Can You Be Afraid of Driving After a Car Accident?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

Many people who are involved in a car crash develop a fear of driving after an accident. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the general population, with between 6% and 45% of RTA survivors experiencing crash-related PTSD. Anxiety disorders can affect up to 60% of RTA victims, and depressive symptoms can affect up to 63% of RTA victims post-collision.
Developing driving anxiety after an accident can impact your daily life, causing serious emotional distress and mental anguish. If a negligent driver caused your motor vehicle accident, you may be able to seek compensation for your physical and emotional injuries through a personal injury claim.
Our car accident attorneys at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., understand the impact that a phobia of driving can have on your life. We will help you seek all possible damages for your case, including those for costs related to psychological care and intangible suffering.
What is Vehophobia?
Vehophobia, sometimes called amaxophobia, is a psychological condition characterized by intense fear or anxiety related to driving or being a passenger in a vehicle. People with vehophobia can develop a phobia to drive a car for many reasons, but often it is due to being involved in a traumatic crash.
Those with vehophobia may experience the following symptoms:
- Panic attacks
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating
- Trembling
- A strong desire to avoid driving
While vehophobia is not listed as a diagnosable condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it can be a specific manifestation of various anxiety disorders, such as a specific phobia or generalized anxiety disorder.
What Causes Vehophobia?
Vehophobia occurs for several reasons and impacts people differently. Some of the main factors contributing to the development of vehophobia include:
- Driving pressure. Poor driving conditions like congested traffic, hostile drivers, or demanding passengers can lead to a fear of driving.
- Lack of experience or confidence. Novice drivers or those who have spent little time behind the wheel might feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of driving. This lack of confidence can evolve into a phobia if not addressed through gradual exposure and positive driving experiences.
- Fear of losing control. This anxiety may arise from the dread of losing control of the vehicle or finding yourself in an unavoidable road situation, leading to a persistent fear of driving.
- Traumatic experiences: Individuals who have been involved in or witnessed a car accident may develop vehophobia. The trauma from these events can lead to a persistent fear of driving, as the act of driving becomes associated with the fear and anxiety experienced during the accident.
- Hearing about negative experiences. Sometimes, vehophobia can develop not from direct experience but from hearing about the negative experiences of others. Stories of accidents or other driving-related fears can influence the perception of driving safety.
- Personal loss or grief. Experiencing the loss of a loved one due to a driving-related incident can trigger vehophobia. The fear stems from the association of driving with the pain of the loss.
- General anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, anxiety is the most common category of mental disorders, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Existing predispositions to anxiety can make it more likely to develop vehophobia.
How is Vehophobia Diagnosed?
Vehophobia, or the fear of driving, is typically diagnosed by a mental health professional through a comprehensive evaluation. This process involves several steps:
- Clinical interview. The professional will conduct a detailed interview to understand the individual’s symptoms, history of the fear, and the impact on their daily life. They will inquire about specific situations that trigger the fear, how the individual responds to them, and any avoidance behaviors.
- Questionnaires and assessments. Standardized psychological questionnaires or assessments may be used to gauge the severity of the fear and anxiety related to driving.
- Diagnostic criteria. The mental health professional will refer to criteria outlined in diagnostic manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for a formal diagnosis.
According to the DSM-5, specific criteria for phobias include intense fear or anxiety triggered by a specific object or situation (in this case, driving), out-of-proportion fear relative to the actual danger, persistent fear typically lasting six months or more, and distress or impairment in daily functioning. - Rule out other conditions. The professional will also consider other possible mental health conditions that could be contributing to the fear of driving, such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially if the individual has a history of traumatic experiences related to driving.
- Evaluation of impact. Part of the diagnosis involves assessing how the phobia affects the individual’s ability to function in daily life, including work, social activities, and personal responsibilities.
Common Fears Related to Driving After a Car Accident
Becoming afraid of driving after a car accident can lead to several specific types of fears. While you may experience general vehophobia post-collision, you may also experience anxiety and fear around re-experiencing a crash, suffering physical injury, or losing control.
