Nearly 31,000 people were killed in car accidents in the United States in the most recent year for which a complete set of statistics are available. The annual number of people killed in automobile accidents in the United States over the course of the past 20 years ranges from 29,000 annually on the low end to over 39,000 at the other extreme. Behind each fatal automobile accident are loved ones mourning the loss of someone that they care a great deal about.
In the aftermath of a fatal car accident, loved ones need to find a way to manage their understandable grief. There are a number of strategies that a person in this position should consider taking.
Reach Out to a Trusted Confidant
Although this may sound like very basic step to take in the aftermath of the loss of a loved one to a car accident, a loved one is well served reaching out to a trusted confidant. Despite seeming like a logical (and even natural) course, a surprising number of people who have lost a loved one in a car accident never takes this step. In simple terms, they keep their emotions locked in and “suffer in silence.”
The reality is that people typically have friends and family members who are more than willing to be supportive in this time of need. Moreover, odds are that a person who has lost a loved one in an automobile accident will have at least one other person in his or her life who has been through the same experience.
Seek Professional Assistance for Emotional Needs
In some cases, the emotions associated with the loss of a loved one in a car collision become overwhelming. In this type of situation, a person is advised to seek out the help of a professional to assist in working through these emotions and issues. A psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor or therapist may provide precisely the type of support and assistance a person needs in this type of situation.
Seek Professional Assistance for Legal Needs
Finally, if a person killed in a car accident is a close family member (like a spouse, parent, child or sibling) a person may be in the position to file what is called a wrongful death lawsuit. According to Gittens & Associates, in the aftermath of a car accident that takes the life of a loved one, a person is wise to consider consulting with a skilled personal injury lawyer to help lessen the stress of the legal process. A personal injury attorney typically will schedule an initial consultation at no cost and no obligation to the prospective client.
This article is from Lizzie Weakley, a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. She enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her three-year-old husky Snowball.
