You may experience some or none of these, and some may seem unusual, but they are all considered normal. There is no right or wrong way to respond.
You can download this guide.
How long will it take to recover?
Everyone’s recovery is different.
Some people will have strong emotional responses such as fear, sadness, guilt and anger (and other people won’t).
These feelings are usually brief and should begin to reduce in the days and weeks after the crash.
After a car crash, 70% of people are back at work within eight weeks.
When should I seek professional help?
We all respond to a car crash differently. If you’re suffering from any of these things, consider seeking help:
- symptoms lasting longer than you expected
- feelings that things are not returning to normal in the time you expected
- not returning to work and other usual daily activities
- finding that relationships with family and friends are suffering
- finding you are withdrawing from family and friends and your usual activities
- feeling unable to cope with or handle the intense feelings or physical sensations
- having disturbed sleep or nightmares
Where to get help
Your doctor is a good place to start. They might also recommend you see another health professional like a physiotherapist or psychologist.
If you are receiving treatment you should notice improvements. If you are not improving then the treatment might not be right for you. You can talk to your doctor about other treatment options.
If you need treatment, you may be eligible to make a claim under the NSW Compulsory Third Party Scheme.
Visit our treatment advice centre for information and resources for health professionals to help injured people recover.
What to do to help recovery
The good news is that there is a lot you can do. It's useful to remind yourself you have had a stressful experience and to 'take charge' of your recovery.
Updated 8 February 2022