Car accidents can be scary, there is no doubt about it. Even the small ones where nobody is injured but the car is a little banged up can be enough to scare someone out of the car. Or, sometimes they are more serious and this is even worse for some people. When you have had an accident though, you can’t stay out of the car forever. You spent all that time learning to drive so that you could have your freedom, so you can’t let an accident take that away from you. But, how are you supposed to face the car again? Well, we’ve got some advice for you, so if you would like to find out the answer to this question, keep reading down below.
AS SOON AS YOU CAN
Our first piece of advice is that you need to get back in the car as soon as you can. You face the problem head on, get into the driver’s seat, and go. It’s going to be scary for the first couple of minutes we won’t lie to you. You are going to be on high alert, constantly worried about every little thing, but after that everything is going to be okay. You will slip right back into the cool and comfortable driver that you were before the accident, and things will go back to normal.
We know that you might be reading this and thinking that this is not going to happen, but it has to. The longer you stay out of the car, the worse your fear is going to get. You cannot allow the fear to take over your life and force you from the car for good. You know what you are doing on the road, so get in the car, even though you are scared. Just be brave, and things will be fine.
GET THE CAR FIXED
If the car was in pretty bad shape, then you need to get it fixed. You can even get it upgraded if you have the money for this while it is in the shop anyway. Make sure that the place you take it to uses the highest quality material such as galvanized steel pipes for various parts. Driving around with a car that has been damaged is only going to serve as a reminder as to what happened, which is not something that you need, especially if you are having a hard time thinking about getting back in the driver’s seat.
When you go out to a car that looks brand new, you are going to feel a lot better. You might not see it now, but trust us when we say that when the evidence of the accident is gone, things are going to be easier.
REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL
As long as you remember to be careful, you are going to be fine. Think about when you were doing your driving lessons and your instructor would go through all of the safety procedures with you. If it helps, go through these one by one until you have the confidence to get out of your driveway. Check your mirrors, check your blindspot, check again if you want to just to be certain. Make sure that you are comfortable, that all of your mirrors are positioned right, and then indicate, and just go.
If you remember that there are other cars on the road and that you need to avoid them, you will feel a lot calmer. Remember that the only person that you are in control of is you, and you need to do everything in your power to keep yourself calm. If it makes you feel better, you can take someone in the car with you that you trust. They will make sure that you are concentrating, but also make the experience a lot easier.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
You have the ability to do this. You can drive. Not every time you get on the road is going to end in an accident. You passed your test, so you can do it. Believing in yourself is half the battle. It might not just be the car and your body that are a little battered after the accident but also your self confidence. The problem with this is that if you don’t believe in your own ability, then you could be a danger on the road. You were okay before the accident, you knew that you could drive the car without an issue, and nothing has changed. It was an accident, not the end of the world.
Tell yourself that you still have the skills to be able to do this. Remind yourself that you went through all the necessary training and that you are capable. Just give yourself a pep talk and then off you go.
DON’T LET THE FEAR FESTER
The worst thing that you can do in a situation like this is let the fear fester. If you are refusing to look at the car, let alone get in it, this is what you are doing. Or, if you get in the car but you are driving like someone who is constantly scared until you get out again, you’re still doing it. Getting back behind the wheel is going to be the biggest challenge, and letting go of the fear is a close second. You need to let it go, even though it is hard, and trust yourself and other road users enough to get back to normal. Fear is the enemy, and you can’t keep it in your life.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now have some idea as to how you can face the car again after you have been involved in an accident. It might not be the easiest thing to do, but the most important things rarely are. It’s important that you get back in the car, and this advice should help you do that. We really hope this works out for you, and that you are back driving in no time.
Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz
