5 Tips for Dealing With the Stress of a Hit-and-Run Accident

A car accident is stressful even when the at-fault driver is apologetic, compassionate, and helpful after the crash. However, some drivers get a double dose of bad luck when they’re not only hurt in crashes, but the motorists who hit them flee the scene before exchanging information or even checking if they’re okay.

Hit-and-run accidents are more common than you think. In 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 814,457 hit-and-run crashes in the U.S. When at-fault drivers leave accident scenes, they leave victims dealing with the aftermath on their own—and often with no easy or straightforward recourse for their medical bills and vehicle repairs.

If you’re a victim of a hit-and-run accident, it’s important to know that you have options for getting compensation and justice. In this blog, we explore ways to deal with the physical and emotional stress of a hit-and-run crash along with the investigation and claim process.

Look After Yourself With These 5 Tips

1. Prioritize Your Health

It’s important to not only get treated immediately after the crash, but to continue following your doctor’s orders while you recover from your injuries. The stress of a hit-and-run accident is easier to handle if your body is recovering from the crash. In addition, focusing on your recovery can give you concrete goals and motivation while you wait for your hit-and-run accident claim to move forward or settle.

2. Stay Active

Being active is important for your health and wellbeing regardless of your age, injury status, or stress levels. But when you’re going through something as stressful as a hit-and-run accident, it can make a huge difference in your recovery, pain levels, and outlook on life. Ask your doctor or physical therapist about exercises you can do at home or during treatment while you recover, including walking, stretching, light aerobics, cycling, and more.

3. Seek Emotional Support

Hit-and-run accidents aren’t just painful—they’re also difficult to process mentally and emotionally. You may wait weeks or months to get closure on the accident, all while waiting to learn if the driver who hit you has been located. Spending time with family and friends can help ease the mental burden you’re experiencing and keep you focused on the good things in life during this difficult time.

4. Practice Stress-Relief Techniques

Stress can be detrimental to your body and mind. When you’re feeling extreme stress, which is common after hit-and-run accidents, you may even experience delayed or impaired healing of your injuries. Practicing stress-relief techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help relax your body and quiet your mind, which can promote faster and more complete healing after the crash.

5. Speak With a Therapist, Counselor, or Psychiatrist

For some hit-and-run accident victims, the stress of the crash and the drawn-out aftermath can result in more than just simple stress. They can result in psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. If you’re having trouble handling the mental burden of the crash, talking to a mental health professional can help you learn coping strategies and ways of reducing its daily impact on your mind and overall well-being.

What Are Common Symptoms of Intense Stress After a Hit-and-Run?

Debilitating stress is often, but not always, obvious after a crash, including a hit-and-run. Many people experience significant stress for days, weeks, or months without realizing it. Long-term stress can wreak havoc on the body by increasing the risk of illness and disease.

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident, it’s important to be vigilant for these signs of intense stress and follow the tips above to improve your physical and mental health:

• Physical Symptoms: Headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and changes in appetite
• Emotional Symptoms: Anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and feelings of helplessness
• Cognitive Symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and intrusive thoughts about the accident or finding the driver who hit you
• Behavioral Symptoms: Withdrawal from social activities, changes in work performance, and increased use of substances like alcohol or drugs
• Post-Traumatic Stress: Flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and avoidance of reminders related to the accident

Our Ohio Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Get Peace of Mind

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, and police officers are often highly motivated to find hit-and-run drivers—especially when they seriously injure innocent people. However, police departments only have so many resources to devote to investigations—and they also can’t help victims get compensation for their crash-related expenses.

At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, our Ohio auto accident attorneys have decades of experience assisting all types of car accident victims, including people who were injured in hit-and-run accidents. When you work with our team, we’ll work hard to collect evidence that can help locate the driver who hit you. And if the driver can’t be found, we’ll examine all of your options for getting compensation.

The aftermath of a hit-and-run accident is a stressful time, but we’re on your side. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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