A car accident can cause serious injuries and physical scarring, but it’s often the emotional and psychological scars that affect victims long after the initial accident. One of the most common ways this occurs is known as “vehophobia”, or the fear of driving or riding in a vehicle. Every person responds to trauma differently, but suffering from vehophobia can be debilitating to you’re ability function day-to-day.
Understanding the various causes and treatment options for vehophobia is a great starting point for those that suffer from it, but it is often the emotional support that can be provided by loved ones that can make all the difference in your prognosis.
Compassionate Representation From California Car Accident Lawyers
Another key development you can pursue is a claim for damages. Suffering a car accident is bad enough on its own, but when it’s caused by the negligence of another person, it can be much more emotionally and psychologically taxing. That’s where Maison Law can help. Our team of compassionate and experienced California car accident lawyers will stand with you to make sure you get the support you need.
To learn more about how we can help you, contact us for a free consultation.
How Common Are Car Accidents in California?
Vehophobia is a common outcome after a car accident, especially where you were injured. In California, car accidents are, unfortunately, quite common. Data from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) found that there were:
- 17,486 car accidents that caused death or injury in 2019.
- 16,845 car accidents that caused death or injury in 2020.
- 19,152 car accidents that caused death or injury in 2021.
As the data shows, there are thousands of car accidents that occur in California every year. What this means is that you may very well have to deal with the physical and emotional fallout of one, which can include vehophobia. As a psychological disorder, the symptoms and outcomes related to vehophobia can vary from person to person.
What is Vehophobia?
Generally speaking, vehophobia is the fear of driving or being in a vehicle. It is classified as a generalized anxiety disorder because it is an irrational fear of objects or situations that occur while driving.
While most people experience some level of anxiety when driving, especially when faced with difficult road conditions or heavy traffic, those with vehophobia experience extreme, often-debilitating fear and avoidance of driving or being a passenger in a vehicle.
The causes of vehophobia can vary from person to person, but the most common causes include:
- Traumatic experiences while driving or riding in a car, such as a car accident or near-accident.
- Fear of losing control while driving
- Fear of the potential for injury or death in the event of an accident.
In some cases, vehophobia may be related to a more general anxiety disorder or phobia of enclosed spaces.
What Are the Symptoms of Vehophobia and How Is it Treated?
As with other anxiety disorders and phobias, vehophobia has a similar vein of symptoms that arise from the condition. Common symptoms of vehophobia can include:
- Extreme anxiety or panic attacks when faced with the prospect of driving or riding in a car.
- Avoidance of driving or riding in a car.
- Difficulty with driving or riding in a car even when necessary.
In severe cases, vehophobia can significantly impact a person’s daily life and ability to travel or participate in activities that require driving or riding in a car.
Treatment options
Treatment for vehophobia usually includes therapy with a mental health professional, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or exposure therapy. These treatment options allow you to learn coping skills for your fear and gradually become more comfortable with driving or riding in a car. In some cases, medication may be used to help you manage the symptoms of the anxiety related to the vehophobia.
It is important for those with vehophobia to seek help from a mental health professional in order to address their fear and find effective ways to manage it. With the right treatment, it is possible to overcome vehophobia and regain the ability to drive or ride in a car without experiencing extreme fear or anxiety.
Who Is Responsible For Vehophobia in a California Car Accident?
While most car accident claims in California are centered on your physical injuries, the law provides for benefits that come from emotional and psychological injuries as well. Since vehophobia is a recognized psychological disorder, you could receive support from the at-fault party’s insurance company through damages. As with any other car accident claim, the key to damages is determining liability. Liability, in turn, depends on proving that the other person that caused the car accident was negligent, which includes the following:
- The other driver had a duty to operate their vehicle in a safe way to avoid harming others.
- The other driver breached that duty.
- The breach of duty caused the accident in question.
- The accident caused your injuries and other losses.
With the elements of negligence established, you could recover the following as it relates to your claim for damages.
- Costs related to your treatment and symptoms of vehophobia
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma from the accident
- Reduced quality of life
It’s important to remember that these damages are general, and the amount of damages you can recover depends on the facts and circumstances of your case. Usually, the more extensive your vehophobia is, the more you could potentially recover. It’s also important to remember that the claims process can be long and emotionally taxing. However, with our team by your side, we’ll stand with you every step of the way.
Consult With Dedicated California Car Accident Lawyers
At Maison Law, we are well aware how difficult and traumatic a car accident can be. More than that, we also know that it’s the aftermath of an accident that is sometimes even more traumatic. When you suffer the psychological effects of a car accident, it can last well after your physical injuries heal. Vehophobia is just one of many potential psychological effects that can come up after a car accident, but with our team of compassionate and dedicated California car accident lawyers on your side, we can make sure you at least get the financial and emotional support you need to get back on the road.
To schedule a free consultation with our office, contact us today.
