Being in a car accident, even a minor one, can be a traumatic experience. One moment, you’re cruising along the open road. The next moment, the air is filled with the sounds of screeching tires, crunching metal, airbag dust, and shattered glass. In the whirlwind of feelings and emotions, it’s easy to forget what you should do.
If this is your first accident, you likely don’t know what to do after a car accident. We’re here to help you on your car accident recovery journey.
The Richards Firm is a personal injury law firm in Hamilton, Ohio. We’ve helped countless people navigate car accident recovery across the Greater Cincinnati area. While there are a number of actions you’ll want to take after a car accident, your priority should always be this…
Take Care of Yourself First
It’s important that you file a police report, contact your insurance, get your car repaired, gather evidence, etc. But before you get too involved with that, you need to tend to the needs of yourself and any friends/family that might have been in the car with you.
The recovery after a car accident can be a long road. Even minor fender benders can result in chronic pain, trauma, and other issues over the following weeks and months. The longer you wait to get yourself treated, the more difficult the road to recovery will be.
Make sure to check yourself for any cuts, bruises, etc. If necessary, don’t hesitate to call paramedics to the scene. If your car is drivable and you feel up to it, consider stopping by an ER for a quick evaluation. If you suffered any blows to the head, we’d recommend having someone else drive you. Concussions and other conditions relating to head injuries aren’t always immediately apparent.
Even if you feel otherwise fine, it’s a good idea to visit a chiropractor, physical therapist, or another specialist that deals with physical pain and discomfort. These professionals know what to look for, and they may find points of pain or injury that you’ve missed.
When considering where to go after a car accident, just remember this:
You Choose Where You Get Medical Treatment
When you’re going through car accident recovery, the choice of what professionals you see and where you see them is yours. Don’t be pressured by other parties in the accident or insurance companies to visit a specific facility. It is the responsibility of insurance companies and at-fault parties to cover the costs of facilities you choose to go to.
Whether you’re visiting your primary care physician, a trusted chiropractor, or another specialist you’ve found through research/word-of-mouth/etc., don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment and go.
The longer you wait to receive treatment, the more difficult your car accident recovery will be. Waiting to seek treatment can also increase the possibility of undercutting your claim or receiving less compensation than you should.
Don’t Ignore Your Mental Health
While any car accident can take a physical toll, many take a mental and emotional toll as well. Especially serious car accidents. When it comes to car accident recovery, many people are so focused on physical recovery that they ignore their mental and emotional needs. The accident may be affecting how you act and even treat others without realizing it. In fact, over 32% of people experience some form of PTSD after a car accident.
While you may not think such treatment is necessary at first, visiting a mental health professional can be very beneficial in terms of car accident recovery. Even if your physical injuries were relatively minor, the sudden shock and impact can have a profound effect on your thoughts and feelings.
After a car accident, you may be:
- Afraid to get behind the wheel or travel to places
- Left with a sense that something terrible is going to happen at any moment
- Increasingly aware of your own mortality
- More prone to cancelling plans, acting out to those around you, and other negative responses.
A mental health professional can help you navigate these feelings, helping you get back to where you were before the accident. As with medical professionals, you choose what mental health professional you wish to see.
Speak to an Injury Attorney as Soon as You Can
In the same way you shouldn’t wait to seek medical or mental treatment, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact an attorney either. Working with an experienced accident and injury attorney can be very beneficial to car accident recovery.
As we said before, there’s a lot to do after a car accident. While your priority should be to take care of your physical wellbeing, your attorney can focus on the rest. This may include gathering witness testimonies, communicating with the police, corresponding with insurance companies, and more. A trustworthy attorney can ensure that critical steps aren’t missed while you’re focusing on your car accident recovery journey.
The Richards Firm is Here to Help
If you’ve been in an accident in Hamilton, the Greater Cincinnati region, or Northern Kentucky, The Richards Firm can help you with your car accident recovery. We’re a homegrown law firm focused on making our nation’s complex legal system more accessible to those in need.
With The Richards Firm, you can expect to be treated as an individual, and you will work directly with our lead attorney Rhys Richards from start to finish.
Even if your accident is relatively minor, it never hurts to reach out. Our initial consultation is completely free. Should you choose to move forward with us as your attorney, you only owe if we win your case. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation, or you’d like to ask a few questions first, call us at 513-461-0084 or click here to visit our contact page.
Start your journey to car accident recovery today.
