Psychological Injury Compensation Claims in Scotland
Psychological injuries can be just as life‑changing as physical ones, affecting your health, relationships, and ability to work. From post‑traumatic stress disorder to anxiety and depression, these conditions often follow traumatic incidents such as accidents at work, on the road, or through medical negligence. At Calio, we have the knowledge and experience to guide you through making a claim for psychological harm.
If you are struggling after an accident and believe you have suffered a psychological injury, contact our specialist solicitors today on 0800 988 8082 or complete our online enquiry form to find out how we can help.
Understanding psychological injuries
Psychological injuries—such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, adjustment disorders, specific phobias, and depression—are increasingly recognised in injury claims. These injuries can be just as debilitating as physical injuries and will often require specialist treatment to improve or resolve over time.
Causes of psychological injury
Traumatic incidents like road traffic collisions, workplace accidents, slips and trips, and medical negligence can lead to psychological harm. Symptoms may include:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- Panic attacks
- Hypervigilance
Unlike physical injuries, psychological symptoms may not be immediately visible and require careful assessment.
Expert assessment and diagnosis
To assess psychological injuries, we instruct qualified experts to evaluate our clients, diagnose any psychological conditions, and provide a prognosis for their future. The expert can also recommend any treatment that may help our client manage their symptoms and work towards recovery.
It can be very complex to claim for psychological injury, as we are required to prove that the psychological harm suffered by our client was a direct result of the accident. There can be instances where the trauma of an accident can exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues, causing them to get significantly worse or altered. We need to ensure that we can exhibit robust expert evidence in support of all injuries suffered by our client.
Treatment costs and recovery
Many of the recommended treatment options for psychological injuries – such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)- can be very expensive to instruct privately, with courses generally being more than £1,000. The costs of these treatments can be recoverable as part of the claim. So, it is important to ensure that any psychological injury is considered for all claims, so that our clients can undergo any necessary treatments to give them the best chance of recovery.
Compensation for Psychological Injuries
The awards made for psychological injuries can vary, depending on the severity of the injury, the effect that the injury has had on the person’s life,
If you are making a claim for injury and you feel like you might have sustained psychological injury, we would recommend the following:-
- Speak to your GP about your symptoms and ascertain whether there is any help and support you can access via the NHS or in the community.
- Make sure that you mention any psychological symptoms to any medical experts appointed to assess your injuries, no matter how minor they might seem at the time.
- Avoid accepting any initial low offers made by the Defender before full medical evidence has been obtained in respect of your injuries, as you might be at risk of under-valuing your claim, and not being able to claim for treatment that might help you recover from your injuries.
FAQs – Psychological Injury Claims
Yes. You may claim if you can show that a traumatic event caused psychological harm, even without a physical injury.
Expert medical reports, GP records, and details of how symptoms affect your daily life are key evidence in psychological injury claims.
The amount depends on severity, impact on your daily life, and any need for ongoing treatment or therapy.
Yes. If an accident worsens a pre-existing condition, this can be considered as part of your compensation claim.
Yes. Private therapy costs, such as CBT, may be recovered as part of your compensation if recommended by a medical expert.
Contact Our Psychological Injury Claims Solicitors
At Calio, we understand the serious impact psychological injuries can have on your wellbeing, your work, and your family life. If you are experiencing symptoms following an accident or negligence, our specialist solicitors are here to support you. We will listen to your situation, gather the expert evidence needed, and fight to secure the compensation and treatment funding you deserve.
Call us today on 0800 988 8082 or complete our online enquiry form and one of our solicitors will get in touch with you right away.
