Getting Back On The Road Again After A Car Accident
Posted by admin at 12 April 2019, at 16 : 31 PM
An accident of any kind can be devastating, and, unfortunately, car, vehicle, and road accidents, are commonplace. As an experienced or seasoned driver, you’re likely to have witnessed one or two, driven past some, and for the unlucky; you’ll have gone through your own accident circumstances. Experiencing a car accident can leave damage in a multitude of areas. There can be physical and mental injury to the people involved, expensive damage to your vehicle, and lasting memories that are never pleasant to think about. Therefore, with all these factors combined, it can be a tough challenge for even the most confident of drivers, to get back in their car, and driving safely on the road again.
However, all is not lost. You can heal from injuries and ensure that your wellbeing is well taken care-of. There are also an array of steps you can take to make the transition back into driving agan, as smooth as possible. If you’ve always loved cars, the open road, and the freedom they can bring; you’ll be eager to get behind the wheel with confidence, and put your accident firmly in the past. You can learn from any mistakes, and move forward as a happy, responsible road user, so, you don’t have to worry. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice for drivers who have recently experienced a car crash or accident, and are keen to start driving again so that they can get their life back on track.
Confidence In Your Car
The main thing you’ll want to tackle after an accident, is getting back behind the wheel, with confidence. Perhaps your car was so badly damaged in your collision, that it needs extensive repairs, or even replacing. Hopefully, your insurance will cover both outcomes. The best thing about the latter option, and getting a new vehicle, is that you’ll be able to go and sit inside, and test drive a variety of cars, and choose something you feel most comfortable in. You might want to pick the same, or something similar, to what you had. However, you may feel like a change is necessary, for a multitude of reasons, including that you never felt too confident behind the wheel of your previous car. Therefore, you’ll want to head to a reputable used car dealership so that you can find your ideal car. Investing in a used vehicle will ensure that your insurance remains manageable, and you’ll know that it’s been driven safely on the roads before hand.
Considering Lessons
It doesn’t matter how many years of driving experience you have under your seatbelt, an accident can knock your confidence so much that your road skills take a negative impact. You might also be off the road for a long period of time due to injury, so you’ll just not be up-to-scratch, and as adept as you once were. This is completely normal, and nothing to be ashamed about. The best thing to do is to invest in some driving lessons again so that you and your instructor, can work towards finding your comfort zone behind the wheel again. Other drivers will give you the time and patience you need to navigate the roads again, and work on all the manoeuvres, so you can get back on track at your own speed. Make sure you explain your circumstances to your tutor, so they’ll have plenty of empathy, and won’t be showing you the ropes from scratch.
Keeping Company
Much like when you were learning to drive in the first place; it’s worth taking a passenger out with you, whenever you can, to keep you company. Having a reassuring presence and voice at you side can work wonders to keep you calm and focused, not to mention, to soothe any anxieties. Anxiety and driving are never a great combination, so ask a family member or close friend to come with you when you head back out on the road, to the shops, or to refuel. You can always pull over and take a break, or ask them to take over driving, if things get a bit overwhelming. This can always happen during those first few times on the road, after an accident, so never be fearful of asking someone to swap seats and drive you home again.
Tried And Tested Routes
Whether you’re heading out with your chosen passenger, or are braving the road alone, it’s important to ensure that you’ve planned your route in advance. Look at your Google maps and sat-nav, beforehand, will help to eliminate the worry surrounding your journey. Try to stick to routes you know well, at first; understanding how a road goes, where turnings are, and knowing when to slow down, will all assist your practise sessions, and keep things safe. Keep driving regularly, and go a bit further afield each time; you’ll build-up confidence, and your driving skills will probably end-up exceeding what you had before your car accident. Offer to do the weekly shop, or collect friends and family if they need a lift, locally; familiarity will allow you to concentrate on driving successfully again, rather than getting stressed over becoming lost, or taking the wrong turning. Keep going, you can do this.
Looking After Your Health
It’s crucial that any physical injuries that you sustained in your incident, are fully healed before you attempt to drive again. Even minor fractures, muscle damage, and bruising, can impact your ability to react and perform in the car as well as you did beforehand. Psychological damage is very common after an accident, and your memories of the event may come back when you least expect them. Therefore, it’s vital that you’ve taken care of your mind and mental health, alongside your physical injuries. You’ll never regain the confidence and abilities you need, if you’re still suffering mentally, so make sure that you seek the right counselling or therapy. It’s also okay to ask your medical team, if they feel you’re ready to drive again; they will have seen countless accidents before, so their help and knowledge will be priceless.