Tips to Recover After an Accident

A car accident occurs about 16 times a day in the US, and although the levels of severity vary, they are something feared by every driver on the road.

22:39 28 January 2021

Finding yourself among the aftermath of a car crash can be severely traumatizing and even a minor accident can cause a tremendous amount of stress financially and physically.

 

If you have found yourself in an accident and are currently recovering from it there are different opportunities you can take. People who are not recovering from an accident should also take into consideration what to do after an accident so that they are more prepared with the confidence and knowledge they will react and recover the best they can.

 

The Immediate Aftermath

 

After a serious accident, your body unleashes a chemical cocktail, pumping a major amount of adrenaline through your veins. Being paralyzed in shock is a completely normal thing as a result of the adrenaline mixed in with the sudden and extreme increase in stress. Everything will get fuzzy and seem like you're in a trance. This could last anywhere from hours to days after the accident, do not worry about this as it is a completely normal reaction.

 

Some damage after an accident is obvious at first, lacerations, bruises, broken bones, etc. But pain is not the best indicator that something is wrong, especially right after all the adrenaline is released from the crash. This is why you need to prioritize receiving medical care as soon as possible.

 

Many serious injuries like spinal damage and concussions could start to show their symptoms in days or even weeks. This makes it important to get a checkup from a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. Not getting checked could lead to complications later on from untreated injuries, making the recovery process worse than it needs to be.

 

Recovering From a Car Accident

 

After a checkup from a doctor, it is especially important to take any prescribed medication and to heed recommendations. This is also vital if you happen to file a lawsuit after the accident because your doctor will create medical records that can be shown to your insurance company, thus showing the court you had confirmed injuries and you took care to follow a medical professional’s course of recovery. Not seeing a doctor could severely weaken your case and make it difficult to get compensated.

 

During your recovery make sure to make note of any new and emerging pains you might start to feel. Every little detail counts, and some mild pain not worth mentioning may seem to be unimportant now but can develop and indicate a complication. If you need to return to the hospital, either from a new development or for a follow up from the initial visit, make sure to bring up all new pain you might be experiencing and when it started.

 

Many symptoms of pain stem from inflammation on your body. If you are experiencing inflammatory pain such as on your back or shoulders, a nice remedy you could try is the classic ice bag. Place ice wherever you feel pain in 10 to 15 minute intervals between at least an hour of rest. Reducing swelling from inflammation will not only lessen the pain but will also make you recover faster.

 

A great piece of advice for post-accident recovery and just life in general is to have a healthy diet, and to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Healthy foods like fruits and vegetables will reduce inflammation, while proteins will rebuild lost muscle mass. Drinking enough water will reduce inflammation and help your body replace old cells with new healthy ones.

 

At some point in time, you are going to start to consider what to do with the vehicle you were in during the crash. If you were the owner of the vehicle you need to decide how to handle insurance and repairing, it. If the car was totaled, meaning the cost to repair the damage on the vehicle is higher than its market value, you might get stressed considering what to do. There are websites online that buy damaged vehicles so make sure to consider all avenues when deciding what to do.

 

It is simple to plan out recovery for physical trauma after a car accident and stick to a plan, but how can we plan out emotional recovery. Something as vast, complicated, and independent as the mental health of any person can be hard to just assign a plan for. PTSD after a severe accident could implant a fear of driving in you that can hamper your professional and personal life. Make sure to keep communication with friends and family and try to return to your daily activities as soon as possible.

 

After getting into an accident, it can feel like your whole life has been turned upside down. Know that the recovery process is important and making sure you do all you can for your recovery will mean a quick and healthy recovery. Make sure you receive immediate medical care after an accident and to follow your doctors recommendations so that you can return to normalcy as soon as possible.