The effects of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) extend far beyond immediate, physical injuries. Long after the emergency room, and broken bones have healed, a significant “silent burden” remains. This silent burden falls into what lawyers call “pain and suffering.” For many survivors of MVAs, pain and suffering manifests itself in the form of debilitating psychological and functional symptoms. These symptoms can disrupt mental health, interrupt work, and cause social and sexual dysfunction.
At the Law Office of Scott R. Herndon, we rigorously work to analyze, understand, and address the physical, mental, and social impact of catastrophic injury in our client’s lives. We are committed to providing holistic, rigorous and informed representation to our clients.
This webpage is intended to offer an overview of recent peer-reviewed literature on the psychological and functional consequences of serious MVAs. In particular, we will look at Ashley Craig’s (et al) informative work, “Psychological Impact of Injuries Sustained in Motor Vehicle Crashes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” (2016), and other, more recent studies.
This informational overview is intended to provide a useful introduction on this topic, and is not intended to provide specific medical, scientific or legal advice.
The Many Psychological Consequences of MVAs
A victim’s initial bodily injuries are only the beginning of their ordeal of pain and suffering after a serious MVA. This is due to the significant psychological, social and economic burdens shouldered by MVA survivors over time. In particular, the psychological consequences of serious MVAs are rarely short-term expressions of suffering. Instead, these symptoms can manifest as psychiatric conditions with chronic, or long-lasting, effects.
Ashley Craig and her colleagues’ 2016 work (cited above) reports elevated rates of persistent physical issues and disability (as high as 57%) for all car occupants admitted to the hospital after a car accident. Other recent studies have confirmed significant associations between MVAs and a range of psychological disorders, with up to 67% of MVA survivors experiencing depression, 47% with anxiety, and as many as 40% from post-traumatic stress disorder (Mayou and Bryant 2003; Blaszcynzynski and Slove 1998).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
It is well established that MVAs which include traumatic brain injuries can trigger the development of PTSD (Bryan 1999). PTSD profoundly alters cognitive functioning. PTSD can disrupt the encoding and retrieval of memories, and impair executive functions such as attention, concentration, and decision-making (Craig et al 2016; Heron-Delaney and Charlton 2013; Chan et al 2003). The effects of these symptoms can impact every aspect of a person’s life.
Anxiety Disorders
Serious MVAs can also elicit intense flashbacks which may develop into prolonged psychological distress and chronic anxiety disorders (Craig 2016). This can occur when previously neutral stimuli associated with the accident (e.g., the sound of screeching tires, specific locations or contexts) suddenly trigger anxiety responses in the survivor. Anxiety disorders may be multifactorial, developing from other aspects of a person’s injuries, such as from disfigurement, body image, lost work, or sexual dysfunction, among others.
Depression
Depression following a catastrophic MVA is also often complex and multifactorial (Guest et al 2016). Physical pain and limitations resulting from injuries can contribute to a sense of helplessness and a loss of hope. Additionally, the psychological impact of an accident can disrupt one’s social connections, employment, and other sources of positive reinforcement, leading to a decline in confidence and ideations of self-worth. Biological factors (such as alterations in neurotransmitter systems and inflammation), may also play a role in post-MVA depression.
The Body and the Brain
The connection between physical and psychological injuries reflects complex interactions within the body and the brain. It is well known that chronic pain can lead to alterations in brain structure and function (Neumann et al 2023). Studies have shown that chronic pain is associated with decreased gray matter volume in brain regions involved in pain processing and emotional regulation. Chronic pain can also disrupt our brain’s balance of serotonin and norepinephrine, which play a crucial role in mood regulation.
Furthermore, MVAs can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key component of the body’s stress response system. Chronic stress can lead to dysregulation of the HPA axis, resulting in increased vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders (Lei et al 2025).
The Collective Impact of MVAs on Daily Life: Understanding Cumulative Burden
Not surprisingly, research have begun to consider the multiple sources and feedback loops of MVA injuries in terms of “collective impact.” Pozzato et al (2025) and O’Donnell et al (2016) offer two such multidimensional approaches. Pozzato argues that instead of understanding such trauma within singular metrics (or isolated issues such as ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’), research should focus on the way all injuries and symptoms affect the survivor as an accumulated burden. This is an approach that analyzes post-accident psychological and physical adjustment in terms of feedback loops, collective impact, and an interdimensionality of symptoms.
Pozzato and others call for integrating diverse data points, including physiological, psychological, cognitive, and social factors, and for the use of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework. The use of such a framework may help unlock and illustrate the multiple, combinatory pathways of pain and suffering in survivors of serious injuries.
At The Law Office of Scott R. Herndon, we take this holistic approach seriously, as we work to provide insurance companies, opposing counsel, and judges and juries with a comprehensive picture of all the challenges faced by our clients.
Getting Legal Assistance
If you’ve been injured in a serious motor vehicle accident, the Law Office of Scott R. Herndon is here to help.
Call 415-360-5477 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our highly skilled attorneys today.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Contact us online to schedule a free consultation, or call (415) 360-5477 to learn more about how we can help.
PRACTICE AREAS
Catastrophic Personal Injuries
Severe Work Vehicles Accidents
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Scott has represented me in two situations that both panned out better than expected. I met him on the tennis courts and felt due to his fiery demeanor on the courts that he would bring this same energy to my case. I took a chance with him and boy, was I right. He was a true tiger both on and off the court. What else I also appreciated about Scott was my ability to call him on his cell and talk to him man to man. No secretaries blocking for him and waiting days for a return call. Just like my doctor, I insist on being able to have a cell phone number I can call directly. This means everything.
