Two people get into the same car accident. One is back on their feet within weeks, while the other struggles for months or years. It’s not always related to injury severity. There are many factors that help people bounce back from accidents, and more that complicate the recovery process, which is why in similar scenarios, some people move on without a hitch while others are forever changed.
People Seeking Medical Attention Right Away
People who get into accidents and seek medical care right away are more likely to recover than those who wait. In an accident, people are on so much adrenaline that it masks pain for the moment. Therefore, injuries that may not be perceived as severe at first may be temporary or something else entirely. However, when people wake up with symptoms days later, it’s often too late to assess issues before they’re compounded. Getting into a car accident and getting evaluated right away means greater chances of catching things before they get worse.
In addition, there are complications beyond physical recovery that require people to document their injuries right away. Insurance companies are less inclined to believe injuries that come weeks after an incident, raising questions about whether the accident even caused the problem. Getting medical attention the same day or within a few days eliminates these complications.
Appropriate Support Systems
People who have people to help them support their needs recover more quickly than those who have no one. For example, family members who can drive them to appointments, make them meals, run errands to avoid straining a recovering back, etc. provide stressors that would otherwise complicate the recovery process. This means that those who have people to take care of their other responsibilities do not push themselves as hard too soon to heal.
This goes for emotional support, as well. Getting into an accident may cause anxiety about driving again, financial stress about bills piling up and frustration about physical inability to resume normal activities. Those who have someone to talk to about this are better off than those who must suffer alone. The mental component of recovery is not to be overlooked.
Issues Resolved in a Timely Manner
People who get into accidents and experience administrative stressors that complicate their recovery times are less likely to bounce back quickly. For example, insurance claims, vehicle repairs, medical payments and potential lawsuits are overwhelming from the start. The sooner people can resolve these issues —or get people to help them — the less stress they’re under compounding their recovery.
Often, in a recovery state, dealing with insurance companies is frustrating. Insurance companies fight back, pay delayed claims, etc. Having a car accidents lawyer perth or similar will help ease this burden so those injured aren’t struggling to fight the good fight while trying to heal.
Compounding these issues makes for overwhelming anxiety. Debts pile up, phone calls needing to be answered loom, general unknowingness about what’s to happen next prevents the victim from moving on. Resolving these situations takes enormous pressure off.
Financial Stability
People who have enough savings or income protection are able to bounce back faster because financial stressors compound all other problems. Those living paycheck to paycheck with an inability to get time off from work must choose between recovering and earning money. More often than not, these people return to work before they should, all for fear of losing their job.
This exponentially complicates the recovery process when someone gets hurt and can either return to work too early and reinjure themselves or financially compound the situation by taking off too much time because they weren’t eligible for paid leave. For example, someone returning to work finds that they still can’t function. They need more time off so they miss more pay. They are more disgruntled they have yet to miss rent payments. This cycle continues until someone has enough savings or satisfaction from a settlement that eases lost pay.
Willingness to Follow Through
People who rebound better have a willingness to follow through on prescribed recommendations. For example, this means physical therapy appointments, medications, rest periods, etc. Those who skip out on certain sessions or believe that not following a prescription is okay because it may be inconvenient for them only extends their recovery times.
Furthermore, overconfidence can prevent someone from realizing their injury status. While it’s understandable for people to feel minimally better days after and believe they’re ready to resume normal life, usually this is not the case. Those who are stubborn end up back where they started after waiting so long to feel better only to go back and forth. However, those who trust the process and understand that things take time can effectively heal.
Workplace Considerations
Jobs that understand recovery are great jobs to have. For example, if someone is in a position where they can have modified duties or a flexible schedule from in-person hours to work-from-home arrangements, the better off someone will be since they can protect their economic stability while putting themselves first.
Rigid jobs ignore work/life balance at their peril. When someone has to choose between going back to work and losing their job, or staying out of work and risking losing their job, all for the sake of not healing, this creates additional anxiety that complicates recovery.
Job-related stressors exacerbate injuries even more. Those who support their employees from Day 1 are much better off than those who inappropriately deal with injured employees.
Pre-Incident Health and Fitness
Naturally fit people pre-accident tend to recover quicker than those who were out of shape. This isn’t to say that people can’t recover if they aren’t fit, as time frames may just take longer. Pre-existing conditions may also exist.
Age also plays a role in this component but not absolutely. Younger people tend to recover faster than older people, but older people who have maintained great lives end up recovering better than younger individuals who didn’t take care of themselves pre-accident. It’s all about holistic health.
Mindset and Expectations
People who enter with mindsets and active recoveries rather than passively show up for appointments are more likely to receive better referrals than those just ticking their names on a list. People need to take ownership of the process and become somewhat engaged.
When people expect that recovery takes time rather than expecting immediate results and understanding minor improvements exist day-by-day, then it becomes a point of motivation for them each day instead of becoming frustrated. Having realistic expectations makes for a better overall sense of awareness.
Severity of Accident
The severity of the accident in and of itself does not matter as much as believed. Minor accidents with good factors for recovery lead to long-term complications while major accidents end with recoveries. It’s everything else — from receiving medical help immediately, through supportive networks, immediate resolution of compensatory needs, financial security, follow-through and realistic expectations that drive what is likely to occur.
It’s unfortunate, but those who receive the best comprehensive care during the most tenuous times recover better than those who experience obstacles within several critical areas with no sympathy or help. If people truly understand what helps avoid pitfalls in recovery from the start, it’s possible to obtain a positive outcome despite similar circumstances in the beginning.
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