Car accidents are prevalent, and they can take the lives of the most innocent drivers and passengers. You can observe all driving precautions, but factors such as poorly built roads, poorly enforced traffic regulations, and reckless drivers on the road can still make you susceptible to getting involved in a crash. Knock on wood this happens to you, but better know now how you can recover properly and get back on track with life after a vehicular accident:
Focus on Recovery
Having been through one of, if not the most traumatic experiences in your life, your entire body must be in shock. Initially, the surge in adrenaline from the tense event makes it almost as if your body is desensitized from pain. But come a whole day or two, it is when you will feel the immense pain that comes with swollen limbs and bones that threaten to break.
From time to time, your mind would drift to other worries such as your totaled car that would take a lot of money to repair, if not replace, and who is going to cover for you at work. However, you should condition it to set these lower-priority thoughts aside. Right now, the most important is that you recover.
Feel yourself out for other pain points, and do not hesitate to speak about them with your assigned doctor. No matter how minor your injuries feel, you should not undermine them and cooperate with tests you are recommended to take. After your confinement, stick to your physical therapy appointments; attending them constantly will help you safely and gradually regain your mobility.
Remember that what is a slight sting somewhere in your body can later develop into chronic pain that can disrupt you for life. Therefore, heed your doctor’s advice and wear assistive tools like neck and lower back braces and arm splints for as long as you are told to. If you take them off too soon, your injuries might not have recovered yet, and you are raising their risks of relapsing.
Moreover, processing what you just went through mentally requires time. You cannot suddenly be okay when the horrific scenes replay again and again in your head. If untreated, the trauma can translate into disruptive moods like irritability, social withdrawal, and loss of motivation in life.
As mental trauma from the accident can cost your precious productive time and social interactions, you should take charge and seek psychological therapy. You can operate just as well in time, not to mention drive with utmost caution but with controlled fear levels.
Document the Accident
In the event of a minor crash and you can still ambulate, document as much of the incident as you can right after. Take pictures of crucial location indicators in the scene and, most importantly, the points of impact on your car. Obtain the license, model, information about the owner of the car you’ve come in contact with, and the details of the police officers who responded on the scene if any. That way, you can request a copy of their report for the perusal of your insurance company later on.
If, on the other hand, you met a much worse accident that took your consciousness, you could document the accident once you restored enough vigor and, more importantly, are ready to revisit the place of the life-threatening accident. Recall the events that transpired before the crash until, as much as you can recall, after it. Your disposition, driving speed, weather, and road condition during that time-lapse are worth noting, too, because you will most likely be asked about them by your insurer.
Make sure, too, that you have obtained certified copies of your medical records just before you are officially discharged from hospital confinement. These will unlock crucial clues about the injuries you sustained from the accident and will be instrumental in processing your insurance claim. With the evidence you have amassed, you are ready to process your insurance claims.
Who Does What for You
Once you regain your coherence, call people from work to notify them, especially your supervisor, of your accident. Let your team know of tasks you are due and request them to work it out, so they will be done on time. If anything, they will understand your difficult situation and be more than willing to cover for you, even lighten their demands just after you recovered.
At home, it is best if you have a close relative you can call to run your errands for you. The more you need a caretaker if you have kids who attend school. You can reach their faculty and request them to check on your children’s well-being from time to time when at school.
Final Thoughts
No place on Earth is a hundred percent safe, but you can only be so careful until harm comes your way. What is important is that you listen to your body. Don’t push it to do strenuous tasks when you are not yet fully recovered.