Motor vehicle accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Some result from careless driving, such as texting and driving or driving while intoxicated. Others occur despite the most cautious drivers as they are out of their control. When you get into an accident, you might be left feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. You may not know where to begin when it comes to gathering information regarding your accident and how it will affect your life moving forward. If you find yourself in this position, here are eight steps that you should take. Read on to discover more about recovering from a car accident so that you can get back on track after this unfortunate event occurs in your life.
1. Go to a doctor
If you’re injured, seeking medical services as quickly as possible is vital. This is true for both passengers and drivers, but it’s even more necessary if you are the one behind the wheel. A car accident can cause all kinds of issues with the body, including sprains, strains, and even fractures. In some cases, it may even cause internal damage. You can’t correctly treat these problems if you don’t know they’re there. A doctor can diagnose them and prescribe the correct course of treatment to get you back on track. Be sure to mention any other symptoms you experienced resulting from the accident, such as psychological distress, feeling anxious, etc. These are signs that you may also be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which is a real and treatable condition. Even when you feel okay, it’s best to get examined to be sure. Sometimes individuals with no physical injuries might suffer from internal bleeding.
2. Document Everything
Accidents are often very confusing and chaotic. You may be dealing with physical pain, emotional distress, and trying to help others simultaneously. This can make it easy to misremember or misinterpret important details about what happened. If you’re pulled over for a collision or issued a ticket, you may not remember important facts if you don’t write them down immediately. Additionally, you may want to file a car accident claim in the future. You’ll be glad you have this critical info recorded. If you have a smartphone, you can use its voice recording feature to help you remember details. Also, involve the police so that you can collect a report later. If possible, get information from the other party as well.
3. Talk to A Therapist
If you have a severe psychological reaction to the incident, it is a good idea to talk to a therapist. You don’t need to wait until you’re feeling “better” to start talking to a professional. Therapy is not meant to heal your symptoms. Instead, it is designed to help you process and manage these feelings, so they don’t take over your life. Many people are hesitant to talk to a therapist because they think it means they’re “crazy.” In reality, mental health professionals are trained to help people with all kinds of issues, including those that follow car accidents. And they’re used to talking to people who are in a lot of psychological distress.
4. Take Care of Your Physical Well-Being
In addition to getting treatment for any injuries, taking care of your general physical health is essential. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and exercising. Many people are under the misconception that exercise should be avoided if you’re recovering from an accident. This is not true. On the contrary, it can help you deal with stress and anxiety. Many people find that exercise is one of the best ways to help them manage post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological issues. If you have a physical injury, exercise can help you manage the pain and keep your muscles active, so they don’t become too stiff or brittle.
5. Change Your Habits (If You Can)
If you have a particular habit that contributed to the accident, you may want to change it. This could be anything from how you drive to the amount of time you spend behind the wheel each day. You may even want to switch to a different mode of transportation entirely. If you’re in a place where you can make such changes, it may help you recover from the accident. However, bear in mind that most people have such incidences because of something out of their control, such as another driver’s recklessness. Don’t punish yourself for something you had no control over.
6. Contact A Lawyer
If you were issued a traffic ticket, you might want to contact a lawyer to see if they can help you dispute the ticket and get it dismissed. If the accident was serious enough to be reported to the police, you might also want to contact a lawyer for advice on how to proceed. This is especially true if you’re worried about how the other driver might handle the aftermath. In either case, a lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and make sure your rights are protected. In the event that the incident was due to someone else’s fault, a Houston car accident lawyer can help you get compensation.
7. Find Peer Support
If you’ve suffered a severe injury, you may want to reach out to a support group for people in a similar situation. This can be incredibly helpful for things like getting medical advice, managing your finances, dealing with the tedious nature of insurance claims, etc. For example, if you broke a leg, the last thing you want to do is spend hours on the phone with your insurance company. An injury support group can help you navigate these issues and get your life back on track as quickly as possible.
8. Focus On the Positives
Lastly, it’s important to remember to focus on the positives. Take time to appreciate that everyone was relatively uninjured and, or your car was not severely damaged. Most importantly, focus on the fact that you survived the accident. Finding the silver lining in any situation is always possible, but it’s easier if you don’t wait until the dust has settled.
A car accident can be a scary, stressful and dangerous experience. However, if you do the things mentioned above, you will most likely be able to recover from the experience easily.