Poll Have You Had A Car Accident After PTSD, Due To PTSD Symptoms?

[anni]

I don't know much about rebuilding engines, but it's probably nice and safe doing that. too, since noone else can probably figure out what on earth you're doing-no negative feedback so it's all yours! I did get to bleed the brakes on the truck once, under supervision but I required that or we would have had NO brakes.

 

[Countrygent]

I can think of two accidents that I have been in (rear ending someone else), where I think I may have been dissociating. I was not tired, was awake, and was not using a cell phone or radio, and then was hitting someone that I didn't even realize was there.

My experience as well - looking directly at the back of the car in front of me and driving into it at (thankfully) low speed - but it cost me $2000 because it was a new Mercedes and I scratched up the fender.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

I was having a panick attack because I was lost and while backing up, I gashed the fender on some concrete thing. Spray painted of the dent and still hiding it from my wife. she's gonna kill me.

 

[71nothing]

No but I've had close calls and a speeding ticket on a particularly difficult day.

 

[Changing4Best]

Since I've been PTSD since I was 6 months old or so, even though I was not diagnosed until somewhere around the year 2000, my car accident in the 1990s was definitely PTSD related. I'm 58 now. I'd gotten lost and was in a panic trying to find my way back to where I'd last known where I was or back to the highway I'd exited, whichever came first. After that point, I'd even panic if I had to go to someplace where I was unfamiliar with the routes. I chose all means of getting out of it!

In the accident, there was a sudden snow squall, and then right after that, a bus stopped in front of me. I had plenty of room to stop, but slammed the brakes on, which I knew better than to do under such conditions. Mindlessly, in panic, I kept the brake all the way down instead of tapping it, which I also knew better than to do. I rammed into the bus at maybe 5 miles an hour, after sliding some 30 feet. My car was totaled, believe it or not, because the bus' bumper was higher than my front end and the car slid under it.

So I answered that I'd had 1 accident after PTSD.

 

[therapybankrupt]

No! knock on wood!

 

[Changing4Best]

Have you ever thought that some of the medication you take may affect your alertness.?

I was not on any medication when my accident occurred and I was in a panic (due to being lost) and did not handle the circumstances well, even though I knew how to. I froze with my foot on the brake and was unable to THINK of what I knew, were I in a rational state, to do. I'd say that was PTSD related. I have no other explanation for it.

 

[Moorlass]

It happened last night. I am so glad to be alive today. I had had a terrible day dealing in divorce mediation with my soon-to-be ex-husband. More stress than I can really manage (although I cope well, I am an incest victim and usually try to keep my PTSD in check by keeping stress in check). I must have been thoroughly dissociated by the time I went to pick up my teenaged daughter at 9:30 p.m. Expressways involved, big city. Then I heard a noise and thought, "What is that strange, far-away noise?" even though it was happening to my car. I had drifted over INTO A SEMI!!! Semi never knew he hit me and the miracle is that only my mirror on the driver's side was destroyed. He was going 80, I was going 70. I could truly be dead. That accident was 100% the result of PTSD (and then PTSD gets worse as a result of the accident). So far I haven't told anyone but my therapist. I think I'm in shock. No plans to go anywhere today or tomorrow. Oh. my. god.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

No car accidents have been a result of PTSD symptoms.....just a result of other idiot drivers on the road!

 

[Brenton]

I'm aware that car accidents can cause PTSD, but I'm also of the opinion that PTSD can cause car accidents...

It could happen, especially if you're not focused on your surroundings. My earlier trauma came to the surface after a car accident. I don't have trauma from the accident, the accident triggered memories I buried both consciously and unconsciously.

 

[Ronin]

No.

But I've had a lot of situations of having to drive when threatened, something I'm still not done associating me as a driver with, and one of the reasons I have multitude of driving related panic issues.

 

[Redlewis]

I had a flashback when driving which caused me to lose concentration. Went through red lights and crashed car. Never driven since.