How long after a car accident did it take you or someone you knew to feel comfortable to get behind the wheel again or safe in a car?

[meetkitty123]

I was rear ended this morning by a Mack truck and despite a good cushion space I had left in front of me the truck behind me threw me into another 18 wheeler in front of me. I'm lucky I'm here. I'm in a lot of pain and I been held in the hospital. I can't sleep. I just keep having nightmares of the accident and EVERYTHING HURTS 🤕.

On top of this I keep worrying about having to get into a vehicle when its time for me to go home. Heck I was in a panic on my way to the hospital by ambulance because the tech tending to me wasn't wearing a seatbelt because he had to move about in the back giving me meds and hooking up IVs.

Its been A tough day. I learned there's no modesty in a trauma room. My clothes were cut and torn off of me. Within moments I layed nude for the medical team to examine me thoroughly. It was at that point I realized how shocked I was and dazed. My nudity didn't phase me. I didn't give a damn. I was just in too much pain. My mind dazed I found myself rather upset about the torn outfit. I had borrowed it from my daughters wardrobe and it was a favorite of hers.

I recall making a lame joke about the Mack driver owing me a new outfit and thats when some of the shock and dazed cleared from my head. Everything came crashing down on me. I was in a car accident. My kids. I won't be home for them. The car. My job I didn't make it to... And then an abundance of pain and light sensitivity and nausea.

Somehow I made to now. Laying stiff in this hospital bed. Using speech to text and unable to sleep thinking about cars, fear pain work my kids and the word mack spelled in reverse as that was the last thing I saw before impact.

[OlderAndWiser]

I have represented hundreds of vctms in auto collision cases and maybe 10% of them experienced some degree of a post-traumatic phobia about driving. Most of them started driving again due to necessity, but were hypervigilant and anxious whle driving. Some would choose longer routes to their intended destination if they thought the alternat route would expose them to less risk. I cannot remember ever having a case where the trauma caused a total loss of ability to either drive or ride as a passenger.

If you have "Medical Pay" coverage in your auto policy, use that for your medcal expenses. Your Personal Injury Protection coverage will reimburse you for medical or lost wages, so try to reserve that for lost wages, if you also have Med Pay. If those benefts get exhausted, you can use your health insurance, but they have a right to be reimbursed if you make a successful claim against the at fault driver.

If you are unable to return to work after a few days, and do not have personal leave/sick hours availabe, you can request an extended leave under the Family Medical Leave Act if your employer is covered by that law.

If the insurance company for the at fault driver calls you to talk about your injuries, tell them that you are in the hospital, taking medications that impar your thought processes, and you don't want to talk until you have been released from the hospital and had a chance to consult with an attorney. If they accept responsibility and want to pay you for your car, you are not obligated to accept whatever they offer and you may want to have an independent appraiser examine the wreck to establish pre-accident condition and value.

Call me if you need additional advice.

[KrakenAttackin]

@OlderAndWiser well said. Since she was rear-ended by a commercial vehicle there should be insurance available. Also, many modern trucks have all kinds of video recording. If they use electronic logbooks the truck will also have stored acceleration, breaking, and a ton of other data.

[OlderAndWiser]

Thanks for MHO! Hope you are starting to sense some relief from the trauma but it is probably too soon to be feeling any improvement. Keep taking your anti-inflammatory medication even if you feel it is not helping!

[KrakenAttackin]

Holy shit! @meetkitty123 my dear, I am so sorry this happened to you! Don't screw around with this, it's quite possible new injuries will make themselves evident over the next few weeks... go easy in all things.

Next, get a good fucking lawyer! No kidding, do some research, DO NOT go with a billboard firm (they just farm it out to a small guy and take more of a cut). Find an attorney/firm who is NOT AFRAID to go to trial of necessary. Also, request a copy of the accident report. If you like I will steer you through a few more thing having to do with commercial vehicles.

Poor girl, I am really sorry for you.

[meetkitty123]

@KrakenAttackin Thank you very much
Im so tired and sore.

[KrakenAttackin]

@meetkitty123. Take it easy for sure.

[Still-alive]

Holy... wow! im so sorry this happened to you.

i've been in several car wrecks myself but fortunately never suffered any injuries. It took me awhile to get over the fear of passing by other cars. i still sometimes get anxious doing that on the freeways especially and the last accident i was in was a year ago last march. a drunk driver hit an suv and it hit me as i was passing by them.

For you it looks like its gonna take a lot longer to get over. you may need therapy to help you.

and yeah hospitals have little modesty i recall my experience in the ER a couple times and they basically will take your clothes off no questions asked.

