How to Emotionally Deal with Your First Motorcycle Crash
One of the scary realities of being a motorcyclist is that crashes occur more frequently on a motorcycle than they do in a car. Even more frightening is that if you get into an accident, your chances of injury are quite high. You can take every precaution, but accidents still happen, and they can affect your life in a negative way.
If you have been the victim of a motorcycle accident, you know that it can be hard to get back on a bike. These crashes can leave a person with a myriad of lingering issues — not just the physical kind, either. Considering how traumatic a motorcycle accident can be, it's no surprise that the aftermath of a wreck can come with several different types of mental distress.
However, there are plenty of riders who have had this unfortunate experience and are still able to get back on a bike. It might take some time, but if you know what to expect, it will be much easier to overcome your fears and get back on the open road.
Here, we will discuss not the physical fallout
from a motorcycle accident, but how to mentally recover from an
accident.
Mental state after a crash
A motorcycle crash is a scary thing, and there's no doubt that being involved in one will leave a lingering impact on your life. Often, people focus on the physical fallout from a motorcycle accident, but it is also important to recognize the mental fallout from a crash.
It is common for riders to experience a few different types of mental struggles after a crash. Some riders will experience anxiety after the accident. Others might experience PTSD after a motorcycle accident. Neither of these ailments is uncommon, but there are ways to cope after a traumatic experience.
A crucial thing to consider after a motorcycle
accident is to seek help in the form of therapy. If you let your fears go
unchecked, they can present themselves in unhealthy ways. This will not only
impact your ability to get back on a motorcycle but your life in general. PTSD
and anxiety are no joke and should be treated as seriously as a physical
ailment.
Side effects of PTSD
If you can't shake bad thoughts after a
motorcycle crash, you might be experiencing PTSD. PTSD is a clinical condition
that effectively acts as an umbrella for several mental symptoms. If you have
any of the following, you might be experiencing PTSD:
- Emotional detachment
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Depression
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Loss of interest in activities you used to
enjoy
Get help right away
You might be feeling okay, maybe even lucky,
after your first motorcycle accident, but we would still urge you to get
professional help right away. By seeking counseling after an accident, you can
hopefully prevent a more serious case of PTSD.
Your counselor will help you put your crash
into perspective and cope with some of the negative feelings that can pop up
when you think about the event.
By waiting until symptoms of PTSD or other emotional
distress symptoms show themselves, you could be making things worse. Counseling
will be able to not only help you cope with whatever issues you are facing now
but also issues that are likely to arise in the future.
Suing for emotional distress after an accident
If you were in an accident and another driver was involved or if there were faulty conditions connected to your accident, you may be able to sue for damages. To do this, you will want the help of an experienced attorney.
You will need to prove negligence to win your case. You will also need to prove that an emotional injury did occur, that the injury occurred during the accident, and that the accident was the fault of the defendant.
Money might not solve everything but holding
those responsible for your accident can go a long way in your mental recovery
from a motorcycle crash.
If you have been in a crash and seek representation,
please contact Steelhorse Law today.
