It’s not easy to return to the road after suffering a car accident. After all, it’s not as if you’re going to be thrilled about being in the same situation you were made vulnerable in before. Even if you love driving, love cars, and are a total petrolhead, you may feel a little nervous sitting behind the wheel and getting back into the swing of things.
After all, it could have been months or even years since your last car accident. Injuries can leave us unable to drive for a while, or in some cases, we might have been suspended from driving. Your past car could have been a write-off, and only now have you been able to buy a replacement.
Getting back on the road after a car accident, though seemingly easy for some, may not be so for you. In this post, we hope to consider a few ways you can get back on the saddle without panic or worry:
Find A Friendly Car Insurance Provider
Shopping around for car insurance after an accident can feel like you’re being judged for something that wasn’t necessarily your fault, because some insurance companies treat you like a walking liability the moment they see your driving history. But there are providers out there who understand that accidents happen to good drivers too, and they’re not going to make you feel terrible about needing coverage.
You’ll want to be upfront about your accident history because trying to hide it will only cause problems later, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept the first quote that comes your way or deal with agents who make you feel like you’re asking for too much. A reliable car insurance provider that works with you to give you the best quote will at least let you get back on the road without worrying about overpaying.
Take Small Trips & Relearn Your Routes
Jumping straight back into heavy traffic or long motoway-based road trips is probably going to stress you out more than necessary, so starting with short trips around local areas you know will give you a chance to rebuild that confidence gradually. You could begin with driving to the supermarket during off-peak hours, then work your way up to busier roads as you start feeling more comfortable, then get back into your daily work run.
Relearning your regular routes is actually more important than it sounds because muscle memory plays a big role in confident driving, and if you’ve been away from the wheel for months, it could have left you. Just give yourself time.
Learn Deep Breathing Techniques & Ask A Friend To Accompany You
Having someone you trust in the passenger seat can make those first few drives feel a lot less intense, and it doesn’t have to be someone giving you driving advice or critiquing your every move. Just having another person there who can help with route-finding or provide a distraction from your own anxious thoughts as you sing along to music.
Deep breathing techniques can also help manage that spike of anxiety you might expeirence when you’re merging onto a busy road or approaching an roundabout similar to where your accident happened. Learning to recognize when your breathing gets shallow and being more deliberate about it will help massively.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily get back on the road even after a large accident.
