According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 7,277,000 car accidents reported in the U.S. in 2016. In 2,177,000 of these reported accidents, at least one person involved experienced a minor or major injury and 34,439 of these accidents resulted in one or more fatalities. 5,065,000 of these accidents involved only property damage, which may have included simply buffing out scratches or completely replacing vehicles that were deemed total losses. Since car and truck accidents have the ability to negatively impact finances, stability, and health, it’s important to know what to do if you’re involved in a crash. Looking out for yourself and following important tips and procedures after being involved in a car accident helps you put your life back together quickly.
Finding an Injury Attorney
If your car accident resulted in an injury, it’s crucial to find a car accident lawyer to represent you. Medical expenses associated with your injury may be insurmountable, leading to medical debt that could negatively impact your financial stability and goals for the future. An injury attorney ensures you secure the money that’s owed to you to help cover these expenses. Hiring an attorney that specializes in car accidents helps ensure that your legal representation has experience with cases similar to yours.
You aren’t required to hire an injury attorney to help you pursue financial assistance for your medical expenses. However, a professional car accident attorney represents you in the case, making sure you receive fair compensation for your claim. With legal representation on your side, you’ll feel more confident that you’ll be provided with what you need to get healthy and get your life back on track.
Following Your Accident Doctor’s Orders
Since your doctor should know your medical history, it’s important to follow orders so you can recover fully and quickly from your injury. If you’re seeking compensation for your medical expenses, you must follow proper protocol to qualify for the financial assistance you request.
As an injured party, you’re responsible for mitigating your loss and doing your part to ensure you recover. By being proactive about recovering from your injury, you prove you’re using the compensation properly. You show your commitment to recovery by seeing a doctor promptly after the accident and following up on your accident doctor’s orders.
Doing all you can to not make the injury worse and maintaining proper treatments after your accident is crucial. If you require further testing, additional appointments, or rehabilitation, don’t delay in following the next steps laid out by your doctor.
Attending Occupational Therapy Sessions
If you were involved in a serious car accident, your doctor may refer you to an occupational therapist. When you attend sessions with an occupational therapist, you’ll engage in treatments designed to help you get back to your regular daily activities. These activities may be related to basic life skills, such as brushing your hair, or job duties, such as typing on a computer.
Consulting a Mental Health Professional
Your mental health after an auto accident may also be negatively affected. No matter how serious the accident, the whole experience can be traumatic, so it’s important to pay attention to your mental state.
Seek treatment from a mental health professional if you’re having difficulties functioning or your mood is frequently affected. Signs you may need help getting mentally healthy may include:
- Fearing the future.
- Having trouble sleeping.
- Experiencing emotional outbursts.
- Having problems focusing on simple tasks.
Seeing a psychologist, mental health professional, or psychiatrist may be helpful in getting your mental health back on track.
Taking Time To Rest
After an accident, your body and mind need time to rest. Don’t push yourself too hard mentally, emotionally, or physically, as it could worsen your injuries. Take your time getting back to your normal tasks and go easy on yourself as you transition back to regular life.
Lightly Exercising
Exercise boosts your mood and keeps your body strong and healthy. However, be sure to follow your doctor’s orders in regards to exercise and don’t push yourself too hard. Starting slowly with light walking or yoga can help you transition into more strenuous exercises over time, such as jogging or biking.
Choose light exercises that don’t aggravate your injury. Low-impact activities, such as swimming, are usually safer choices while your body is still recovering. Listen to your body as you exercise and if you’re feeling pain or discomfort, take a break from your routine and consult your doctor.
Eating Healthy and Staying Hydrated
Living a healthy lifestyle is crucial for full recovery from your car accident. As your body is healing, it’s important to stay hydrated and eat healthy foods. Providing your body with the nourishment it needs ensures a faster recovery from your injuries and allows you to get back to your daily routine quickly.
Paying Attention To Emerging Medical Problems
It’s not uncommon to notice injuries well after your accident occurred and after you sought initial treatment. Some symptoms take a long time to show, so you may not have been aware of all injuries directly after your car accident. Adrenaline and shock may also mask your pain so you may not have been able to report all injuries at the time of the crash.
If the pain from your car crash lingers or you discover emerging medical problems long after you’ve recovered from initial injuries, contact your doctor. If you were working with an injury lawyer, call the office to discuss additional compensation you may be entitled to receive if you incur additional medical expenses.
No matter how minor or serious, a car accident is traumatizing and may cause mental and physical problems that need to be addressed. By following specific procedures after you’re involved in a crash, you can be sure you receive compensation for your medical expenses so you can recover quickly and fully from your injuries.
