basic tasks, giving up a career, or adjusting to a body that no longer feels like their own.
What does Ohio law say about compensation for emotional trauma?
In most Ohio personal injury cases, compensation for non-economic damages (like pain, suffering, and emotional distress) is capped. That cap only lifts if the injury meets the state’s definition of “catastrophic,” which includes permanent disfigurement, loss of a limb or organ system, or a lasting impairment that prevents a person from caring for themselves independently.
But mental health struggles don’t always line up neatly with physical injuries. A person may experience severe PTSD after a traumatic event that doesn’t qualify as catastrophic under the law. That’s where the legal system can fall short — and why speaking with an experienced Ohio catastrophic injury law firm matters.
Learn more about what qualifies as a catastrophic injury in Ohio.
Finding Help in Ohio: Trusted Mental Health Resources
After a serious injury, getting mental health support can be just as important as physical rehab, but far too many people don’t know where to start. Some don’t realize what they’re feeling is treatable, while others are overwhelmed by the system or unsure of what help exists.
Our attorneys at Slater & Zurz often refer clients and their families to the following resources across Ohio:
- NAMI Ohio and local NAMI chapters: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers free support groups, education programs, and mental health referrals throughout the state. Local chapters like NAMI Summit County and NAMI Stark County help individuals and families find services close to home and understand what steps to take.
- Community Support Services (Summit County): This organization specializes in serving individuals with serious mental illness and is a vital resource in the Akron area. They provide counseling, case management, and connections to housing, employment, and other supports.
- Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: A statewide hub for public mental health and addiction services, offering a directory of local providers, crisis resources, and ongoing care options.
- Primary care physicians and treating doctors: For many people, their regular doctor is the best starting point. A primary care physician can help diagnose anxiety, PTSD, or depression and refer patients to mental health specialists.
- Neuropsychologists for brain injury-related trauma: In cases involving traumatic brain injuries, a specialist can help identify and treat cognitive and emotional issues that might otherwise go undiagnosed.
These organizations help families too. Spouses, children, and caregivers often carry emotional burdens of their own, and early access to care can make a significant difference.
Don’t Ignore Your Mental Health After An Accident
Whether your injury was caused by a workplace accident or a car crash, there’s no timeline for emotional recovery. Long after the cast comes off or the stitches fade, many people are still carrying the weight of what happened, manifested through sleepless nights, panic attacks, sudden anger, or fear.
At Slater & Zurz, we believe that mental health should be part of every serious injury conversation. That means recognizing the emotional toll our clients face, helping them find trusted care, and building legal cases that don’t overlook what can’t be seen.
If trauma, anxiety, or depression have become part of daily life after an accident, don’t try to power through it alone. Contact our Ohio catastrophic injury team at 330-762-0700 to see how we can help.
Written by Michael Schmeltzer
Michael, a partner at Slater & Zurz, represents clients in a broad range of complex cases, including catastrophic personal injury, construction accidents, trucking and motorcycle collisions, product liability, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, and medical and professional malpractice.
