Recovery and Resilience: Driving Again After a Car Accidents
Car accidents are a disturbing experience that can affect not only the physical aspects of our lives but also the mental and emotional well-being. Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to have only two major accidents, providing valuable insight into the resilience needed to get back on the road.
Two Major Accidents Over the Last 50 Years
Once, driving across the USA, I left at night from San Diego to get to a place near the Grand Canyon in August. As the night air cooled and I fell asleep, the car rolled over. I received 150 external stitches and unknown internal stitches in my scalp. My brother brought me back to San Diego to recuperate. Despite the serious injury, within 18 hours, he tossed me the keys to his Corvette and told me to drive to the store to get some items. This was my first experience in getting back into the saddle after an accident, demonstrating the importance of resilience and confronting fears.
Swift Recovery and Resilience
Another incident occurred in the winter of 2015 on an interstate. A pick-up truck with a huge plow rear-ended the car behind me, and I managed to swerve almost miraculously, avoiding a collision and avoiding traffic in the next lane. My car was later deemed "totalled" by the insurance company. But moments after the accident, I drove the damaged car home. Although the state police recommended a flat-bed truck to take my car, I managed to drive it myself, reinforcing the notion that immediate recovery can help overcome initial fears.
Speed and Fear
Speed was a factor in my worst accident, involving a VW Jetta. One day, running late due to my responsibilities and fearing job loss, I was driving at an excessive speed. Suddenly, another car darted in front of me, forcing me to swerve and break, sending my car into a skid. The Jetta crashed into my car, breaking my head and causing me to lose consciousness. This accident had a profound impact on me, causing me to experience full panic attacks at every intersection I drove through for over a year.
Lessons Learned and Resilience
Both of my major accidents taught me a lesson in resilience. I was able to drive again within 18 hours and less than 24 hours of being released from the hospital. The key was to get back on the road as quickly as possible to regain normalcy and confidence. This is a testament to the human spirit and the importance of overcoming fears.
While my worst accident left me out of a car for about two weeks, all other instances involved driving within hours of the accident. For major accidents, getting behind the wheel as soon as possible has been crucial for mental recovery. This mindset of perseverance and resilience is vital in overcoming such challenges.
It is often said, just as one might need to get back on a horse after falling off, one must get back into the saddle after an accident. Immediate recovery can help mitigate post-accident anxiety and fear, allowing a safer return to driving.