How to Recover from the Devastation of a Large Truck Accident

Large truck accidents cause massive devastation in the form of bodily harm, property damage, and fatalities. In 2018, large trucks were involved in 112,000 injury crashes and 414,000 property damage incidents in the United States.

That’s an average of 306 injury crashes and 1,134 property damage incidents each day. Those are frightening numbers.

If you’ve been involved in a collision with a big truck, you’re probably having to face some serious consequences. Whether you’re struggling to recover physically or to pay your medical bills, here are some tips to help you get through hard times.

1. Seek medical attention immediately

No matter how small you believe your injury to be, seek medical treatment immediately. You might have suffered internal damage that will take a few days or longer to feel.

When you’re involved in an accident, the body goes into shock, which protects you from experiencing overwhelming pain. Even if you feel serious pain at first, it could still get worse. A doctor can order X-rays to find out if you have a broken bone or soft-tissue injury that requires treatment even in the absence of significant pain.

Also, talk to your doctor about staying active to recover from your injuries. Recent research indicates that resting can do more harm than certain levels of exercise.

2. Focus on brain rehabilitation early

If you sustained a head injury, start working on brain rehabilitation immediately. Regardless of what you’ve heard, the brain is malleable. That malleability is called neuroplasticity. The sooner you start working on rehabilitation, the easier it will be to recover from your injuries.

Watch the documentary called The Brain That Changes Itself to see how easy it is to reprogram the brain and regain motor function after a serious incident. Many physical therapists are aware of the brain’s neuroplasticity and will work with patients on that principle.

If your therapist doesn’t understand the concept, find someone who does, even if you have to pay out of pocket. Your recovery will be worth the extra cost.

3. Take care of your mental and emotional state

When you’re injured or incapacitated, it’s easy to fall into the trap of negative thinking, but that can only make you feel worse. You’ll also take longer to recover when you feel bad emotionally.

Take time each day to relax, de-stress, breathe deeply, and meditate. You don’t have to do fancy meditation exercises or purchase an expensive, guided meditation program. You can find free meditations on YouTube.

If you don’t like guided meditations, just sit down or lie down, breathe deeply, and allow your worrisome thoughts to escape from your mind as if they’re nothing more than clouds floating away. Notice your thoughts and detach from wanting to “think” about them more deeply; just let them go.

When you spend significant time calming your mental and emotional state of being, your feelings, thoughts, and mood will shift toward a condition of peace and contentment, regardless of your circumstances.

4. Hire a lawyer

The only way you’re likely to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries is to hire a lawyer to represent your case. You’ll probably find an attorney who will take your case on a contingency if he or she agrees you have sufficient cause.

You’ll want to obtain a settlement for a variety of reasons, including:

·  To cover current and long-term medical bills

·  To pay for your personal expenses like rent, utilities, internet, etc.

·  To replace your lost wages if you can’t return to work for a while

Don’t wait to connect with an attorney. The longer you delay making the call, the longer it will take for you to get your settlement funds.

You won’t get paid until after you win the case. But even then, payment won’t be immediate. It will take some time to receive the money.

5. Don’t push yourself to drive again too soon

If you’re feeling hesitant to get behind the wheel after your accident, don’t pressure yourself. Though you don’t want to live in fear for the rest of your life, you also don’t want to push yourself to start driving again too soon.

Your body may stay in a fight-or-flight mode for a while, and be re-triggered just by your return to the driver’s seat. It’s not safe to operate a car in a state of hypervigilance.

When you feel ready to begin driving again, start slowly and bring a friend. Drive to the corner store and back. Drive to the grocery store. Use the back roads and avoid freeways until you feel absolutely comfortable getting back on the high-speed, high-density routes.

Be gentle with yourself during your recovery

Be gentle with yourself while you recover. Stress can greatly reduce your ability to heal. Do whatever you can do to reduce your stress, stay focused on your goals, and you’ll recover well.