To ask how you get behind the wheel again after a crash?

[olivejury]

I was involved in a crash yesterday, with DM also in the car. We were both fine and so was the car that went into us.

I can barely remember how it happened but we were both changing lanes into the middle lane having each been in the first and third lane and had believed we had checked- clearly we hadn’t and resulted in a fairly low speed collision with impact to the side of both cars. Loads of roadworks on that particular B road and the layout has recently changed so that also probably contributed to the accident. Air bags weren’t deployed and nobody from either car was injured, just shaken up. Both cars weren’t driveable as there was damage to the wheel on one and body on the other so needed to be recovered

Accidents happen I know but I am worried to get back behind the wheel now. I keep having flash backs and worry that it could’ve been so much worse and I/my lovely mum or the poor other family just going about their day could all be in a hospital bed right now or worse! I have never had so much as a bump before and I am truly very scared of this happening again.

I can’t avoid driving either as I work in an outreach role where I do rely upon having my own transport

Has anyone else felt this way before after a collision and how did you move on? It’s just reminding me how short life is. I don’t worry usually so it’s unlike me to be so affected by this!

Like a previous poster I also booked a couple of driving lessons with an instructor after a drunk driver totalled my dad’s car which I was driving - ended up in intensive care for a week on NY Eve. The accident was 500m from my home - I had to get back behind the wheel otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to drive anywhere; there was no avoiding that junction.

Slightly confused at you saying it was a B road with 3 lanes OP?

The best way to get back to it is asap. Do you have the use of another car? Is your insurer sorting a hire car? (I realise this could be tricky over ester) but the sooner you do it the better. I had someone run into the back of me years ago and I am still hyper aware at junctions/lights etc just in case. It does get easier though

@Exhibity I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ve had extensive EMDR for PTSD and I know I’m fortunate that I have healed enough to drive again. I never take that for granted.

I was in a bad RTA 30 years ago, sustaining terrible life-changing injuries. I HAD to drive for work, and to the stables where I kept my horse, so as soon as I was halfway fit for driving I booked a couple of lessons with a driving instructor, and just knowing he had dual control of the car if I freaked out or had a flashback (I didn’t) was reassuring. It also helped me to know that although I had/still have no memory of the accident, it was apparently entirely the other driver’s fault, it wasn’t my driving that had caused the crash.