Everyone has a different take on what life after a car crash might seem like, but one thing may resonate in all of us, no one wants to be involved in a car accident. It’s one of the most horrific experiences that can happen in a person’s life. Considering that most car accidents may result in personal injuries, it’s the life thereafter, that scares most survivors. You’ve heard of individuals who after an accident, woke up days later in a hospital bed without a limb or with life-changing injuries. This is not to forget how financially draining a car accident could be, especially before claiming insurance from the appropriate insurance company. These are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to situations most accident survivors face.
In most instances, however, even as we ensure that the victims receive the best medical care for their injuries, we often forget the emotional and the psychological aspect of the healing process. Physical scars may be easy to heal, but the same cannot be said about the associated emotional scars. Auto accident survivors often have to deal with chronic pain, PTS, disabilities, and the impacts that these situations have on their lives. They require all kinds of support to see them get back to life in a better condition. If you are a caregiver or are living with someone who at some point in their life was involved in a car crash, then this article is definitely for you. It can be your guide to offering the best support to your loved one to see them through this painful phase of life. If you’re the victim, you’ll also get a rough idea of the kind of support you can seek to help you overcome the pain, grief, anxiety, and emotional turmoil that may follow after the event of getting involved in a car crash.
This having been said, here are different kinds of support someone would need after an accident.
1. Treatment
After an accident, it’s very important to ensure that the victim receives medical attention. The first step on their road to recovery involves having the injuries stabilized and assessing for other damages. Some wounds such as scrapes and bruises will heal on their own. However, head injuries, fractures, and other severe injuries will require immediate medical attention. Delaying medical treatment may only worsen the situation, perhaps by aggravating the injuries, prolonging the recovery period, and increasing the chances of infections. So, before any other form of support is provided, the patient has to undergo medical treatment and continue until the day the medical practitioner gives them a clean bill of health.
2. Legal Support
Road accidents — depending on the severity of the circumstances — may result in damages, injuries, or death. In situations where the accident causes injuries or death, it’s very critical to ensure that you or the victim gets legal assistance as soon as possible. Regardless of who was at fault, having an attorney will help to file a personal injury claim with the insurer. This is especially the case if the accident occurred in a busy city such as Dallas, Texas, which in addition to being the 3rd most populous city in the state, it is also in the top 5 cities where a majority of car crashes that result in fatalities and incapacitating injuries occur. But Mike Guajardo, a renowned Dallas personal injury lawyer, states that handling personal injury claims on your own after an accident can be an overwhelming, frustrating, and time-consuming affair, not forgetting that it also requires one to be in their physical best when pursuing auto accident and personal injury claims. Having the best legal support by your side will present various benefits, some of which include:
- You’ll get peace of mind
- You’ll be shielded from the stresses involved when dealing with insurers
- Claim evaluation
- Increased your chances of fair compensation
- Your attorney will negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- You get legal advice and representation in court (in the case of suing or appealing denied claims)
3. Financial Support
After an accident, financial issues are among the greatest concerns among victims. Of course, where an accident results in injuries, medical expenses must be factored in and unfortunately, it may cost a lot depending on the severity of injuries. The case is even worse if the injuries are severe, such as brain injuries, fractures, and burns. Lost income is another common issue. If the victim is the sole breadwinner, the family will need all the financial help they can get. In cases where one qualifies for compensation for their loss of earnings as a result of injuries caused by a third party, they’d require a fallback plan because of the time it takes for the lawsuit to settle. Some cases may settle within a year while others may take 2 to 3 years. Some insurance policies may offer insurance payouts but this is for the lucky few.
4. Social Support
Injuries sustained after an accident may leave physical and emotional scars. With Physical scars, some injuries heal fast while the most severe ones take time. All the same, the victim will require all the support they can get from all avenues. Support from family and friends will have a great impact on the individual, seeing that they have a lot on their plate. Especially where there’s pain or disability after an accident, chores that seemed easy to undertake before the accident may now seem impossible to accomplish, which may worsen the emotional turmoil even more. The family and community, in general, need to help out where they can. Social support is instrumental in widening a person’s focus towards regaining their self-image. Remember, medical treatment can only do so much but with social support, the overall recovery process could be speeded up.
5. Special Therapy
Car accident injuries can be sustained on/in any part of the body. Treatment methods may also vary depending on the severity of the injuries and the parts affected. Some forms of treatment may provide permanent relief while others temporary relief, requiring constant monitoring. This is where therapy comes in. On this note, there are three common types of therapy that accident victims may need in their recovery process, including:
- Physical therapy – This type of therapy aims at improving flexibility and restoring s strength. Most serious injuries affecting the nerves, muscles, broken or fractured bones may require physical therapy.
- Occupational therapy – Occupational therapy aims at restoring the patient’s ability to function independently without the use of aids by targeting the affected areas through massages, manual techniques, acupuncture, and muscular stimulation.
- Psychotherapy – Car accidents are the leading causes of most post-traumatic disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition where a patient relives the traumatic experiences through flashbacks and nightmares. The emotional responses are so intense that may require a lot of time to heal completely. Psychotherapy aims at helping the patient to develop coping mechanisms that help them overcome their fears.
Now, as you can see, there are so many hardships that accident survivors experience apart from the physical injuries. These can change a person’s personality and behavior, making it more difficult for the victim and their loved ones. It requires a lot of patience, love, and support for them to recover. With the above tips, we hope that you’ll find it easier supporting your loved one through their most trying moments. You may also borrow ideas on the kind of support you should after a car crash if you ever fall victim.