Injured in a Car Accident? Here’s What You Need to Know to Recover
Injured in a Car Accident. it happens to people when they least expect it. One minute you’re driving along minding your own business and the next you’re waking up in the hospital. As such, it should go without saying that getting into a car accident is never a fun experience, especially when injuries are involved.
Studies have shown that as many as 13 car accidents occur every 60 seconds within the United States. And unfortunately, many of these are fatal. But if you’re lucky enough to survive with minor injuries, you’ll want to be proactive in your recovery.
Many people are unaware, but the steps that you take directly after you’re involved in a car accident are critical to getting the help you need, both medically and legally. Correspondingly, knowing what to do immediately after a car accident can be a great asset.
If you’ve been recently injured in a car accident and you want to know the best steps to take, the following will offer some helpful advice.
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Here’s Who You Need to Call First
Before anything else, seek medical attention. And this means that you should immediately contact the police and request for medical attention. Even if you feel “fine” after a car accident, sometimes internal injuries show up days or even a week later. And this is why you need to seek medical attention immediately to get a professional diagnosis.
After you’ve had medical attention, you’ll want to contact an attorney so that you can file a claim if the other motorist is deemed liable for your injuries.
The Recovery Process
As mentioned, seeking medical attention is vital immediately after a car accident. However, depending on the nature of your injuries, you could be in recovery for a lengthy amount of time. As such, there are a few things that you should remember during the recovery process.
Physical Therapy
Subject on the severity of your injuries, you may need physical rehabilitation. This is often the case with injuries that include broken bones which require months to mend. In this time, your muscles are prone to atrophy, and you’ll essentially need to “retrain” your body and your muscles to perform basic movements.
Physical therapy should be initiated with a skilled staff, in a professional setting. This way you won’t be likely to reinjure yourself.
Most physical analysts will walk you through the process of rebuilding muscle strength starting with basic exercises. This joined with massage therapy, and a host of other treatments including e-stim therapy, will ultimately allow your powers to heal around damaged bones, and reform.
For minor injuries, physical therapy might not be required. But this should be a choice that you and your primary care GP discuss in order to choose the best path forward for your recovery.
Proper Diet
In addition to following all the advice that a medical professional offers you, making sure that you’re eating appropriately and getting enough nutrients is also a vital part of the recovery process.
For example, our bodies require a sufficient amount of Vitamin D in order to absorb calcium into our bones and muscles. And without a proper diet with a healthy amount of Vitamin D, it may take longer for your bones and muscles to heal.
Additionally, it’s also good to note that being in recovery often means that you may not be able to go outside for an extended period of time. And since the human body is able to synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight, without sun exposure, you could develop a Vitamin D deficiency. And this is why eating a balanced diet or taking Vitamin D supplements is recommended when in recovery.
Mental Recovery
Being involved in a car accident can also be a traumatic experience. And believe it or not, but many people can suffer from PTSD after a violent collision.
If you feel that you’re having trouble coping after a car accident, such as if you’re afraid to get back into a car, or if you have recurring nightmares of the collision itself, you may need to seek out professional counseling to treat your trauma.
Talking with others who have experienced car accidents can also help to relieve some of the anguish that you might be experiencing. However, seeking out a professional is highly recommended.
Car accidents are no laughing matter. And if you’ve recently been injured, taking the appropriate steps listed here and heeding the advice of your medical professionals and your attorney will turn out to be the best strategy for your recovery.
