Post-Collision Care for Loved Ones

You might remember the moment that you received a phone call informing you that your loved one had been in a car accident. Then again, you might have been traveling in the same vehicle at the time. If your spouse or child or other family member suffered serious injuries, it can affect the quality of life for the entire family, especially if the person who suffered injuries needs daily living assistance. Post-collision care may require a whole team of people who are willing to be on hand to lend support.

When a person suffers serious injuries in a collision, it might be days, or even weeks, before he or she can leave the hospital and return home. During that time, you might have to rearrange your work schedule or set other obligations aside to be able to visit your loved one in the hospital. Depending on the injuries that occurred, you might also need to learn how to provide care in the months (or years) ahead.

Serious Injuries Are Not Always Immediately Apparent

It’s possible that your loved one was not aware that he or she suffered serious injuries at the time of the crash. Symptoms of certain injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, whiplash, or spinal injuries, might experience a delay. This is why it’s critically important to carefully monitor your family member during early recovery stages and to report any new symptoms to a physician right away.

Other Ways that You Can Help Your Loved One

If the family member who suffered serious injuries in a car accident doesn’t live in your household, you might be able to provide post-collision care by taking meals to him or her each day, especially if he or she is immobile. You can also help by being a good listener; recovering accident victims often want to talk about their collisions as a way to cope with their emotions.

Your loved one might need help with babysitting if he or she is a parent. You can also take care of daily tasks, such as household cleaning or laundry. If you notice signs that your loved one is experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder associated with the crash, you can encourage him or her to seek counseling.

Damages beyond those that involve mental and physical health

If a distracted or drunk driver caused your loved one’s injuries, the damages that have resulted from the incident may be extensive. In addition to physical and emotional trauma, financial distress may arise and affect your quality of life, especially if injuries have caused a permanent disability.

While you may not be directly able to resolve such issues, there may be legal steps that your loved one can take or that you yourself can take if the recovering victim is your child, to seek accountability against a driver whose negligence resulted in your loved one’s serious injuries.