When you’re in any kind of accident, there’s a lot of headaches involved. But motorcycle collisions are in a class of their own when it comes to stress.
For starters, the injuries in a bike accident typically are more severe.
There’s no sugarcoating the statistics. While only 20% of motor vehicle accidents are deadly, an astounding 80% of motorcycle crashes end in a fatality.
So you’re not only dealing with the physical after-effects of a bike collision. You’re also likely trying to handle the mental part, too. You just faced death and came out the other side.
But you don’t have to do it all on your own. No matter what the details or circumstances were of your accident, there’s help available to lower your stress.
1. Physical Injuries
A bike collision at high speed rarely occurs without serious injury. You’ve survived, but chances are, you have some sort of soft tissue or spinal damage.
You need to seek medical help if you haven’t already. If the accident was recent, you can still go to the emergency room. They’ll refer you to a local doctor to help you manage your pain and recover from your injuries.
Spinal and soft tissue damage after an accident can be helped with chiropractic care and massage, too.
However, motorcycle insurance doesn’t always work the same way auto policies do. In some cases, the insurance won’t pay for medical treatment.
When that happens, don’t give up on getting care for your injuries. Talk to a personal injury attorney to see what your rights are. They see these motorcycle accidents all the time, and they’ll point you in the direction you need to go to recover.
2. Psychological Injuries
People hurt in motorcycle accidents, in general, have a harder time admitting to psychological damage from the wreck. The stereotypical ‘tough’ persona of riding a bike can backfire here. You were in a horrific accident, and it’s okay to feel mental stress because of it.
It might help you to see some facts on psychological conditions that are often diagnosed after a bike wreck. PTSD and depression are two of the most common symptoms found in motorcycle accident survivors.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD, short for post-traumatic stress disorder, develops after a person sees or experiences a traumatic event. Motorcycle wrecks fall into that category easily.
However, it can take a long time for the symptoms of PTSD to show themselves. Once they do, if they’re not treated, they can last for years and affect all of your relationships.
Symptoms of PTSD can include:
● Avoiding social situations
● Re-experiencing the event when you’re startled or sleeping
● Engaging in self-destructive behaviors like drinking or drugs
● Insomnia
● Anxiety
The best way to know if you have PTSD and get help for it at the same time is to talk to a therapist. Your attorney can help you find one that takes your insurance.
Depression
Depression is another mental health diagnosis that’s often seen after a motorcycle accident. It’s especially prevalent when there’s a physical injury that keeps the person from living their pre-accident lifestyle.
If you’ve been feeling sad or hopeless for a while, you may have depression. A sense of loss of your previous life, despair, and despondency may be part of your day now.
Depression’s most common symptoms include:
● Tiredness, no matter how much you sleep
● Lack of energy
● Social avoidance
● Thoughts of suicide
● Trouble concentrating
● Too much or too little sleep
● Feelings of worthlessness or failure
Talking to a therapist is a beneficial way of learning coping mechanisms to get you through depressive episodes. It gives you the necessary tools to get a handle on your self-destructive thoughts and replace them with productive thinking.
Depression may be helped with medication, exercise, and acupuncture, too.
Conclusion
Maybe you’re not ready to jump back on your bike quite yet. As you work through the physical and psychological damage from the accident, though, this may come.
With help, you’ll gradually figure out what you’re capable of and what still needs to heal.
You’re not alone, though. There are experts out there who are willing and ready to help guide you through the complex path after a motorcycle accident.