I hope your kids are alright. if i were close by i would totally help you out but alas im just a guy on the internet. please take care of yourself and i hope you make a swift recovery. feel free to chat with me in my inbox if you wish. *hugs for you*

[meetkitty123]

Thank you 🫂

[lightbulb27]

That car did it's job protecting you, what kinda car?

I've been tail ended several times, and I got driving immediately. once I had whiplash and a chiroprctor fixed that in a few visits.

trauma gets recorded in the body, so meditation/release/prayer can help. The stiffness comes days after, especially when pumped up on meds.

take Olderandwisers advice...

rest up hope you feel better soon.

[meetkitty123]

Yes I will be listening to older
And the car was a Corolla Toyota

[Deepinthought345]

Being in an accident can be quite traumatic emotionally as much as it is physically. A lot of "what if" goes through your mind. You get angry, you think of all the things that could have happened, you resign to the what has actually happened. You need closure with the whole incident. What I am glad is that you still have a little sense of humor in all this to see yourself through. This is important. Maybe the most important thing that has kept you alive. You want others not to be bothered by your condition at the same time you want yourself to stay positive through this.

I hope you get better sooner. I hope you get all the love to get better. Remember, you fell and hurt yourself when you were learning to walk. You got up and continued walking.

[douride2]

I'm sorry to hear about what your going through & hope you have a speedy recovery. I was run down by a car I never saw coming. I only wish I had gotten off as easy as you did. It was a long slow recovery. It took me years to get to where I am today.

[meetkitty123]

Thank you. Im sorry to hear of your own past trauma. I too know how long some injuries can take. I slipped on ice and went under a bus years ago it took about 5yrs to recover. This time I was luckier but my previous injuries are acting up again.

[douride2]

Are you at home recovering or still in a hospital?

[whirled_up_girl]

I was rear-ended once in a bad snowstorm but not nearly as bad as you, I didn't need to seek medical treatment but the car was totaled. I ended up having to get back into a car very quickly because I live in a rural area with not much public transportation and none that works out with my job. I still get nervous though when the roads are slippery and I see someone coming up fast behind me, I usually grip the steering wheel and brace for it. In any case, I will you a speedy recovery!

[whirled_up_girl]

*wish* you a speedy recovery

[Anonymous]

It will last for as long as you choose to be a victim.

It's natural and normal to be shaken up and it will take time to recover your confidence and thats fine, you will know you have a problem if / when you find yourself avoiding getting back on the horse.

Sorry this happened, get well soon.

[AimeeKyle]

Wow…and sorry to hear / see. Glad you are ok.

I was in a multiple car accident that caused significant damage to my car. I fortunately only had minor bumps and bruises. I drove just a few hours later, but definitely was timid / much more cautious for the next few days / weeks.

Speedy / full recovery! Good luck to you.

[Paul_in_Indy]

I’m so sorry!

To answer your question directly: You have to get back on the horse. As soon as you are physically able, get back in the car and drive. That is the only way to address that trepidation.

[exitseven]

Wow, I am glad you survived. Your car is a wreck so it must have been a huge impact. I have only been in one car wreck and nobody got hurt. I had to have the car towed away but I got up the next day and drove to work.

[Lovethecountry]

Prayers for you and your family! Hope you are feeling better quick! As for the question, some people I know we're back driving quick, like the next couple of days after, not necessarily because they wanted to but because they had to

[Likes2drive]

Hope you’re doing ok and make a good comeback, it’s best to start driving as as you’re able so you don’t become afraid to drive, as the saying goes, you get back on the horse

[LiamJHayden]

Not while driving, but I got hit in a crosswalk by a car when I was 16 and I still get nervous crossing streets when a car is moving towards the crosswalk, even slowly.

[bolverk]

I was back behind the wheel the same day, it was the following day that muscle stiffness/whiplash set in, the I reached for the Ibuprofen and had a steaming hot shower to ease the stiffness.

[Paul09]

I e been involved in a few accidents in my younger days. 3 totaled. But never had a injury. Sorry to hear what happened to you. Ever since , I've become a defensive driver.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Sorry about your accident, hope you feel better. Best Wishes :-)

[JohnK123]

Oh wow I’m so sorry are u all better now? Still have trauma? Ik a family friend who got hit in a car and never drove for two months

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Thank God you aren't dead or that they have to amputee your limps.

You're be fine champ. 👍

[legalboxers]

prayers and powerful energy. For me, took me a while. I took a bus before I felt safe

[Nominal]

I've never crashed a car or been in any incident, but if that would happen, i could drive the car right now after the incident.

[NathanDavis]

as soon as both of their knees healed, and recovered entirely...