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Traffic crash trauma can instill vehophobia, the overwhelming fear of driving again. If you’re scared to drive after an accident, call the car accident attorneys at Wilshire Law Firm. We’ll fight for your justice and compensation for medical expenses, interruption to working life, and more. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for clients. Call us 24/7 at (800) 501-3011.

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Vehophobia Definition: Too Scared to Drive After a Car Accident

Vehophobia after a car accident is an intense fear of driving. It occurs when someone experiences a terrifying, life-threatening event. The fear of recreating that event and the chance it might end in the driver’s demise, or that of family members, can lead to this type of PTSD. [1]

Fear of Driving After Accident - Wilshire Law Firm

Fear of Driving After an Accident? We’ll Pursue Compensation for You

Wilshire Law Firm can help when an accident results in life-changing trauma. Our compassionate and experienced lawyers have assisted numerous clients in obtaining the compensation they deserve when negligence occurs.

Fear of driving after a car accident can lead to financial instability and emotional distress. We work for you to demand justice and compensation from those responsible. Our goal is to make you whole again in the eyes of the law. Some of the legal damages we pursue include: 

  • Lost wages: When you may be unable to go to work because of your inability to drive. If an employer allows you to work remotely, in some circumstances you may retain your job.
  • Medical expenses: Treatment for vehophobia can take time, and the cost of repeat sessions with a psychotherapist can be expensive.
  • Pain and suffering: Relentless fear of driving might cause emotional and psychological suffering. Both can threaten your well-being and change how you live.
  • Loss of enjoyment: Because fear of driving affects many activities we take for granted, vehophobia can result in loss of joy for the injured party and their family.
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Statistics Associated With Fear of Driving

Many people experience fear of driving after a car accident — a rational fear since many individuals die in daily vehicular crashes. The chances of being involved in a car accident are high, and the risk of causing a collision is equally substantial. Many people fear driving because they wish to avoid hurting a family member or themselves.

Vehophobia is a form of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Statistics show that the prevalence of PTSD in victims of road traffic accidents equals approximately 22 percent among those studied [2]. With 6,756,000 car accidents happening in 2019, that means many individuals develop PTSD every year.[3]

Learn More: PTSD After a Car Accident

Panic Attacks Due to Vehophobia

The fear of another car accident produces crippling anxiety that keeps a person from driving. Some afflicted people are worried they will have a panic attack while driving, which could lead to a severe or even fatal crash. This feeling escalates for many drivers and keeps them from driving. Besides limiting their life, the individual loses the ability to work and interact socially outside the home, increasing a victim’s pain and suffering.

Vehophobia Is an Avoidance Symptom Linked to PTSD

Avoidance symptoms like vehophobia coincide with a person trying to prevent another accident. An example of this occurs when a person avoids driving or traveling in a motor vehicle, or revisiting the same area after a car accident. Trauma avoidance symptoms include:

  • Avoiding thoughts, emotions, and situations related to the trauma
  • A feeling of detachment from family and friends
  • Feeling numb from a psychological perspective
  • The feeling of jitteriness and difficulty sleeping is associated with arousal and reactivity symptoms

Psychotherapy Used to Treat Vehophobia

Both cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy help resolve the fear of driving and other PTSD symptoms.[4] Cognitive therapy helps patients approach the thoughts linked to anxiety differently. Alternatively, behavioral therapy identifies and changes behavior in response to a stimulus.

Prolonged exposure therapy is another way to treat vehophobia and is often used with behavioral and cognitive therapies. It lets the anxious patient re-experience the event triggering anxiety. Over time, the individual’s anxiety will lessen as they face their fears repeatedly.

Medication is another way to treat excessive fear while driving. Antidepressants or beta-blockers help in some cases. However, ask your physician if taking these medications has side effects or affects your driving ability.

Free Case Review with a Law Firm for Fear of Driving Damages

The experienced car accident attorneys and award-winning team at Wilshire Law Firm  can help address the legal implications that come with the fear of driving after an accident. Count on us to

  • Provide legal advice on how to best handle your specific case
  • Review any documents related to the accident and advise on potential strategies for addressing any fear issues that may arise from it.
  • Negotiate with the insurance company to ensure an appropriate level of compensation is provided for treatment so you can confidently get back behind the wheel.
  • Connect you with support resources within your community who are especially knowledgeable in helping people cope with trauma and anxiety associated with being involved in an auto accident.

Wilshire Law Firm regularly handles complex California and Nevada car accident lawsuits. Call us 24/7 at (800) 501-3011 to schedule a free case review. You can reach us online also. Remember, we work on a contingency basis, so you pay no fees unless you win. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Fear of Driving After a Car Accident 

What are the signs of mental trauma after a car accident?

One of the most troubling signs of mental trauma after a car crash is the inability to confidently face driving again. This fear limits you in many ways and feeds upon itself without treatment.

How does a car accident affect you mentally?

A car accident can damage you mentally by causing anxiety, panic, and a stress-related reaction called PTSD. This reaction can keep you from driving and cause financial and emotional harm.

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