- Fear of re-experiencing the accident. Flashbacks and intrusive thoughts about the accident can induce severe anxiety. You might worry that you’ll relive the trauma every time you sit behind the wheel, creating a paralyzing cycle that impacts your ability to drive confidently and safely.
- Fear of helplessness or losing control again. Car accidents often happen suddenly, leaving you feeling helpless and out of control. This can lead to an overwhelming fear of losing control again, whether it’s over your own vehicle, the actions of other drivers, or uncontrollable external factors like weather conditions.
- Fear of physical injury. Understandably, you may be scared to drive because you fear further physical injuries. This could include not only injuries to yourself but also triggering existing ones that were caused by the initial accident. This fear can be particularly acute if your previous accident led to significant physical harm.
- Fear of causing harm to others. Another common fear is the dread of causing an accident that hurts others. You may worry about the safety of your passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, or property. This fear often stems from a sense of responsibility and empathy for those around us.
- Fear of being judged by others. Many fear judgment from others, whether from friends, family, or even strangers on the road. They worry about being stigmatized as a bad driver or being blamed for the accident, which can add another layer of stress and anxiety to driving.
Diagnosable Psychological Conditions That Can Occur After a Crash
Experiencing a car accident can have psychological implications that are as real and as debilitating as any physical injury. In some cases, trauma can lead to diagnosable mental health conditions.
If you’re feeling persistent emotional distress following an accident, seeking professional help from a therapist or psychiatrist is crucial. The following are common psychological conditions that can emerge after a traumatic car crash:
- Anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders refer to a wide range of specific conditions, but they all involve excessive and persistent worry or fear that can interfere with daily activities. After a car accident, you may develop an anxiety disorder related specifically to driving or being in a car or experience a more generalized increase in anxiety levels.
- Depression. After a car accident, crash victims may develop symptoms of depression, impacting their emotional well-being and daily functioning. Depression involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in once-enjoyable activities. The trauma of the accident can trigger or worsen these feelings, leading to difficulties in coping with daily responsibilities and engaging in social interactions.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a disorder that may occur after experiencing a life-threatening event, like a car accident. Symptoms may include flashbacks to the event, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the incident. It’s common for individuals with PTSD to avoid situations that remind them of the traumatic event, including driving or riding in a car.
The Impact of Post-Accident Anxiety on Daily Life
The trauma of a car accident doesn’t end when the wreckage is cleared away. The echoes of the event can reverberate through all aspects of your life, with anxiety and fear becoming constant, unwelcome companions. Recognizing how post-accident anxiety can permeate your daily routine and impact your quality of life is essential.
- Effect on daily routine and functionality. Driving is a fundamental part of many people’s daily routine, from commuting to work to running errands or visiting family and friends. A fear of driving after an accident can seriously disrupt this routine, leading to frustration, helplessness, and isolation.
Everyday activities can become daunting, whether the morning drive to work or a quick trip to the grocery store. The result can be a drastic shift in your lifestyle, often marked by increased reliance on others or public transportation. - Impact on personal relationships and social life. The anxiety and fear stemming from a car accident can also affect your relationships and social life. You might decline invitations to social events due to fear of driving or feeling disconnected from friends and family due to your emotional turmoil.
It’s also common for victims of car accidents to experience mood swings, irritability, and other emotional disturbances that can strain relationships. - Effects on work or school. Post-accident anxiety can also take a toll on your occupational and educational performance. If your commute to work or school has become a source of fear, your punctuality and attendance may suffer.
The stress and emotional burden can also impact your focus, productivity, and overall performance. For students, this can translate into falling grades, while professionals might observe a dip in their work output or job satisfaction.
How is Vehophobia Treated?
The main strategies for treating vehophobia, much like those for other specific phobias, include several effective methods to help overcome the fear of driving. These commonly used approaches are:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of therapy aimed at identifying, understanding, and isolating the sources of a person’s fears and anxieties. CBT patients with vehophobia can be taught to replace irrational thought patterns with more realistic and balanced ones, helping them overcome driving fears.
- Exposure Therapy. This type of therapy is a variation of CBT that offers gradual, controlled exposure to the object of their phobia. For example, a patient with vehophobia can be reintroduced to driving in a controlled environment.
