Tips For Rebuilding Your Life After A Road Accident

Road accidents wreak havoc in the lives of millions of global road users every year. Apart from the 1.25 million road deaths recorded annually, an additional 20 to 50 million individuals are injured or disabled. There are many ways in which a road accident can affect your well-being. This includes having to recover from your injuries, dealing with the legal and financial ramifications of the accident, and taking care of your emotional needs. As much as you may want to rebuild your life as soon as possible, it is vital to give yourself the necessary time and address each area of concern thoroughly and with kindness.

Don’t rush the healing process

While it is natural that you want to recover from your car accident as soon as possible, it is important to give your body and your mind sufficient time to heal. It’s likely that your doctors and therapists have treated many people with similar injuries to yours before, and are therefore more than capable of giving you sound advice. Although it may be very difficult to slow down and regain your strength gradually, it will benefit you greatly in the long run, as rushing recovery can not only aggravate your injuries, but result in new ones as well. As important as it is to follow professional medical advice, it is as important to not take all the advice of well-meaning friends and relatives to heart. Also, fight the urge to ask for advice on social media, as you’re bound to be bombarded with a myriad of benevolent yet potentially-dangerous suggestions.

A road accident may involve long-term rehabilitation, especially if you sustain severe physical injuries. You might need to see an orthopedist, neurologist, psychiatrist, and other medical professionals. 

For instance, suffering a whiplash or spine injury, alongside multiple fractures, requires a collaborative medical effort. Your orthopedist provides musculoskeletal care for joint, ligament, and bone injuries. Meanwhile, a neurologist assesses your reflexes and overall nervous system after sustaining such an injury. 

Rehabilitation interventions include physical therapy to restore mobility and movement and psychotherapy for you to recover from the traumatic experience fully.   

Seek out legal assistance for increased peace of mind

Having the financial means to rebuild your life after an accident is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, a car accident can leave you physically and emotionally incapacitated for quite some time, and thus unable to handle your accident claims on your own. More severe cases, in particular, can benefit greatly from legal expertise. According to fvflawfirm.com, legal practitioners understand that being injured in a car accident can be both stressful and confusing, and are able to make the claim process significantly easier. Not only will an attorney help ensure that you get awarded all the damages you’re legally entitled to, but insurance companies are more likely to take your claims seriously when you’re represented by an attorney.

A personal injury attorney can interview others, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in all legal settings, including insurance companies, creditors, and involved parties. 

For instance, your attorney can contact the insurance company to report your case and negotiate a fair settlement offer. Also, your lawyer can contact your creditors to request suspension of collection activities while you’re still recovering from your injuries.

Your personal injury attorney can also ensure that evidence like smartphone-captured photos, dashcam videos, closed-circuit television footage, and witnesses’ statements can support your claim. In addition, they will check the accuracy and completeness of all legal paperwork, including the police report and medical documentation, for you to obtain the best possible compensation for your injuries. 

Don’t forget to address your emotional needs

While a car accident can result in grave physical injuries, it can trigger a range of emotional concerns as well. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common occurrence after an accident, and can prove to be very persistent if left unaddressed. PTSD can manifest itself in various ways, such as nightmares, emotional sensitivity or numbness, and increased arousal which can lead to insomnia & decreased concentration. In most instances, your medical team will refer you to a counselor, who will help you deal with your PTSD effectively. If counseling services were not recommended and you find yourself experiencing panic attacks, bouts of relentless fear, or severe changes to your appetite or sleeping patterns, you may want to seek out help yourself. Remember that your emotional recovery is as important as your physical recovery, and that you will need to give it adequate attention if you want to bounce back from your accident effectually.

A car accident can have a huge impact on your life, even if you don’t obtain life-threatening injuries. Remember that recovery can’t be instantaneous, but must rather be seen as a process that will help you reclaim most of your old life in the end.