Brian White | October 23, 2022 | Car Accidents

Phobias are anxiety disorders marked by an excessive and persistent fear of specific objects, places, or situations. Vehophobia is a medical term that describes the fear of driving or riding in a vehicle. Often, people develop this condition after suffering the traumatic experience of a car crash. 

When drivers develop vehophobia after an accident, they can experience significant disruptions in everyday life. People with vehophobia may need to take time off work, miss important life events, and experience a reduced quality of life. 

Navigating the challenges of this crippling condition can also be costly, as treatment may involve therapy sessions, hospital visits, medication, and other expenses.

If you were involved in a traumatic car crash and developed vehophobia, learn more about how a personal injury attorney can help you hold the responsible parties accountable.

Vehophobia Explained

Car crashes can be highly traumatic experiences for drivers, passengers, and even bystanders. Car crashes can result in bodily injury, property damage, and psychological harm. Long-term emotional symptoms can sometimes develop after someone suffers a traumatic accident.

One study found that upwards of 30% of car crash victims experience varying levels of post-traumatic stress following a collision. In 2021 alone, roughly 239,539 people suffered car accident-related injuries in Texas.

Some of the most common symptoms of vehophobia are triggered by thoughts about driving or driving itself. 

These include:

  • Excessive sweating
  • Shallow breathing or hyperventilation
  • Panic attacks
  • Increased heart rate
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Phantom brake syndrome
  • Avoidant behavior 
  • Inability to operate a vehicle

Phobias, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety disorders can manifest themselves in many ways. Still, a medical diagnosis may be necessary to access potential treatment options whenever these conditions interrupt your day-to-day life.

Treating Vehophobia and Post-Traumatic Disorders 

If you’ve developed vehophobia after a car accident, you’ll likely want to seek out help from a medical professional and establish a plan of action. Treatments largely depend on individual circumstances, as with most anxiety disorders caused by traumatic events. 

Therapy and Medication

Mental health experts can help you get back on track through therapy, counseling sessions, and exercises that target the many symptoms and causes of your phobia.

Therapists may use the following approaches for treating vehophobia and post-traumatic stress after an accident:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
  • Prolonged exposure therapy (PET)
  • Group therapy sessions
  • Meditation, breathing exercises, and holistic medicine

Regarding emotional response and effectiveness, every individual is wired differently. Treating vehophobia after a crash may involve trial and error until your mental health professional finds a routine that works for you.

Medical and psychiatric providers may also prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, mood stabilizers, and other medications to help mitigate your condition and help you regain control of your life. 

Recovering Damages for Vehophobia and Emotional Suffering After a Crash

If you have been involved in a car crash caused by a negligent or distracted driver, you have likely taken on many expenses, such as vehicle repairs, hospital bills, and other economic losses that result from the accident.

If you develop vehophobia, treatment for your condition will likely involve added expenses, such as:

  • Medication
  • Counseling and therapy sessions
  • Lost wages
  • Alternative transportation 
  • Non-economic damages, such as diminished quality of life

A seasoned personal injury attorney can file a claim to attempt to hold the responsible party accountable for your ongoing treatment, pain and suffering, and other economic and non-economic losses that result from your accident. 

Trauma after a car crash can be challenging to overcome, but a dedicated attorney can fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help

For more information, contact the Houston car accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.

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