Liz Zwibel

Liz Zwibel Expert in catastrophic cases, member of The National Trial Lawyers & frequent nationwide lecturer.

06/23/2026

💡 “I can’t sleep unless the lights are on.”

Many people assume that’s simply a preference. After a traumatic event, it may be something much more significant.

For some PTSD sufferers, darkness creates a sense of vulnerability. Sleeping with lights on, checking locks repeatedly, or staying hyper-alert throughout the night can be signs that the brain remains stuck in survival mode long after the danger has passed.

These symptoms often don’t show up on imaging studies or medical tests, but they can have a profound impact on a person’s daily life, relationships, and ability to recover.

For those struggling after a serious crash or traumatic event: if you’re sleeping differently, avoiding darkness, or feeling constantly on guard, you’re not alone—and these symptoms deserve to be taken seriously.

For attorneys handling injury cases, changes in sleep patterns, hypervigilance, and other PTSD symptoms can be important indicators of the true extent of a client’s injuries and damages.

Not every injury is visible.

Sometimes the evidence is found in the fact that someone no longer feels safe turning off the lights.

06/18/2026

That’s an important distinction. For Liz’s brand, the captions should do three things simultaneously:

1. Educate potential clients (“that’s exactly what I’m experiencing”)
2. Demonstrate expertise to referring attorneys
3. Position PTSD as a legitimate injury that is often missed or undervalued in personal injury cases

I’d lean more clinical and authoritative than emotional.

One of the most common PTSD symptoms after a crash isn’t what most people expect.

It’s avoidance.

I’ve represented clients who refuse to make left-hand turns. Others won’t drive through certain intersections. Some completely change their routes to work, school, or home.

Why?

Because PTSD causes the brain to associate specific locations, situations, or experiences with danger. The result is avoidance behavior—a classic diagnostic feature of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Many people dismiss these changes as preferences or habits. They aren’t.

When someone begins altering daily routines, avoiding driving, refusing certain roads, or experiencing significant distress in situations that remind them of the trauma, those behaviors may be evidence of a psychological injury.

For attorneys handling injury cases, these seemingly minor lifestyle changes can provide important insight into the real-world impact of PTSD following a collision.

Not every injury is visible on an X-ray or MRI.

Some injuries reveal themselves through the life a person no longer feels safe living.

06/16/2026

PTSD is not a character flaw.
It’s not a lack of toughness.
And it’s not something people can simply “get over.”

PTSD is a biological injury that can change the way the brain functions after trauma.

We readily accept that a broken bone needs treatment and time to heal. Brain injuries deserve that same understanding. The effects of trauma can be profound, long-lasting, and in many cases, measurable through modern medical imaging and evaluation.

If you or someone you love is struggling after a traumatic event, know this: what you’re experiencing is real. Seeking help isn’t weakness—it’s the first step toward recovery.

During PTSD Awareness Month, let’s continue breaking the stigma and recognizing the very real impact trauma can have on the brain and on people’s lives.

06/11/2026

One of the most telling signs of PTSD is often noticed by the people closest to you.

Over the years, I’ve had spouses tell me, “They’re just not the same person they were before the accident.”

PTSD doesn’t always look the way people expect. It can show up as irritability, impatience, anger, difficulty concentrating, or changes in personality and behavior.

After a serious crash, pay attention not only to physical symptoms, but emotional and behavioral changes as well. Sometimes family members notice the signs before the injured person does.

If you or a loved one are struggling after a traumatic event, don’t ignore it. Help is available, and healing starts with recognizing the symptoms.

06/09/2026

PTSD and concussions may seem like completely different injuries, but they share more in common than most people realize.

Both can involve injury to the brain. After a traumatic event, the brain’s neurons and axons can be damaged. When those connections are sheared, they don’t grow back the same way. Damaged cells can die through a process called cytotoxicity, affecting the healthy brain cells around them.

The result? Symptoms that don’t just disappear because time has passed.

If you’ve been in a serious accident and weeks or months later you’re still struggling with headaches, memory problems, anxiety, sleep issues, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating, don’t ignore what your brain may be trying to tell you.

Sometimes the injury isn’t visible on the outside.

PTSD Awareness Month is about understanding that brain injuries can take many forms—and getting the right diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference.

When you go on vacation, you're supposed to come home with memories—not life-changing injuries. Whether it's a cruise, ...
06/05/2026

When you go on vacation, you're supposed to come home with memories—not life-changing injuries.

Whether it's a cruise, resort, hotel, or attraction, people place their trust in those responsible for maintaining a safe environment.

When that trust is broken and someone is seriously harmed, the consequences can last a lifetime.

We're proud to have helped this client secure the resources they need for medical care, recovery, and the future ahead.

Accountability matters. Safety matters. People matter.

đź“ž (844) LIZ-WINS

06/04/2026

A crash can last seconds.
The trauma can last much longer.

Many people who survive serious accidents go on to experience symptoms of PTSD, often without realizing what's happening.

If you've noticed changes in your sleep, mood, anxiety levels, concentration, or ability to get back behind the wheel, pay attention to those signs.

PTSD is real. It's treatable. And you don't have to go through it alone.

If you're experiencing symptoms, please seek help. The sooner you address it, the sooner healing can begin.

06/02/2026

As we begin PTSD Awareness Month, we’re starting with one of the most important resources in understanding and proving post-traumatic stress disorder: the DSM-5.

For those suffering from PTSD, the effects are real, life-changing, and often invisible to the outside world. Unfortunately, these injuries are frequently challenged in litigation, with defense experts sometimes claiming symptoms are exaggerated or not legitimate.

The DSM-5 provides the diagnostic criteria relied upon by mental health professionals across the country. It is often a critical tool in evaluating PTSD claims and understanding whether someone meets the criteria for diagnosis.

In serious injury cases, knowledge matters. Understanding the science, the diagnostic standards, and the long-term impact of trauma can make all the difference.

This is the first video in our PTSD Awareness Month series. Stay tuned as we continue the conversation around trauma, recovery, and advocacy.

When you go on a cruise, you expect to relax, make memories, and enjoy time with your family—not suffer a severe burn in...
05/29/2026

When you go on a cruise, you expect to relax, make memories, and enjoy time with your family—not suffer a severe burn injury.

This case involved a client who was seriously injured aboard a major cruise line, resulting in painful and life-changing burns.

After extensive work on the case, it resulted in a confidential settlement that will help provide the resources needed for ongoing medical treatment, recovery, and future care.

Serious injuries can happen anywhere—even where people are supposed to feel safest. Accountability matters.

đź“ž (844) LIZ-WINS

05/28/2026

One of the most overlooked realities in personal injury law is this: brain injuries rarely present in a straightforward way.

A client may appear “fine” after an accident, only to experience memory issues, mood changes, headaches, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, or personality changes weeks or even months later.

That’s why these cases require more than a quick intake and a stack of medical records. They require patience, follow-up, and experience.

In serious injury cases, it’s critical to continue checking in with clients, encourage open conversations with treating physicians, and use brain injury questionnaires and evaluations that help uncover symptoms clients themselves may not initially recognize.

Brain injuries are insidious. The full extent of the damage often reveals itself over time.

For lawyers handling catastrophic injury cases, understanding that long-term impact is essential—not only for properly valuing the case, but for truly advocating for the person whose life has been changed.

These are not quick cases. They are life-altering cases, and they deserve to be handled with the level of care, investigation, and expertise they require.

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