No one is ever prepared for an accident. But, long after the car is fixed and your physical injuries have healed, you can still have fear and emotion strain. This can prevent you from traveling, getting to work, or even getting in a vehicle again.

The fear and emotional trauma after a car accident can be long-lasting, and in some cases it can be worse than the broken bones. Psychological effects for severe mental and emotional trauma include PTSD, acute stress disorder, and major depressive disorder.

If you feel like you are suffering from trauma after a crash, here are the most important things to do.

Dealing with Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident

Remember: The emotional reaction may take some time to settle in. You can be in shock after an accident, and you may suffer physical injuries. The aftershock can take some time to surface. So, just because you feel fine immediately following a car crash doesn’t mean that you actually are.

1. Seek Help Right Away

You want to talk to a professional in the mental health care field as soon as you suspect you are suffering from trauma. This will not only get you the help you need, but it will also get you the important documentation you need.

If you need extended care, you will want to have proof of diagnoses for insurance purposes. The most important thing is getting help. You won’t be in any condition to worry about documents, so let the professionals take care of it for you.

2. Talk to a Lawyer

Find out what your rights are. Getting a lawyer to handle the insurance claims and any other business takes the pressure off you. They know how to negotiate with your insurance company and prepare, in case you go to court.

This allows you to focus on your recovery and not have to worry about legal business or insurance. Find a lawyer who is experienced and specializes in car accident trauma.

3. Get Support

Talking to a professional will allow you to face the trauma. You can also join a group session and talk with people who are dealing with the same types of trauma. This can really open up doors for communication and healing.

Talking to your friends and loved ones will also help. You can find help in all kinds of places when you look. If you are still suffering from physical trauma, not having adequate emotional support can make the emotional trauma that much worse.

Avoid drugs and alcohol. Try to be social and don’t avoid situations that make you uncomfortable. It can be a slow recovery, but you will get back to normal.

Don’t Let Post-Accident Trauma Stop You

Get back on the horse that bucked you off. True, it’s easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. Surviving a car crash is already traumatic, so you want to get ahead of the trauma that comes later.

We are often too focused on the physical healing to realize we are suffering mentally. But you need to address the emotional trauma after a car accident as well. Talking to a professional will help you get back in the car again.

Hiring a lawyer is also a smart idea. You have insurance for a reason, but if you are too traumatized to deal with the insurance companies, having a lawyer can help there too.

If you are suffering emotional trauma following an accident, you may be able to recover damages for your suffering and losses. Contact Milwaukee car accident attorney Karl Gebhard for more information or a consultation.

While teens make up just 7% of the American population, they’re responsible for over 10% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries.

During their first half a year of driving alone, teens are eight times more likely to die in a collision than more experienced drivers. Therefore, it’s always a relief to find out that your child survived a car accident. But, even so, your entire family is still left to deal with the aftermath.

Let’s look at what steps you should take within 48 hours after the crash.

Reach out to the Authorities

After a crash, your teen should move your car just enough so it doesn’t obstruct traffic. Then they need to contact the police immediately.

Why reach out to authorities? For starters, the other party may become extremely agitated. Police officers can restrain the other driver if the situation escalates. Plus, agreements between drivers usually don’t end well. Just because someone claims they’ll cover the costs doesn’t mean they actually will. The other driver may end up denying the accident even took place.

Take Notes and Photos of the Car Accident

Documenting everything before the tow trucks show up will prove vital to your teen’s case. Remember:

• Pictures of the accident and any resulting injuries can serve as proof later in court. You want to include photos of any skid marks, and you want at least one shot of the license plate and damage in the same picture.
• Exchange names, addresses, and vehicle registration numbers with the other driver, and get a hold of witnesses.
• Have your teen write down the officer’s name and badge number after the police arrive.
• If the driver of the other party wasn’t in the car during the collision, advise your teen to leave a note with their information. Otherwise, your child may face hit-and-run charges later.

