It is likely that we’ll all experience at least one accident in our lifetimes. The auto insurance industry states that every policyholder will file a claim about once in every 17.9 years. That means you will probably experience multiple accidents throughout your lifetime.
However, because accidents are few and far between, they can be scary and stressful. They can be even more devastating if you’re in a serious accident and you sustained injuries.
All you want to do is get back to normal as soon as possible! These tips will help you get there.
Take Care of Your Physical Symptoms
Your first order of business is to take care of any physical symptoms you have after the accident. That includes getting medical attention immediately, but it also means keeping an eye on your symptoms and how you feel days and weeks after the accident.
Traumatic brain injuries can produce a cascade of secondary events after the initial injury. That means you may feel fine after the initial accident, but experience new symptoms days after the accident happened.
If you feel more unwell than you should, if you’re experiencing a new symptom, or you don’t think your injuries are healing as they should, you should schedule another appointment with your doctor.
Stay in Touch With Your Insurance
No matter what the details of your car accident, you have to file a claim with your insurance. The circumstances surrounding your accident and your particular policy will determine how you’re reimbursed.
For example, if you only have liability insurance, and the accident was your fault, you’ll have to figure out how you’re going to repair or replace your car on your own. If you have personal injury insurance, you may be reimbursed for medical costs.
You may have to keep in touch with your insurance even after you file your claim in order to be updated on your case, especially if they are taking a long time to come to a resolution.
If you’re struggling to deal with your insurance, the other driver, or their insurance, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer. They can make sure your rights are being upheld, and they can focus on the paperwork so you can focus on recovering.
Balance Rest With Exercise
After an accident, people tend to swing one of two ways. They either spend all their time laying on the couch recovering, or they want to get back up on their feet as fast as possible.
Rest is important for helping your body heal, but so is exercise. Make sure you get enough sleep every night and you integrate periods of rest into your day, but also make sure you integrate exercise into your day.
A few exercise ideas to help you get back into the groove of things slowly include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Stretching
- Yoga
If you’re worried about pushing yourself too far, hire a physical therapist or a personal trainer to help you heal and regain your strength after an accident.
Process Your Feelings About the Accident
Some accidents aren’t a very big deal. Others can result in post-traumatic stress.
If your accident was particularly violent, scary, or it left you with lasting injuries, you may find it difficult to get back into a car again. That’s normal, but it can make life difficult in the long run.
If you’re struggling with fear or depression after an accident, you should consider scheduling an appointment with a therapist. They can help you work through your feelings so you can get back into a car again without feeling sad or scared.
Go Back to the Scene of the Accident When You’re Ready
Part of processing an accident is going back to the scene. That may not be something you’re willing to do right at first, but it’s something you should do eventually.
Driving a car again after an accident is hard, and at first, you may avoid the route that includes the site of the accident, but that’s not healthy in the long run. Not only can it be inconvenient if it’s on the way to work, but it’s a sign that you aren’t completely confident behind the wheel. When you’ve had a chance to work through your feelings, go back to the scene of the accident and process your feelings about that spot outside the car.
You won’t get back to normal after an accident overnight, but with time, it will get better. Especially if you follow the tips on this list.
