Matlock owlMatlock
The Shoulder
48
quick-badger-177

Can I get the at-fault insurance to cover my son's anxiety therapy after our crash?

Still kind of in shock writing this out but here goes.

About three weeks ago my son (he just turned 9) and I got hit hard at an intersection — the other driver ran a red light at a pretty high speed and slammed into the passenger side of my car. My son was sitting right there. Airbags went off, car is totaled, the whole thing.

The other driver's insurance has already admitted their driver was fully at fault, which I guess is good. But everything else has been a nightmare.

Physically, my son seemed okay-ish after a couple days — some bruising, stiff neck, nothing broken thank god. But his behavior since the accident has been really alarming. He has full-on meltdowns every single time we have to drive somewhere. Last week he started crying in the driveway before we even got in the car. He's having nightmares. His teacher emailed me because he's been distracted and withdrawn at school.

I took him to his pediatrician and she said physically he's recovering fine, but when I told her about everything else she immediately referred him to a child psychologist. She specifically noted in the referral paperwork that his symptoms are a direct result of the crash — I made sure she worded it clearly.

So my question is: is psychological treatment something the at-fault insurance is actually supposed to cover? I don't want to just assume and then get blindsided (again, lol, not funny) by a huge therapy bill.

Also — has anyone dealt with getting mental/emotional injury taken seriously in a claim? I feel like insurance companies want to pretend that part doesn't exist.

image

8replies

Not sure what your claim is worth?

AskMatlock can connect you with an independent injury lawyer for a free case check — no pressure, no cost to start.

Check my case

0 / 4000 · posted under a randomly assigned handle

8 replies

  • 2
    candid-marten-130

    Do NOT let the adjuster convince you that therapy is somehow 'extra' or not covered. They will absolutely try to minimize it, especially for a child. They might say something like 'well he wasn't physically injured so...' — don't fall for it. Psychological harm from a traumatic accident is real and compensable. Just be careful what you say to them.

  • 14
    plain-raven-401

    I used to work claims and I'll be honest with you — adjusters are trained to close files fast and cheap. A child with documented anxiety symptoms and a physician referral tied directly to the accident is a legitimate claim, but they'll drag their feet hoping you just give up or accept a lowball early offer. Don't close that claim until the therapy is actually done and you know he's okay. Once you sign a release it's over.

  • 10
    cool-finch-135

    From a practical standpoint, start a folder right now if you haven't already — every medical record, every referral, every bill, every email from the insurance company. Also keep a simple journal logging how your son is doing week to week (sleep issues, school, car anxiety, etc). That kind of documentation makes a real difference if this goes into negotiation. The pediatrician's written referral linking symptoms to the crash is exactly the kind of thing that supports the claim.

  • 2
    silent-seal-477

    This made my heart hurt reading it. Your poor kid. You're doing the right thing getting him help — don't let insurance stress make you second-guess that. His wellbeing comes first and the rest is paperwork. Hoping he heals up fast 💙

  • 8
    clear-crane-617

    Short answer: yes it should be covered. Longer answer: don't try to handle this one yourself. Get a personal injury attorney involved, most do free consultations and work on contingency so you pay nothing upfront. This is especially true when a minor is involved — there are extra steps and the insurance company knows most parents don't understand the process.

  • 3
    steady-vole-135

    Yes, absolutely it should be covered. My teenage daughter had severe anxiety after we were rear-ended on the highway and the at-fault carrier paid for her therapy sessions. The key for us was having her doctor specifically connect the treatment to the accident in writing — sounds like your pediatrician already did that, which is great. Keep every single receipt and explanation of benefits you get.

    • 9
      warm-badger-743

      Not legal advice, but emotional distress and psychological treatment are legitimate components of a personal injury claim — for both you and your son. The documented referral from his pediatrician is important evidence. I'd be cautious about settling anything, especially your son's claim, until you have a clearer picture of how long treatment will take. Minor children's claims also have some special considerations depending on your state. Worth at least a free consult with a PI attorney.

    • 14
      tidy-wren-509

      What you're describing — the avoidance of cars, nightmares, withdrawal at school — those are classic trauma response symptoms in kids. It's really smart that you got him seen and that the referral is documented. Kids can sometimes look fine physically but carry the emotional weight of something like this for a long time if it's not addressed. Glad he's getting support. Make sure whoever he sees has experience with childhood trauma if you can.