PTSD – post‑traumatic stress disorder
PTSD is an abbreviation for post‑traumatic stress disorder. People react differently to traumatic experiences. The most serious long‑term consequence is post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop in people who have been exposed to particularly frightening or terrifying experiences such as severe violence, war, disasters, rape, serious traffic accidents, and occupational injuries, for example after crushing injuries or frightening workplace accidents.
The diagnostic system used in Norway is ICD‑10, which sets out five criteria. In compensation law, the most decisive factors are often the trauma criterion and the time criterion. The trauma (or injury) criterion requires that the event must have been sufficiently serious to cause anxiety, either temporarily or permanently. The time criterion requires that certain symptoms and behaviours must arise within six months of the event.
The American diagnostic system DSM‑5 does not include such a time requirement. Many people who have been exposed to serious trauma attempt to suppress their reactions on their own and avoid talking about it, and it may take well over six months before they realise that their coping mechanisms have not been sufficient to repair the injury. Only then do they seek professional help. Over the years, several specialists in compensation cases have rejected PTSD claims on the basis that the time criterion was not met and that the injured person did not suffer PTSD as a result of the incident. We therefore recommend that you contact your GP as soon as possible if the event is difficult to cope with. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to compensation if the symptoms become long‑lasting.
Your rights in cases of PTSD
Your rights in cases of PTSD are the same as for physical injuries following a traffic accident or occupational injury. You can read more about your rights after traffic accidents or your rights in occupational injury cases.
Because compensation cases involving PTSD are often more complex than cases involving only physical injuries, we recommend that you contact a solicitor for an assessment of your case. This is because different documentation requirements apply when it comes to recording symptoms and diagnosing PTSD, as explained further below.
In cases involving occupational injuries and traffic accidents, legal costs are usually covered by the insurance company.
Read more: Your rights in occupational injury cases
Read more: Your rights after traffic accidents
Am I entitled to compensation for PTSD?
You may be entitled to compensation for PTSD. The type of compensation depends on how the PTSD was caused. We assist individuals who have developed PTSD following traffic accidents and occupational injuries. Please contact us if you have PTSD and would like to know whether you are entitled to compensation and what you may be entitled to receive.
PTSD, compensation, and legal assistance
At Advokatfirmaet Unneland, we have over the years assisted many people who have developed PTSD or anxiety disorders following traffic accidents or occupational injuries. It is often useful to contact us for an initial information consultation, regardless of the circumstances, after a traffic accident or occupational injury. This can make the path forward easier for you, both in terms of rehabilitation and compensation.
Many people lose their entitlement to compensation due to insufficient documentation of symptoms following an accident. Many naturally attempt to “manage” their anxiety on their own without seeking professional medical assistance until a long time has passed. One of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD is that symptoms following an accident must be documented within six months. If you have not sought medical help and had your symptoms documented, our experience shows that this creates significant challenges in having the diagnosis accepted in a compensation case. You are, however, always welcome to contact us for an individual assessment of your case.
Contact us for a non‑binding information consultation about PTSD and compensation.
