Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a recognised psychological condition often suffered by those who have been involved in, or witnessed, a serious accident. Symptoms can range from panic attacks and anxiety to severe clinical depression. In extreme cases, a claimant may be unable to function normally or even to continue to work.

 Many claims for PTSD are brought by employees who are exposed to difficult or distressing situations at work, even if they themselves have suffered no physical injury. In one recent Northern Irish case, a Claimant operating a digger on a demolition job saw two of his fellow workers suffer fatal injuries when the vibrations of the digger caused a wall to collapse. He was awarded £35,000 for damages for PTSD.

 If an employee is required to work under pressure for a longer period of time, the employer may be liable for any failure to diagnose symptoms of PTSD. Recently, a number of former soldiers have succeeded in bringing claims against the Ministry of Defence on this basis. The Court accepted that if their psychiatric condition had been recognised and correctly treated at the time then they would probably have been able to lead a normal life and to have remained in the Army had they wished to do so.