Personal Injury

When a friend has been through something as traumatic as a car crash, anyone would want to be supportive. You might, however, feel at a loss as to what you can do to help. Unfortunately, you can’t go back in time and prevent the accident, but you can support them in little ways. Even just one small act of comfort is sure to be appreciated—and a few small actions will add up to create a significant impact.

Be there for them through treatment.

After the accident, your friend has a long road of car crash recovery ahead of them. There will be many appointments and perhaps even surgery, from physical therapy and chiropractic care to massage therapy and various medical services. And this doesn’t even consider the paperwork and other responsibilities that come with a car accident! So, one easy way to support them is to be by their side, be that literally or metaphorically. Whether it’s signing the cast meant to heal their tibia fracture, holding their hand in the waiting room, or texting them to check in after a day of appointments, your support, in this sense, means the world in this challenging time.

Offer healthy distractions.

A lot of things change after a serious accident, some of which are entirely mundane. For instance, they have more urgent things to worry about than heading to the salon for a fresh manicure. So, you might decide to surprise them with stick on nails instead, as an alternative to their standard salon visit. Just as importantly, applying these simple press-ons is an enjoyable distraction and a healthy coping mechanism. And, because it only takes a few minutes, they don’t have to carve out a significant chunk of time to do it—they’ll be back to their post-car accident responsibilities in no time. You won’t even have to wait for the glue to dry!

Find ways to help.

You can’t be everything for your friend, but you can be a big help in many ways. For example, perhaps they’re facing pins and needles in their foot after the accident irritated a nerve. You might look into ways to relieve that discomfort. If they can’t cook or simply don’t have time to, you could prepare some meals for them to enjoy. Help them to replace their fake nails or drive to an appointment. Simply ask them the question: how can I help? Sometimes, there will be a specific type of assistance they need. In other instances, it could be as simple as spending time together.

Include them in everyday activities.

If they’re dealing with a severe injury, your friend most likely won’t be up for flying between Los Angeles and New York. It’s possible they won’t even want to come to get drinks with your regular group. Nevertheless, it would help if you made an effort to invite them regardless. Even if they can’t come along, they’ll certainly appreciate that you’re trying to include them anyway. They’re likely struggling already with not quite feeling like themselves. By asking them to tag along for the activities they’d typically be a part of, you’ll help restore a small sense of normalcy.

Whatever the impact a car accident has had on your friend, you simply being there is making strides toward their recovery. Whether it’s waiting for them to come out of emergency surgery and driving them to an appointment a few weeks later or helping them apply some simple fake nails and inviting them to get drinks with friends this weekend, your friendship is more of a service than you could know. Should you ever have a similar crisis, they’ll be ready to return the favor, one act of kindness at a time.