Driving a car can go from relaxing to downright nasty in a heartbeat. All it takes is a wrong turn, a lapse of judgment, or a moment of distraction, and everything goes black. This scenario is terrifying for both: the car driver and other involved parties. It gets so much worse if the accident involves bystanders, pedestrians, a cyclist, or someone driving their bicycle. Getting into a car accident can be traumatizing in more than one way and, depending on the extent of injuries, the road to recovery can be long and daunting.
Here’s how recovery after a car crash looks like.
Emergency Treatment
Long before recovery starts, the first step that should be taken is seeking urgent medical help. Anyone present at the scene of the crash, and who has maintained their ability to move, should dial 911 before taking any actions. Until the ambulance arrives with help, they should assess the current situation and perform first-aid if need be. Care should be taken to keep severely injured persons stable in place; don’t try to remove any sharp objects embedded in the flesh or move people who can’t feel their limbs. In case of severe bleeding, a piece of cloth should be pressed over the wound, and add more clothes on top of it without removing the first one if the bleeding fails to stop.
Preserving Your Rights
After getting the needed emergency treatment and coming back to their senses, the victims should move towards preserving their rights. Car crashes are a category of personal injury, and that’s the kind of lawyer they should seek. They should especially seek experienced lawyers if they’d been injured in a hit-and-run accident, as the lack of evidence can result in losing their case. A qualified lawyer will help get the proper compensation needed while alerting you to the documents you need to prepare.
Physical Recovery
Depending on the extent of the injury, the road to physical recovery can either be smooth or overwhelming. Injuries in the brain and head can be especially dangerous, but most cases just end up with a concussion that can be treated in a matter of weeks. Aside from nerve damage resulting from spine injuries, other forms of breaks, bruises, and wounds can also be resolved in a matter of weeks to months.
Mental and Psychological Recovery
Most people take care of the physical repercussions of the accident yet neglect mental and psychological care. If you feel like you haven’t been cured of the accident yet, then you really shouldn’t push yourself back to work right away. Going through a car crash can be quite traumatic on the psychological level. It’s quite normal to start feeling anxiety, paranoia, or even fear the next time you walk on the streets. It’s quite normal to experience PTSD. If you feel too overwhelmed and out of control, seeking the help of a counselor can accelerate healing and recovery.
Simple car crashes can end with some shouting and settling the compensation in a matter of hours. More severe car crashes, however, can take a heavy toll on everyone involved. It’s important to take the necessary steps to recovery after facing such a difficult situation, be it in the form of seeking urgent treatment, preserving your rights, or recovering physically and psychologically.
