People think that when you were in a car accident, you are going to be fine in a day or two. That shock doesn’t last long. With accidents where there are a couple of people injured, you think that when they are feeling better, they can put the accident behind them. But, is this the truth? Or, are there some long-term effects that people are struggling with, even if they weren’t injured in the accident? This is everything that you need to know about the long-term effect of a car wreck.
Your injuries after a car accident may not be physical injuries at all. They may be emotional injuries that may take a long time to heal. Children struggle with the emotional aspect of car accident far more often than adults.
The long-term effects that you can have after an auto accident
1. Emotional effects
There are lots of emotional effects that you can struggle with, after an accident. And, if you think that this is going to last just for a short while, then you should think again. The emotional effect of a car wreck can last for weeks. Especially, if you were responsible for the accident and there were deaths because of you. Emotional scars because of an accident don’t go away overnight.
It is important that people that are struggling with the emotional part of being in an accident or being responsible for the accident should get professional assistance as soon as possible. The problem will not go away by itself, and it can just get worse. You need to look for signs that the person’s personality is changing and when he is getting depressed. Then seeing a professional is essential.
2. Injuries in the long-term
Injuries can also last a very long time. Especially, when you had a head injury or you were seriously injured in the crash. It might feel that you aren’t going to recover ever, and you might feel that the nightmare isn’t going to end. However, this is normal to feel this way. And, you need to make sure that you are just focusing on getting better.
Don’t worry about how long it is taking. Be thankful that you are alive and have a second chance. This is hard to struggle with injuries for months, while other people are going on with their lives. And, because of loss of income during these months, it is so easy to become depressed and to think that your injuries will never get better.
3. The death of someone because of the accident
One of the hardest parts of being in an accident is if you are alive, but someone else close to you has died. This is the one thing about the accident that will never get normal again. A long-term effect that can’t be undone and that can’t be changed.
The loss of someone special is always hard, but if you were in the same accident and you have survived and the other one not, this is making it even harder. You might deal with guilt, emotional scars and even some long-term injuries that you still need to recover from. This is the tragic part of an accident. To get over the fact that you have lost someone dear to you. This isn’t just a long-term fact; this is something that will be with you for the rest of your life.
4. The loss of your vehicle
We are getting used to our vehicle. We have paid long and hard for it. And, so many people don’t really have the money to purchase another one. When you were in an accident and your vehicle is damaged beyond repair, you are going to be angry, sad and frustrated. There are some people that are feeling that you have lost someone dear to you.
This is normal, especially if you had your vehicle for a very long time. Even those cars that can be repaired they may not ever be the same again. And, the owners of damaged vehicles don’t feel the same about their cars ever again. In some instances, after the car is fixed, it is sold.
Although a car is just a car, some people look at it more than that. A car for one person may just be transportation, for another it may have its own special name. Insurance adjusters do not care what you name your car, its just a car to them. But for you it’s much more
5. Struggling with PTS
You might feel fine just after the accident. Even a couple of days later you are still feeling fine. But, then it hit you. Long and hard. This is what we are calling PTS or post-traumatic stress. When you are getting the feelings and reacting to the accident a while after it happens. This is the most serious long-term effect that you can have after an accident and it can be really serious.
Children really struggle with this long term. They may be afraid to even get into a car after they have been involved in a car accident. They may have trouble sleeping at night, or have dreams. You may need to monitor your children frequently if they have been involved in a car accident. These issues usually stem from more serious accidents, not just a minor fender bender.
How to minimize the long-term effect of the accident
There are ways that you can minimize the long-term effect of an accident. If you know what to look for, and whom to see. These are some ways that you can minimize the long-term effect of the accident:
• Make sure that you are going to see an accident doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you are going to see the doctor, the faster you will recover from any injuries. And, the faster you are going to heal again. Take note: You should see a doctor a that specializes in auto injuries.
• If someone has died from the accident, get emotional assistance from a professional right away. The sooner you are going to get help, the faster you will recover emotionally.
• Get your car repaired as soon as possible. Or, purchase a new car as soon as you can. The moment that you are purchasing a new car, you will feel better and will make sure that you aren’t going to think back on the previous car.
• Talk to other people about the accident. Don’t say that you don’t want to talk about it. The more you are going to talk about it, the less emotional problems you are going to have. And, it reduces the risk of PTS.
If your car is repaired and you are healed from your injuries, people think that all the trauma and long-term effects are gone. However, this isn’t the truth. There might be many things that keep reminding you of the accident and the loss that you might have had. With all this information, you will know what to look for, if you think that you might have some long-term effects of the accident. And, you will know how you can prevent this from happening again. It is really important to make sure that you are recovering emotionally and physically as soon as possible.