Richard J. Dehncke
Attorney at Law

Richard Dehncke has the distinct honor of being recognized as one of Colorado’s Super Lawyers. Injury Attorney Richard Dehncke has proudly represented seriously injured persons and their families confidently, competently, and compassionately for 30 years. His legal practice emphasizes traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, RSD, and wrongful death. A graduate of the University of Michigan and University of Denver College of Law, Mr. Dehncke has attended the prestigious Harvard Law School Center for Legal Negotiation. He is an instructor with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Memberships include the Brain Injury Association of Colorado, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and Colorado Bar Association. He has been awarded the highest national AV rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. These symptoms can be severe enough to significantly impair a person's daily life.

Individuals suffering from PTSD endure both biological changes and psychological symptoms. PTSD often occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, memory problems, and other conditions of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated with impairment of the person's ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord, and parenting difficulties.

PTSD has been observed in all military veteran populations that have been studied, including World War II, Korean conflict, Persian Gulf, and United Nations peacekeeping forces. PTSD is not only a problem for veterans, however. PTSD occurs in men and women, adults and children. A study of American civilians estimated that the lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 5% in men and 10% in women.

Most people who are exposed to a traumatic, stressful event experience some of the symptoms of PTSD in the days and weeks following the event. Approximately 8% of men and 20% of women go on to develop PTSD, and roughly 30% of these individuals develop a chronic form that persists throughout their lifetimes.

The traumatic events most often associated with PTSD for men include: rape, combat exposure, childhood neglect, and childhood physical abuse. For women: rape, sexual molestation, physical attack, being threatened with a weapon, and childhood physical abuse.