Emotional Distress In Maryland Car Accident Claims And Your Rights To Compensation
Car accidents in Maryland are violent events, and it is not just the physical injuries that leave a mark. Many victims experience panic, nightmares, anxiety, or a racing heart long after a crash. Even those terrifying moments before impact can cause lasting trauma.
You may be entitled to compensation for your suffering and emotional distress, but you must be able to show actual economic damages as well. Our experienced Maryland car accident attorneys explain more about how trauma can impact your health and the evidence needed to prove it in an injury claim.
Emotional Distress Caused By Maryland Car Accidents Can Take A Heavy Toll On Your Health
The shock of being involved in a Maryland car accident and the fear you felt before, during, and after can affect your physical and mental health long after. The National Institutes of Health reports that car accident post-traumatic stress (PTSD) is a serious problem and can happen even in otherwise minor crashes, causing symptoms that show up in unexpected ways.
You might be reluctant to get behind the wheel or suffer flashbacks whenever you hear screeching tires. Physical impacts victims often suffer due to trauma include:
- Headaches, neck tension, or jaw pain from clenching or stress;
- Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or brain fog;
- Anxiety, rapid heartbeat, or panic attacks when driving or riding in a car;
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood;
- Nausea, stomach pain, or digestive issues linked to trauma.
Under the Maryland Statutes, compensation is available for emotional distress in a car accident claim, provided you can show you suffered actual economic losses (such as medical expenses and lost wages). In fact, a September 2025 Maryland appellate court decision in the case of Smith v. Sheehan confirmed that even pre-impact fright may be legally compensable. This ruling gives more weight to the invisible wounds many crash victims suffer.
What You’ll Need to Prove Emotional Distress in Maryland
Emotional pain is valid in a Maryland car accident claim, but you’ll need to show how it affects your mental and physical health. Common types of evidence include:
- Statements from doctors, therapists, or counselors;
- Medical records linking trauma symptoms to the crash;
- Testimony from friends, family, or coworkers;
- Crash scene photos, showing the traumatic nature of the event;
- Your own statements regarding what you felt and how it affected you.
In Smith v. Sheehan, the Appeals Court made it clear: emotional suffering isn’t just “in your head.” If you experienced emotional distress before, during, or after a crash and it had real-world consequences, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Our Maryland Car Accident Attorneys To Get The Maximum Amount In Your Claim
At Berman Sobin Gross LLP, we have decades of experience working with victims of car accidents in Maryland and understand the emotional distress a crash can cause.
Don’t let insurers downplay what you’ve been through. To get the maximum amount you need to recover, contact our office and schedule a consultation with our Maryland car accident attorneys today.
Sources:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6659351/
mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=11-108
mdcourts.gov/data/opinions/cosa/2025/2417s23.pdf
