The following information is taken from Injury Matters here.
Whether driving in the city or across our vast regional roads, being a truck driver increases the likelihood of being involved in a road crash or being the first to come across a road crash.
Regardless of your level of involvement, it is normal to feel out of sorts after a road crash or a near miss. View our resources below for more information on how to help yourself or others who have been affected by a road crash.
Being first on scene, providing assistance, witnessing, being involved in or causing a crash, can have a traumatic and long-lasting impact on those, directly and indirectly, involved, including family, friends and work colleagues.
Injury Matters provides free support through the Road Trauma Support WA service for anyone residing or currently located in Western Australia. If you are needing immediate support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know has been affected by road trauma, contact our team on 1300 004 814 for assistance.
View Injury Matters resources here.
Click here for information and support.
For a road crash emergency, contact Emergency Services on 000 and administer First Aid Training where required and/or able.
If you were a driver, passenger, witness or first on scene of a road crash, it is common to experience a range of upsetting thoughts, feelings and reactions.
These may include:
- Constantly thinking about the event
- Fear of driving
- Worrying about family and friends
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Shock or disbelief
- Nightmares
- Disrupted sleep
Everyone has different ways of dealing with the impact of a road crash of which can be felt long after the scene is cleared. For some people this can be immediate for others it could be months, even years later.
The impact can be life changing and can leave you feeling lost.
Examples of loss or change after a sudden, traumatic event like a road crash can include:
- Physical injury or disability
- Family and/or relationship problems
- Legal worries and costs
- Money worries
- Property damage
- Unable to drive
- Dependence on others
- Change in your usual routine
Ways to Support Yourself
Everyone has different ways of dealing with the impact of a road crash. People often find the most important things for recovery are time, understanding and support from family and friends.
It is important to give your body and mind the time to process and makes sense of what has happened.
The After a Road Crash brochure (upload and link) gives you a better understanding of what the process could look like for you, your family or one of your work mates, as well as some direction on how you can help them.
What you can do to help your recovery
- Recognise you have been through a stressful event
- Allow yourself time to adjust
- Talk and express your feeling with someone you can trust
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs to ‘numb’ your feelings
- Try to maintain your normal routine
- Structure your day with regular times to eat, sleep and exercise
- Don’t feel pressured to talk about your crash
- Consider having someone you trust answer questions on your behalf
- Do things you find relaxing
- Do things you enjoy, this will provide relief for you from thinking about the crash
- Spend time with people who care about you
For ongoing or distressing symptoms which interfere with your usual life, it important to reach out for help from your GP or health professional.
If you need immediate support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
View our resources for more information on how to help yourself or others who have been affected by a road crash.
