You may have had a serious car accident recently that left you with injuries and damages. If you had a good car accident lawyer in Portland, Oregon, you probably got compensation.
But just because you are healed from the accident doesn’t mean getting behind the wheel again is easy. After a serious accident, you might be wary of driving again or are extremely cautious to the point that driving safely is difficult.
Fortunately, many people find their fears of driving again tend to fade after a few weeks or months. But if you are still having trouble driving, remember the following tips.
First, you should write down everything that happened in the accident. Many people discover that writing down what happened helps them to deal with the trauma and feel their emotions.
Despite what some think, avoiding the trauma doesn’t help you get better. It’s best to deal with your feelings as soon as you can.
Keep writing down what happened and how it makes you feel, and you should find it helps you with driving again.
Second, don’t keep what happened in the accident to yourself. Telling family members and friends what happened can reduce your anxieties and fears. Sitting on those feelings and fears can make it harder to get over them, and harder to get behind the wheel again.
Third, some accident victims find it helps to have another adult with them when they start driving again. Having a friend or family member to lean on while you get used to driving again can make a huge difference.
Fourth, keep your initial drives short and sweet. You shouldn’t undertake a four-hour drive across the state. Instead, just drive to the grocery store or gas station. Once you get accustomed to short distances, you can work your way up to longer drives.
Next, you should not avoid seeing the crash site. Changing your route or slowing down at the crash site isn’t productive. If you cannot see the place it happened without having a lot of anxiety, seeing a counselor can help a lot.
Last, if you still find driving gives you a lot of stress, consider a defensive driving class. The skills you learn in class can make you feel more confident behind the wheel. And being back in a car without an accident happening will increase your confidence.
Defensive driving classes also help you see situations that could lead to accidents. And taking one of these courses can reduce your insurance bills, too.
These tips will help you get behind the wheel and get on with your life. If you are still thinking about filing a claim or lawsuit, talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Portland, Oregon.
Herron Law Firm 