Fear of driving after a car accident is a common post-accident experience. It can include anxious thoughts during the day as well as nightmares about driving. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a car accident, such as fear of driving, can severely impact your life. You may have difficulty getting to work or need to spend money on rideshares to do so. It could impede family duties, like dropping the kids off at school.
Why Fear of Driving After an Accident Is Common
The sudden impact, noise, and life-threatening nature of car crashes create a perfect storm to cause trauma responses and anxiety. Additionally, if you sustained physical injuries in the crash, such as atraumatic brain injury (TBI) or nerve damage, they could also contribute to lower confidence in your driving ability.
If you’re dealing with emotional trauma after a car accident, know that you’re not alone. It’s common for accident victims to be nervous about driving or face high anxiety getting in a vehicle. Below, we’ll explain a few considerations.
Addressing the Legal Side First
After an injury in a car accident, legal action can help cover your medical care, therapy costs, and lost wages. A personal injury lawsuit against the liable party can also help you recover non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
If you’ve been in an accident, there are afew key steps you can take to help preserve your legal rights. These include:
- Report the accident to both theFort Lauderdale Police Department and your insurance company.
- Gather evidence, such as photos of the accident scene and your visible injuries, contact information for witnesses, and all your medical records related to the accident.
- Consult with aFort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer early in the process, as they can investigate the accident and communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
Florida Laws That May Impact Your Claim
While Florida is a no-fault state, which means that yourpersonal injury protection (PIP) is used first for your medical expenses, it may not offer enough coverage forserious injuries and their mental effects.
In addition to requiring PIP, Florida has two other laws that are vital to any injury claim.
UnderFlorida Statutes § 768.81, Florida has a modified comparative negligence rule. Under this law, you can pursue compensation from an at-fault party as long as you are 50% or less at fault for the accident.
Additionally, perFlorida Statutes § 95.11, you typically only have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. So, it’s vital to get started on your case as soon as possible.
Mental Health Steps to Overcome Driving Anxiety
Emotional trauma after a car crash can quickly feel overwhelming. However, there are some ways you can work through being afraid to drive after an accident. These include:
- Seeking professional help: A therapist specializing in trauma or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) techniques can be helpful. EMDR helps you “retrain” your body to cope with traumatic events.
- Trying gradual exposure: Take small steps to confront your anxiety after a car crash, such as being a front seat passenger while someone you trust drives or doing short daytime trips in low-traffic areas near your home.
- Leaning on your support systems: Ask friends or family for rides while you are afraid to drive after an accident. Consider joining a support group for those with PTSD.
- Practicing self-care: There is nothing wrong with you if you have trauma after an accident. Be kind to yourself and ensure you get plenty of rest and take breaks during the day to engage in mindfulness techniques.
How Legal and Mental Health Support Work Together
Working on your mental health while in the process of recovering compensation can be helpful for the legal process. Documenting your mental health treatment, including seeing a therapist or attending a support group, can help to strengthen your claim for pain and suffering.
Additionally, recovering compensation can help your mental health. If you are worrying about medical expenses on top of covering counseling costs and missing work, you are increasing your mental burden. Knowing that your bills will be paid can be the stress relief you need to boost your overall recovery.
When to Seek Immediate Professional Help
Signs that you should seek immediate professional help for your mental health include:
- Recurring nightmares, difficulty sleeping, or anxiety-induced insomnia
- Panic attacks
- Worsening anxiety
- Avoiding driving entirely for weeks or months
- Trouble focusing (or completing) your work or daily activities
Contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato Today
Legal help for car accident trauma is a phone call away. Atthe Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we help injury victims pursue the fair compensation they deserve. Contact our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers. Your initial consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay us if we recover compensation.Call (844) 643-7200 today.