When a car accident occurs, there are a lot of things you need to do. Of course, calling your insurance and making sure your car isn’t a write off, but we also need to touch on how to take care of your physical needs as well.
After all, having a car accident is a very scary experience. And while it’s important to build up your confidence again afterwards, you also need to be sure you’re totally comfortable when you slip in behind the wheel again.
DETERMINE YOUR MENTAL STATE
First of all, you’re going to have to figure out in yourself if you’re ready to drive again. How do you feel about getting behind the wheel? Do you think you’d cope out on the roads, where people are inconsistent and often don’t follow the rules?
If you feel yourself often thinking back to that day when the accident occured, or you simply cannot get it out of your mind, it’s a good indicator that you may need to talk to someone about your feelings. You could even be living with PTSD over the experience, and that definitely deserves some attention – it’s much more common than you’d think!
RELIEVE ANY ACHES OR PAINS
You shouldn’t feel like you have to strain when using the steering wheel, or anything on the driver’s side of the car. If you do, and you feel plenty of aches and pains as you do, in your back or your neck or even your legs, it’s a sign you need to see a car accident chiropractor.
Making sure you can drive without pain is a big part of coming back to the wheel after a crash. It’s an essential part of the recovery, and is very obviously a key part of ensuring you’re comfortable as a driver. Even if it’s been weeks and you’re still feeling a bit of pain, or you’ve suddenly noticed a bit of swelling, be sure to talk to a doctor.
TAKE YOUR TIME
If you’re not ready to get back on the road, don’t push yourself to it; it could make an already risky situation much more dangerous. You don’t want to go through any extra trauma, or face the prospect of having to pay for more car repairs, and a bit of time is really all you need to avoid both of these things.
You could even take the time to take a driving course, to make sure you remember how it feels to pass your test, and that you’re following the rules as best as you can. It can help you to get your confidence back, and the instructors are very understanding about this.
If you’ve been in a car accident recently, making sure you’re feeling comfortable to drive again is a very important part of getting back to normality. Sure, driving feels like a mundane activity, but when you’ve been through a trauma like this, be sure it hasn’t left any physical or mental marks.
Photo Credit: Toyota
