A car accident is a shocking experience for anyone to go through and can cause any number of life-changing issues. The first and most obvious consequence of a car accident could be a physical injury. Car accidents can be incredibly dangerous even if it is survivable, so you may need to recover from a debilitating injury.
This can take weeks, months or even years, and test your levels of perseverance and mental fortitude. What’s more, it can significantly impact your ability to go about your daily life. Even simple tasks like shopping or tying your shoes can prove impossible, which is what makes the after-effects of a car accident injury so serious in many cases.
Of course, even if you escape unharmed, you may have suffered trauma as a result of the accident. Crashing a car is incredibly frightening – both due to the violence of the impact and the completely unexpected nature of it.
However, this article can help you process these issues and take the best steps forward in the aftermath of a car accident:
Make sure you have legal aid
One of the most important and yet underappreciated aspects of a car accident is the legal side. When you are caught up in an incident on the road, you will need to work out who was at fault and then defend your side of the story. In the emotionally charged aftermath of a car accident, it can be easy to lose track of what actually happened, be panicked into action or be harassed by the other parties.
This is where a Burbank Law Firm can help. Having a lawyer in your corner can help you take the correct course of action and prevent yourself from being incriminated.
Inform your employer and take as much time as you need
Another aspect of a car accident that you need to consider is the time it will take for you to recover both mentally and physically from it. Your employer may be unaware of the situation and demand that you resume your normal duties – which is obviously problematic if you are in no fit state to work.
Therefore, you need to notify your employer of what has happened, along with a physical diagnosis of your injury from a medical professional if it is necessary. You may even be eligible for paid leave, so be sure to negotiate openly with your employer.
Often, you may have a delayed traumatic reaction
Of course, one of the defining impacts of a car accident is the effect it can have on your long-term mental health. Being caught up in such an emotionally charged situation can cause you hidden trauma that doesn’t initially reveal itself. In fact, you may over time become influenced by this emotion – such as through feelings of a lack of control or a phobia of cars.
It is vital that you process any trauma by visiting a therapist or talking to a loved one repeatedly in the aftermath of the incident.