Two years ago, my brand new 2022 Ford Bronco Sport caught fire while I was driving on the highway. I wasn’t speeding or anything, but I suddenly smelled gasoline, and the hood of my car was quickly engulfed in flames. The car didn’t even have 3,000 kilometers on it yet. It seems like a manufacturing error; there was a leak that spilled onto a hot engine, causing the fire. This has led to many recalls for similar issues.
I went through insurance and was reimbursed for the price I paid for the car, but that’s it.
Now, I think I might have PTSD. I keep visualizing the fire whenever I drive. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What should I do to get fair compensation for this?
Flynt said:
This would be considered a pain and suffering claim, which isn’t covered by your primary insurance.
Do I go through insurance for this claim?
Only if someone else caused the accident, and you could file a BI claim through the at-fault driver’s insurance. You can’t file a pain and suffering claim against your own insurance.
Did a doctor officially diagnose you with PTSD, or is it self-diagnosed? Without a formal diagnosis, you likely can’t get any compensation beyond the damage and losses.
Pierce said:
Did a doctor officially diagnose you with PTSD, or is it self-diagnosed? Without a formal diagnosis, you likely can’t get any compensation beyond the damage and losses.
It’s self-diagnosed. Do you think it’s worth pursuing anything? It’s crazy to think my SUV just exploded. If it was a mom with a baby, they could’ve been killed.
@Mal
A self-diagnosis isn’t enough to get compensation. You would need documentation from a licensed provider. ‘Wild’ is not enough to qualify for a PTSD diagnosis.
If it really affects you, consider a free consultation with a lawyer. You’d also need documentation from a doctor, probably a psychiatrist, if you want to pursue this. It’s time-consuming, but it could be worth it. Just make sure you have the documentation from both a doctor and a lawyer before going forward.