What Is Vehophobia After a Car Accident?

Understanding the Fear of Driving and Its Impact

The term vehophobia is a mouthful. While the world itself sounds a little odd, vehophobia is actually a very serious psychological condition. 

So, what is vehophobia? Put simply, it’s the fear of driving that can develop after traumatic events involving vehicles, such as car crashes. This condition may result in intense fear and anxiety when inside or driving a vehicle. Once vehophobia is triggered, it can severely debilitate the day-to-day lives of individuals dealing with the aftershock of a car accident.

Those suffering from vehophobia may live for years trying to avoid driving, are in need of support from loved ones, and often undergo extensive therapy to recover. This anxiety can also become part of a personal injury claim. 

If you or a loved one suffers from vehophobia, reach out to the car accident attorneys at The Smith Law Center online or call (757) 244-7000 for a 100% free consultation. 

Scared of Driving After a Car Accident

In defining the recognized anxiety disorder known as vehophobia, it is important to look at where this fear comes from and how it manifests differently in varying situations. The fear of driving or even riding in a vehicle can stem from various triggers. 

These triggers may include:

• Experiencing a past traumatic event like a vehicle accident
• Witnessing vehicle accidents
• Watching media exposure to vehicle accidents
• A learned condition from others suffering from the condition

In other words, this anxiety is attached to the action, location, or event that initially caused the trauma.

Vehophobia does not just stop at discomfort or inconvenient nervousness. Also known as car phobia or driving phobia, this condition can disrupt an individual’s daily duties and social interactions. The all-encompassing fear can result in:

• Avoidance Behavior: An overwhelming fear of getting into or being trapped in an automobile makes a victim avoid the task of driving altogether 
• Panic Attacks: Intense anxiety with symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, and feelings of impending doom or loss of control
• Physical Symptoms of vehophobia: The condition can manifest as chest pain, dizziness, headaches, muscle tension, and nausea

When victims of vehophobia get into a vehicle, their heart rate may begin to pound, and they may begin to take short and shallow breaths. In addition, they may feel like the world is closing in, and their hands may start to shake as their palms sweat.

These delayed symptoms can keep a person out of a car and stop them from driving entirely. Many may feel forced to stay home. They miss work or important life events. They may forgo their favorite activities or hobbies because of this incapacitating condition.

Driving Phobia After a Car Accident on the Rise 

In the United States, thousands of people have been diagnosed and suffer from vehophobia. Most of them receive ongoing treatment from mental health professionals. A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discovered that between 25 and 33% of the people involved in an auto accident experienced PTSD in the days following the collision

According to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), the U.S. saw almost six million car crashes in 2022. Each year, more and more Americans are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and vehophobia from vehicle accidents. It is estimated that about 5% of Americans suffer from vehophobia. Someone suffering from PTSD can pursue compensation for these damages. 

Regardless of the cause, there are several treatment options for those who have vehophobia. They can overcome their fears and get back to living unconstrained by vehophobia.

Whether it is a severe crash or a fender bender caused by someone else’s negligence, vehophobia can make the victim feel helpless and anxious anytime they get near a car.

This type of emotional damage can be difficult to unravel and address without therapy or other treatments, which can be costly. The Smith Law Center can help you get the compensation you need to access quality medical assistance. Reach out to us online or call (757) 244-7000 to discover your options going forward.

Vehophobia Treatment 

Some people may feel hopeless following an accident and at a loss for how to overcome a driving phobia.

Some people stricken with vehophobia will do anything to avoid driving. They may use ride-sharing services or taxis. They sometimes use public transportation if it is available, but all of this is an extra expense and far less convenient than having control over when you leave and where you can go.

Depression usually arises from PTSD and vehophobia. Some of the most common symptoms of this depression may include the inability to focus, increased anxiety, the loss of appetite and memory, and the loss of the ability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Ignoring self-care is a common mistake after an accident. It is important to seek medical attention and find effective treatments for vehophobia in the aftermath of an accident. Some of the most popular methods on how to overcome a driving phobia include: 

Therapy

Because vehophobia is a form of PTSD, psychotherapy has been found to help treat anxiety. In this treatment, a patient will attend sessions with a medical professional to find the cause of the anxiety and provide coping mechanisms that can help overcome the fear.

Four types of these therapies are: 

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A common treatment for PTSD, it attempts to alter an individual’s behaviors and thought patterns and move past the trauma-causing anxiety.
2. Exposure Therapy: Exposing a patient to the source or cause of anxiety can sometimes help people with vehophobia.
3. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: A patient uses a digital simulation to practice safely driving. It allows a patient to have total control of their environment as they ease back into driving.
4. Hypnotherapy: This form of therapy is usually used in extreme cases. Using hypnosis, this treatment explores and processes the thoughts and feelings associated with the trauma.

Medication

A medical professional can help you determine if medications might be effective in overcoming a fear of driving. In certain situations, medication can be used to reduce anxiety stemming from a traumatic event.

Medications are not a long-term remedy, and typically, they are trial and error. Medications should also be combined with regular therapy sessions to gain more sustainability.

Defensive Driving Courses

Even if the accident was someone else’s fault, defensive driving courses can help bolster the confidence needed to get behind the wheel. A trained driving instructor will instruct the class on how to stay calm in stressful conditions.

Support Groups

There are groups of people suffering from vehophobia and other forms of PTSD who can help you understand and control your anxiety. Talking through your fears with others who suffer from similar symptoms or share similar experiences can be extremely helpful.

Treatment can be a slow process, and relieving anxiety is not something that should be rushed. Undergoing treatment is a process of small steps, ultimately leading to confronting the major phobia.

To overcome vehophobia, it may take a treatment plan that combines different forms of treatment or methods of treatment. When treating this condition, it is common to experience setbacks. It is important to keep moving forward with the treatment plan. 

Vehophobia Lawsuit

Vehophobia can also come from other types of accidents. At The Smith Law Center, we are also experienced motorcycle injury and truck injury lawyers. 

We also deal with other physical injuries that may result from the accident, like traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and whiplash cases. This form of PTSD can arise from small or large accidents. It does not matter if it was your fault or someone else’s negligence.

However, if the condition was caused by another driver’s negligence, you can pursue a personal injury claim to seek compensation for both physical injuries and psychological harm. 

Treating vehophobia and managing anxiety can be expensive. From therapy sessions to medications, the bills can pile up, and combined with the other costs associated with a traumatic vehicle accident, you may find yourself in a mountain of debt. Filing a vehophobia lawsuit can provide you with a path to recovery from your condition. 

It is essential to record all the experiences surrounding the crash and the aftermath. When it comes to vehophobia, make sure to track the symptoms and how they impact your daily life. This can be compelling evidence in a legal case.

Also, it’s important to get a professional diagnosis from a therapist or psychiatrist who specializes in PTSD and anxiety disorders. A formal diagnosis validates the condition you are suffering from and provides valuable evidence to support your claim.

Fear of Driving After an Accident? Find the Right Attorney

When a psychological condition is involved in vehicle accidents, it is crucial to find the right legal representation. Choosing an attorney who understands personal injury law and has experience with cases involving psychological harm is essential.

The car accident lawyers at The Smith Law Center prioritize empathy and dedication to our clients’ needs. Since 1949, we have recovered over a billion dollars for our clients. 

We stand beside our clients while fighting for justice and the compensation needed so they can recover and get back to enjoying their daily lives without fear and anxiety. Our team understands how complex personal injury cases can be, especially those involving psychological damage like vehophobia. Get in touch with us online or call (757) 244-7000 so we can work on your healing together.