Get Medical Treatment for Your Teen

Some teens refuse to seek medical treatment after a car accident. This is especially the case if they don’t feel like there’s anything wrong with them. But not all injuries are immediately apparent, so it’s vital your teen be examined. Medical professionals can uncover issues related to head trauma or internal bleeding.

Also, hold on to any medical expense documents related to the accident.

Speak with Your Insurance Company

The next step involves filing an insurance claim. If you fail to call the insurance company soon enough, they might deny your claim altogether. Remember to be as truthful as possible throughout the entire process, but avoid admitting fault or apologizing, as doing so may imply guilt.

Contact an Attorney

Going through the claims process without help can be very stressful, but a car accident attorney can fill you in on your options and answer any questions you may have. They can also interact with insurance companies on your behalf.

Try asking an attorney the following questions before hiring them:

• What do you specialize in?
• How much experience do you have?
• Do you ever deal with cases like this?
• What do you think about my case?
• What is your approach to handling these types of cases?

Feel free to meet with several lawyers, and choose the one that’s best suited to handle your case.

Final Thoughts

Following the steps outlined above ensures that you and your family get through this experience swiftly. Keep in mind that your teen should never admit fault. Claims adjusters will determine fault after reviewing and analyzing all the evidence.

Looking for an experienced and knowledgeable car accident lawyer in the Milwaukee area to assist you with your claim? If so, make sure to reach out to Gebhard Law today!

When winter arrives in Milwaukee, the roads can be covered in snow and ice. These icy temperatures cause a great number of car accidents in winter. With these seven tips, you can make the necessary precautions and preparations to avoid car accidents when the weather is cold and the roads are slick.

1. Get Winter Tires

You should definitely have winter tires if you’re driving around in the winter in Milwaukee. Many people put off getting winter tires because of the cost of buying them. And while it’s true that winter tires can be expensive, they’re worth the expense to avoid an accident.

If you really can’t afford any winter tires, there are alternatives. For instance, by purchasing the more affordable all-weather tires, you can ensure greater safety when driving in winter weather. When temperatures hit an extreme cold, all-season tires simply won’t do the job.

2. Keep Your Distance

Keeping your distance from other vehicles on the road is always important, but it is especially so in the winter. It’s amazing how many accidents could have been prevented by keeping away from the car in front.

There is also a simple rule to follow: If you’re driving at over 30 miles per hour, then keep at least 3 car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you’re driving at over 50 mph, then you should keep a distance of at least 6 car lengths.

3. Drive Slowly

Everyone knows that you have greater control of the vehicle when you’re driving slower. In low temperatures with snow and ice on the roads, you should be dropping your speed by at least 30 mph.

Even when the snow has melted, the roads may be even more slippery than they appear. By not driving too fast, you can avoid car accidents.

4. Don’t Take Risks

We all take risks occasionally when driving. This is especially the case on roads that we use on a regular basis. However, when it comes to the right turn you take every morning, think twice about it. In the winter, you need to allow yourself more time and space for everything.

5. Find Traction on the Roads

In the winter on the road, there might be moments when you have to make an emergency stop. In these circumstances, you should try to find traction on the roads so that your tires have something to grip on to. This could be the areas on the side of the road with lots of thick snow.

6. If You Crash, Move Away

Car accidents in winter are inevitable. While we can reduce the impact with many of these tips, the roads are too unpredictable to eliminate collisions altogether. However, if you’re unfortunate enough to crash your vehicle, move away from the car as soon as possible. This is because the same conditions that caused you to crash could cause another driver to do the same.

Get away from the vehicle and find yourself a warm place to wait for the emergency services.

7. Let the Emergency Services Handle Car Accidents in Winter

In winter conditions, it can always be tempting to be a good neighbor and help others. However, this can sometimes cause greater problems along the way. You may hold up traffic and create further car accidents on the road.

The best thing to do is to make sure you follow these precautions to keep yourself and your family safe on the roads. After you’ve done this, leave it to the emergency services to carry out their work without disruption.

Contact a Lawyer

Have you been involved in a winter car accident in Milwaukee? Do you need a lawyer? We specialize in personal injury cases and can provide you with legal advice. For more information, get in touch with us today.