MVA Car Accident On Monday

[Angelwings]

My son and I were in a bad car accident on Monday. I was looking down and the traffic ahead was stopped so I slammed into them at 35 miles an hour. My son broke both his tibia and fibula and had to have the bones set. I have a broken nose and bruised everything, only my feet and the top of my head escaped without injury. The airbags deployed and we were both wearing our seatbelts. Now my son is terrified any time we drive somewhere. I have to calm him down. Poor thing might have a little PTSD from this whole thing. On the up side, we're both alive and no one else was hurt.

 

[Deleted member 20280]

@Secret liked only for the fact you are both alright. I had a head on rtc back in 2001 that spun me out 720. Engine block was smashed in half and bonnet was 150 yards behind the car. I walked away with minor whiplash but thank the Lord I did not have any major injuries. Give your son time and be there whenever he needs you bud.

((Massive Hugs)) to both of you if you accept them

Laurie71

 

[franciemarnie]

So glad you two survived. Hope the little one doesn't have PTSD but it happens if no release sometimes.

 

[Samantha_38]

I think its normal for him to be scared for now. He doesn't have PTSD right now, what he has right now is just stress relating to the trauma. PTSD is the continuation of those fears, so he may be just fine. There are things that some studies have shown that minimize the chances of getting PTSD from a traumatic event. Things like a good support system, and others. I don't know a lot about it, but I have come across it in researching my own PTSD. I already have it, so didn't pay close attention to this research, but it'd be worth looking into I think. I would say just keep the communication open, make sure he knows he can talk about, that he knows that his fear is ok and help him manage it.

Hope you all feel better soon!

 

[Loner]

I hope this does not come off as judging you, since you admitted you weren't paying attention (hey we all make mistakes) but I would make it very clear that it happened cus you were not paying attention and let him know that paying attention makes driving a lot safer. This might reassure him when he sees that now when you are driving you pay more attention which will make him feel more safe, and aware of the fact that while car accidents can just randomly come out of nowhere, that is fairly rare. Taking ownership of it as your fault might reduce the out of control why did this happen feeling that can be part of what causes PTSD. However I know that kids begining to see their parents aren't perfect can be damaging in its own way, its part of the loss of innocence, but then again so is getting in a car crash I guess. I dont really know, I don't have kids, but it seemed worth saying.

Sorry this happened to you. I'm glad neither of you are hurt worse.

 

[Hope4future]

Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad that you're both basically okay. Peter Levine has an article about steps parents (and other adults) can take to help children who have been traumatized avoid developing PTSD. It's on the Somatic Experiencing website or you can search his name and trauma and kids. I'd post a link if I knew how. Take care.

 

[Barconian]

Are there many accidents with that white stuff on the road? I live in the sunburnt country.

 

[Lucycat]

My son broke both his tibia and fibula and had to have the bones set

So he broke both his arm - as in the picture - and his leg?

Now my son is terrified any time we drive somewhere.

yet within a week you are able to get him in a car and drive about?
I am not surprised he is terrified. I would expect him still to be in an awful lot of pain at this very early stage.

On the up side, we're both alive and no one else was hurt.

Thank goodness for that!

 

[Loner]

Tib fib are the two bones in the lower leg, between the knee and the ankle. It is somewhat common to break them together.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

My heart goes out to the both of you, what a traumatic experience to be in. I am so glad you both lived to tell the tale.

I have been in a few accidents, a few my fault and others fault and I am having troubles driving myself.

Keep your son talking about the accident, because this way he can get it out of him and realize things he would not otherwise.

Accidents are very traumatic on children, it robs them of their trust in driving because they have learned, yes it can happen to them. I wish you the very best to heal both of you. Hugs.

 

[Angelwings]

So he broke both his arm - as in the picture - and his leg?

Sorry, thanks for pointing that out, I have a brain injury from a car accident in 2000 and sometimes I get my words mixed up. He broke his radius and ulna, not his tibia and fibula!

yet within a week you are able to get him in a car and drive about?
I am not surprised he is terrified. I would expect him still to be in an awful lot of pain at this very early stage.

We were driving at this early stage because he had to, 1, get home from the hospital and, 2, get to his check up two days after the accident.

 

[swedelady13]

I was hit from behind by a car going 35 mph and came out with no obvious injuries, so refused medical treatment. Turned out I did have injuries such as concussion, whiplash, lower back injury and low level PTSD. I hired an attorney that dropped the case when the two attorneys under him left the firm. The mess following that, I think, was worse than the accident. The insurance company wanted a trial, the attorney settled the case for peanuts without my consent, and the stress was horrible for a person already under too much stress. I paid for most of my medical treatment out of my own pocket, but was reimbursed for some of it. I haven't been able to find a PTSD support group at all around where I live. Only combat vets get that, but there are plenty of us out there who aren't who need it too. EMDR helped me the most with the mental stuff.