The Auto Accident Support Center

Countless men, women and children have experienced the tragic nature of an automobile accident and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge.

TSC has scoured the Internet and assembled the links to the very best auto accident resources: articles, blogs, forums and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional and other challenges you may face.

As you'll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this Automobile Accident Guide even more helpful to survivors like you.

Just Found Out

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Dealing with Automobile Accidents

• NOVA: What to Do When You Are Involved in a Car Crash at the Scene
  
• wikiHow: How to Survive a Car Accident
• TeensHealth: What to Do After a Car Accident
  

The Big Picture

Our cars and roads are becoming safer.  Statistically, there are no more automobile-related accidents and deaths today than there were in 1995, even though there are many more cars, and more potential accidents, on the road today.  The reasons for this are many.  Roads have been improved.  Cars themselves have been made safer.  And people are more aware today of the dangers of driving drunk or even the dangers of talking on a cell phone when driving.  

That being said, there are over 40,000 deaths each year as a result of automobile accidents and well over a million people are injured each year by cars.  One person dies as a result of an automobile accident in the United States approximately every 13 minutes.  No matter how careful you are when you get behind the wheel, you are still -- to some degree -- at the mercy of the other drivers on the road.  If someone runs a red light as you cross through an intersection, all you can hope is that everyone is wearing restraints, and that no one is driving too fast.

Driving defensively, following the rules of the road, always wearing safety restraints, never drinking and driving, and not talking on a cell phone while driving all go a long way toward making you a better and a safer driver and a driver less likely to be involved in an automobile accident. Learn how to drive to maximize your safety:

Roadtrip America: 70 Defensive Driving Rules to Live By

Your Automobile Accident Experience

The implications of your automobile accident experience will depend greatly on the specifics of your accident and the total damage sustained. Be prepared:

Edmunds: What to Do After a Car Accident 

Your World

If you've survived a major automobile accident, the fact alone that you're still alive may be a blessing. However, the emotions associated with surviving a car crash can be overwhelming during and after the experience, especially if someone is badly injured or killed. You may turn to family and friends for support, or you may consider an online support group:

Daily Strength: How to Handle Depression Anxiety After Auto Accident

After an accident, you may find that you don't want to get behind the wheel again. In that case, you should learn how to overcome your anxieties:

eHow: How to Get Past the Fear of Driving After an Accident

Automobile Accident Myths

• The color of my car affects my insurance rates
• Thieves prefer to steal new cars
• Seat belts can trap you in a crash

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

• CDC: Motor Vehicle Safety
• MayoClinic.com: Infant and toddler health - Slide Show: Car seat safety
• MayoClinic.com: Post-traumatic stress disorder
  

Dealing With Insurance Providers

Do you know what your auto policy covers and what it doesn’t?  You may think you do, but what happens, for example, if a neighbor borrows your car and gets in an accident?  Which insurance company pays?  After an accident is not the time you want to find out what your policy covers and what it doesn’t.  Ask questions ahead of time so there are fewer surprises later. 

• National Associations of Insurance Commissioners: Auto Insurance Coverage
• JD Power: Understanding Your Auto Insurance Policy 

Professionals Who Can Help

You may need several different types of specialists following an auto accident, and the worst part is, many of your injuries may not even become apparent for days, weeks or even months following a crash.  Make sure that you visit your doctor for a comprehensive check-up -- and potentially X-rays -- after you experience a serious auto accident.

You may also find that physical therapy offers you relief from any pain you experience.

Content For Reprint: Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

If you want to get emotional therapy, contact a mental health organization in your state:

CDC: Mental Health Organizations by State 

If you are considering getting legal help, there are numerous lawyers in the accident injury field. Be careful to find a reputable lawyer, whose fees match what you can pay. 

All About Car Accidents: Car Accident Blog

The Emotional Roller-coaster

Surviving a serious auto accident can be emotionally draining. It's important to continue living your life normally, participating in the same daily activities you've always done. Support groups are also important to maintaining a healthy emotional state. Other than that, educating yourself on the recovery process and exposing yourself to books and stories written by those who have dealt with auto accidents in their past can help give you perspective, guidance and reassurance.

Books Survivors Recommend

• Surviving an Auto Accident: A Guide to Your Physical, Economic and Emotional Recovery
• Surviving the Storms of Life: Finding Hope and Healing When Life Goes Wrong
  
• Surviving Whiplash: Saving Your Neck Without Losing Your Mind.

What Survivors Wish They'd Known

Communicating with the Professionals Involved in Your Recovery

• Bring a friend or family member with you to your health, legal and insurance-related appointments not only to provide support but to lend an extra ear to understand everything the professional has to say and to think up any more questions you may not realize are important at the time.
• Don't be afraid to ask any questions you feel you need the answer to, even if you may be scared of the answer. Ignorance won't help you overcome obstacles - emotionally, physically or financially.
  
• Write down any questions you may have ahead of time and the answers to those questions as the professional walks you through them.  Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on anything.

Dealing with Automobile Accidents: Information for Co-Survivors

How you can help

As a co-survivor, the best thing you can do following a serious accident is to offer help take care of basic needs. Watching a home when someone is at the hospital or in rehab can take a great deal of stress off of a survivor.  Often it is the little things that can make a tremendous difference in a person’s life.

What to say

• “I'm so sorry for your loss.”
• “I’m here for you.  You just tell me what you need.”
• “Thousands of people have survived this situation, and I know you can too.”

What not to say

• “Wow!  Did you see what you did to that other car?”
• “Big deal.  So you don’t have a car any more.”
• “You better hope your insurance covers all of this.”

Things you can do for a survivor every day

• Help surviving parents by offering to take care of children.  Offering even a few hours of sitting service will allow parents to focus on getting their lives back in order.
• Sharing time and offering activities such as dinner and a movie will help distract a victim from the seemingly-unending tasks after a major accident. Helping the survivor find balance between work, recovery and recreation will help greatly.
• Offer an ear to the survivor, and if you've gone through something similar, share any wisdom you learned through the experience.

How to build a support network

• Set up your TSC Co-Survivor profile
• Create a support group for your friend or family member
• Interact and provide updates

How to help a survivor deal with day-to-day challenges

• Work/School – Transportation may be a problem following a major auto accident, especially while vehicles are being assessed and repaired. Helping survivors to and from school and work will greatly help reduce their mental and emotional stress.
• Just “being there” for someone can be a tremendous help. Offer encouragement and daily affirmation.

Recovery / Recurrence

It’s not possible to prevent all automobile accidents, but there are things you can do which will reduce your odds of being in a major accident.  Here are ten specific tips from Edmunds.com:

Edmunds: Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident

Out of adversity comes triumph.  Read an inspirational story about how a major car accident changed one life in ways never imagined.

Inspirational Words of Wisdom: A Car Accident…then came Success 

Give Back

What helped you while you were dealing with the accident, processing the aftermath, and then had moved on? Take a look back at your journey and share with other what helped you and what you wished you would have known/done during your auto accident experience. You can create a profile, reach out to other survivors, join support circles or share your story by following the links at TheSurvivorsClub.org.

 

If you’ve been involved in a major auto accident, you may have sustained serious injuries -- and in extreme cases, you may be paralyzed. Learn about paralysis and what you can expect, and how you can best care for yourself and your body.

• MedlinePlus: Paralysis
• Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve Foundation: Paralysis Resource Center

If your injuries are even more serious, and you find that you will not live, consider these sources of information and support:

• MedlinePlus: Hospice Care
• Medicinenet.com: Loss, Grief and Bereavement