Can’t Drive After a Wreck? What to Do Next

Not being able to drive is an umbrella problem because you’re looking at possible property damage or injuries. You could be unable to drive because a truck accident left you paralyzed and, thus, unable to drive a traditional vehicle. You may also be unable to drive because your car was totaled, which means it’s a temporary problem. No matter the reason, if you can’t drive after a wreck, there are a few things you should consider and plan out.

Consider all of the below as you go through and assess how to move forward after a crash that leaves you unable to drive. A local Richmond car wreck attorney can help you recover compensation and get you back on the road.

Uber, Lyft, and Other Rideshare Services Are Good Options if You Can’t Drive After a Wreck

Most people simply can’t get by on public transportation alone, especially if they’re still recovering from injuries. So what can you do in the meantime? Well, use rideshare services whenever they’re necessary, but keep close track of the expenses associated with these services. For example, you might be able to get by on rides from friends and relatives during the weekend, but use rideshare services during the week when everyone is working.

Now, your being unable to drive is likely not a permanent situation, because even injuries that result in paraplegia can involve driving in your future.

Assessing Driving Alternatives to Accommodate Injuries

Spinal cord injuries that lead to paraplegia or other issues that may impact your ability to control a vehicle are severe. It’s possible that you’ll spend years working on creating a new normal in your life. A severe trucking accident can lead to paralysis, and spinal cord injuries from minor wrecks can lead to incomplete paraplegia, which you can recover from fully.

Now, in the meantime, you may need rideshare services or medical transport to get to certain doctor’s appointments or to make certain meetings. The good news is that even with complete paraplegia, you can get back behind the wheel of a car. Cars with hand mobility are made for people with paraplegia so they can reclaim their independence.

There is another primary injury that can stop people from driving, and it’s PTSD. An invisible injury that many people question, but that doesn’t make it any less real. When you have PTSD, and it’s stopping you from driving, you need to seriously consider how important driving is in your life. Work with your therapist and doctors to help overcome this traumatic event so that you can move forward with a happy and independent lifestyle.

Is Property Damage Stopping You From Driving?

Many people find that they can’t drive after a wreck simply because they don’t have a car. For one-car households or people who own their own car, it can be difficult to map out how to get to work or even get to your attorney’s office without a car. If you can afford to use rideshare, then that’s great. But many people can’t afford to spend $20 to get across town every day and then $20 to get home. It defeats the purpose of going to work.

The same problem comes up with public transportation if you have to be at work by six and the busses begin running at five, and your route won’t get you to work until seven, then you have a problem. In these cases, you can argue with your insurance company that you require a rental car because of the extreme inconvenience. If they refuse, then add the expense of your rideshare costs or gas costs for carpooling to your demand letter.

Being without a car for any stretch of time can put a huge financial strain on any household and even lead to people losing their job. Your insurance company should aim at getting you back in your car, or in a car as quickly as possible.

If You Can’t Drive After a Wreck, Contact a Richmond Car Accident Lawyer

In Richmond, you’ll have no trouble finding a car accident injury law firm, but what you want to do is to make sure that you have a good fit. You’ll want an attorney that understands your case, the unique struggles that come with it, and how to build a strong case around it. Your inability to drive now could stem from anxiety, a physical injury, or even the extent of your property damage.

At Virginia Injury Law, the Virginia Injury Law offices, our team seeks to pull out those unique nuances and develop a case around them. That can be assessing the financial damage from using rideshare or seeking therapy for anxiety, which has stopped you from driving. Get in touch with someone from the Virginia Injury Law offices now.