People who have not been involved in accidents themselves often do not understand the intensity of the experience. They are not being selfish or uncaring; they simply have no frame of reference. The compensation which an attorney can obtain goes a long way toward rebuilding your life. But there are some other things you can do as well.
Photo by StevepbA lawyer for injury cases is a great resource in this process. Your lawyer is more than your tireless advocate in the courtroom. It’s true that a lawyer is not a psychologist or therapist. But a lawyer is a legal counsellor and someone who understands what you and your family is going through.
Be Prepared
Some people think once they leave the hospital that everything will go back to normal. But if you were in a serious accident, that’s very unlikely. You may feel the mental and emotional fallout for a few weeks, a few months, or even longer. Many people experience things like:
- Anxiety,
- Flashbacks,
- Sleeplessness,
- Irritability, and
- Heightened awareness.
These symptoms normally do not consistently make daily functions impossible, but there will be occasional flare-ups.
An attorney helps immensely in this part of the process. People who try to settle their own accident cases are dealing with experienced insurance company lawyers. That’s a very stressful situation. Let a lawyer handle the paperwork and settlement negotiations. If you can concentrate on the areas discussed below instead of your case, you’ll get better faster.
Put Away Bad Memories
This process is quite difficult. Furthermore, you may not see night-and-day results. Nevertheless, the exercise is very important.
Start by avoiding the area where the collision occurred. Every time you pass that intersection or that location, you will probably think about the accident and the pain it caused.
Furthermore, take all your medication as directed, including pain pills. The doctor prescribed them because they will help you and not hurt you. If you do not have the funds or insurance to see a doctor, an attorney can usually connect you with a qualified professional that charges nothing upfront.
Finally, change your vehicle if possible. An attorney can help you with the property damage portion of your claim and make sure that you receive fair compensation.
Make New Memories
Avoiding memories of the accident is just one step. Much like those old cell phones or digital cameras, the brain only has so much storage space. When you make new memories, your brain will essentially purge the old ones.
Take this opportunity to make some changes in your life. For some, that change involves spiritual or personal development. Others focus more on physical development. Take up yoga or Tai Chi. There are other changes you can make as well, such as a new diet, a new job, or new friends. All these things help you move on from the accident, and that’s really what needs to happen.
If the aforementioned symptoms persist after three months or the aforementioned exercises are not helping at all, it’s usually a good idea to seek professional help.
