Getting Back on Your Motorcycle After an Accident

Get Back on Your Bike after a Motorcycle Accident

Regardless if you are an experienced rider or a newbie who has had minimal experience on the open road, a motorcycle accident can stop you in your tracks both literally and mentally. We have seen time and again riders have great difficulty getting back on a bike after a crash. Especially in the case where there were traumatic injuries, a mental block is created and nervousness, even some anxiety set in.

Some of the emotions and feelings that come on after a collision stem from several things, including dealing with a loss of confidence, feelings of guilt, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Being involved in a motorcycle accident affects each rider differently. For some, it can remove the confidence they had in riding a bike and their level of skills. For some, it may create a level of guilt, either because they survived the wreck or that they have created an additional need to worry for their family and friends. (Once you get into an accident, will you get into another? Will it be worse?) Lastly, most riders have some memory of the accident or at the very least, what happened leading up to it. This can cause some degree of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Overcoming Issues, Mental and Physical, after a Motorcycle Accident

So how do you overcome these issues? How do you get back on a motorcycle after experiencing an accident? Just keep in mind, it is not simple, and you may need further professional support.

Even if you have fully recovered physically, you may still have mental injuries that you need to deal with. More specifically, if a rider has a loss of confidence after an accident, they must realize that this is a common occurrence, especially for an experienced biker. After riding a motorcycle for years, trust is built up either with the skills of the rider or just basic instincts. Bikers get comfortable in their abilities, and a serious crash can throw anyone off their game. Feelings of what they did wrong and what if it happens again creep in and throw off their pre-collision level of confidence.

One of the ways a rider could push through confidence issues is dealing with the incident as an experience to learn from. Please note that none of this advice should take the place of professional treatment. A rider should determine what caused the accident and what actions could be taken to prevent it from happening again. Was it the road conditions? How about the careless actions of another driver? Once that is clarified, it may be easier to learn and change behaviors based on this new knowledge.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a Motorcycle Accident

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a whole other beast from losing confidence or being scared. If you think you have PTSD, it is crucial that you see a mental health provider and get treatment. If you are unsure, make sure you ask. Common symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, lack of interest, increased levels of stress and anxiety, and a sense of feeling on edge. PTSD is disruptive for not only riding but for every aspect of the sufferer’s life, including at home and work.

Even if you do not have PTSD, loss of confidence, or another physical or mental ailment, it still may be a challenge on some level to get back on your motorcycle. So, in that case, what do you do before your next ride? Take it easy. Don’t plan a long and challenging trip as your first ride back after your accident. Take your time and ease into it. Make sure your bike is in pristine condition and ready for travel. This is especially important if it was the bike you were on in the wreck, as you want to know first hand that it is appropriately functioning for your first ride back.

Motorcycle accidents happen every riding season. We hear the adage all the time about laying the bike down; eventually, it is just part of the experience. What is important is how you heal and get back on your bike. We can help you with that. The Miley Legal Group can provide you with the tools you need to get your life back in order and to get you to the point where you want to ride again. We will then help you work through any issues you may have and help get your confidence and your bike back.