New York City residents are likely familiar with the comedic work of actor Tracy Morgan. More recently, the former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock star has gained attention for a very different and much more sobering reason. Last summer, Morgan and three of his fellow comedians were passengers in a limo bus that was rear-ended by a commercial truck.
Comedian James McNair was killed in the horrific crash and Morgan suffered numerous and severe injuries including a traumatic brain injury. While Morgan continues to cope with and recover from the physical injuries he suffered, he revealed in a recent interview that he also continues to struggle both emotionally and mentally.
Australian researchers at the University of Queensland, estimate that approximately 30 percent of car accident survivors will struggle with symptoms related to post traumatic stress disorder. Individuals with PTSD commonly report experiencing flashbacks, sleep disturbances and anxiety.
In the U.S. during 2013 alone, approximately 2.3 million people were injured in car accidents. Experts estimate that roughly 690,000 of these car accident survivors likely developed PTSD as a result. If left untreated, symptoms associated with PTSD may intensify and worsen. Additionally, the personal and professional lives of individuals who are dealing with intense emotional and mental trauma are likely to be negatively impacted.
An individual who is injured in a car accident may face a long recovery for both their physical and emotional wounds. In cases where another driver’s actions contributed to an accident, legal action may be taken to recover compensation to aid in one’s recovery.
Source: Live Science, “Tracy Morgan Car Accident: Crashes Leave Many with Emotional Scars,” Tia Ghose, June 2, 2015