Unfortunately, what with all the dangerous and distracted drivers out there, you’re never 100% safe when you embark on a journey on your motorcycle. Whenever you put on your helmet, rev your engine, and hit the road, there’s always a chance of you being involved in a bike crash.
The second that you are involved in such an incident, you have a duty of care to yourself to take care of yourself in the best way possible. For the sake of your health and stress levels going forward, it’s imperative that you put following advice into practice in the wake of your bike crash.
Take it slow
As soon as you come around after being involved in your bike crash, it is crucial that you take things slow. At the scene of the accident, this means refraining from getting up too quickly. No matter how fine you may feel (or how fine you insist you are to others), getting to your feet too quickly may result in you crumpling back down to the ground and causing even more damage to yourself.
Something that you definitely shouldn’t be too quick to do is get back on your bike. Take as long as you need to calm down before you start your engines again — if possible, ask someone to come and pick you up.
Check for concussion
One of the first things you should do in the aftermath of your crash is to check to see if you are concussed. This is a common biking injury and, if left untended, can prove detrimental going forward.
The simplest way to check for a concussion at the scene of the crash is to check to see if there is a crack in your helmet — this will indicate whether or not you hit your head during the impact of the incident. Other than that, there are a number of symptoms that you should look out for. Be sure not to ignore any of the following signs:
- Feeling disoriented
- Feeling confused
- Feeling dizzy
- Having an instant headache
- Having blurred vision
Don’t be afraid to lean on others
After your involvement in such a shocking incident, you aren’t going to be able to function the way you are used to for a certain period. Whether this shock wears off within a few hours or whether it lasts for weeks, during this time, you shouldn’t be afraid to lean on others.
The people that you lean on for support could come in all shapes and sizes. You could simply ask your other half to do the school run for the time being, for instance, while you take your time getting over the accident. Or, you could task a motorcycle accident lawyer, the likes of which can be found at 1800vincent.com, with sorting out all of the legalities of your crash for you. The point is, no matter what support you need, don’t be afraid to make use of it if it’s offered.
When it comes to taking caring of yourself after your bike crash and giving yourself a better chance of moving on from it, the above advice is essential.
Mandy X
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