Exposure therapy through driving involves progressively increasing the realism and difficulty of driving scenarios until the patient no longer feels anxious about driving in real-world conditions again. - VR Therapy. Virtual Reality (VR) offers a safe, consequence-free, realistic environment. A therapist can use VR and driving simulators as a substitute for real-world exposure therapy to teach or reintroduce driving to a patient safely.
VR therapy can be highly beneficial to individuals with little driving experience. It can help teach them the right habits until they feel comfortable driving in the real world again. - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR therapy is a structured form of therapy aimed at diminishing the anxiety and stress related to a traumatic event. Although EMDR was primarily designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can help treat vehophobia if a patient has experienced driving-related trauma or PTSD and developed a fear of driving as a result.
- Professional driving lessons. Driving instructors with professional-level experience can help vehophobia patients keep their anxiety under control. These instructors can teach basic and advanced driving techniques, defensive driving courses, and other information.
These lessons can help a vehophobia patient gain driving skills and confidence, helping them overcome fear. - Prescriptions. Although medications are rarely offered as a first line of treatment against phobias, they can help patients with the most severe symptoms. Substances such as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety meds) and antidepressants can be prescribed to help a patient with vehophobia focus on therapy.
- Support groups. While they are rarely used alone, support groups are commonly used to reinforce the benefits of therapy. They include educational resources, access to other patients’ experiences, tips and strategies, guides for supporting family members and friends, and general peer support and encouragement.
The Financial Cost of Treating Emotional Distress After a Crash
Treating emotional distress, anxiety, and depression after a car crash can have major financial implications. Costs can vary depending on the severity of emotional issues and your specific needs. After the accident, you may need the following treatments, which can add to your financial and mental stress:
- Medical treatment costs. This includes expenses related to visiting doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, or therapists for assessment and treatment. You may need regular therapy sessions or counseling, which can cost between $100 to $200 per session.
- Medication costs. You may require prescription anxiolytics or antidepressants to manage feelings of fear, anxiety, distress, or avoidance. If you don’t have insurance, the costs of these medications can add up quickly. For example, Xanax (alprazolam), a popular anxiolytic medication, can cost nearly $1 per pill without insurance.
- Hospitalization and emergency care. In severe cases of emotional distress or mental health crises, hospitalization or emergency care may be necessary. These can lead to substantial medical bills.
- Therapeutic interventions. You may require specialized therapeutic interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), or other evidence-based treatments. Providers who offer these specialized treatments may cost more than a traditional counselor.
- Lost income. Emotional distress may lead to missed workdays or a decreased ability to perform job duties, resulting in lost income. This loss of productivity can impact your financial stability.
- Physical health complications. Untreated emotional distress and anxiety can lead to physical health complications, such as chronic pain, headaches, or gastrointestinal issues, which may require additional medical attention and expenses.
Can You Receive Compensation for the Emotional Consequences of a Collision?
In Michigan, victims of car accidents can seek compensation for emotional distress and mental anguish as part of a personal injury claim. This is often referred to as pain and suffering, a legal term encompassing physical pain and emotional and psychological trauma like fear, anxiety, depression, and sleep loss.
However, winning a settlement for non-economic damages can be complex. For instance, a common principle is that you cannot claim pain and suffering on its own; you must have suffered calculable economic damages like medical expenses or lost wages to file an initial claim.
Additionally, you must have an injury that meets the serious injury threshold in Michigan. This means you must have suffered a significant bodily impairment or loss of vital function, such as a spinal cord injury or dismemberment.
Quantifying non-economic damages requires substantial evidence. Working with a qualified attorney from Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help you gather proof of your physical and psychological damages, including:
- Medical bills such as hospital stays, surgeries, or rehabilitation
- Lost wages from missed work
- Testimony from mental health professionals
- Receipts showing the cost of therapy or medication
- Personal journals detailing your emotional state
- Testimony of your friends, family, and employers about the changes in your behavior and mood
Who is Responsible for Your Mental and Physical Damages?
In the aftermath of a car accident, determining responsibility for damages depends on the specifics of the accident, the laws of your state, and the details of the insurance policies involved.
In Michigan, the state operates under a no-fault insurance system. This means that regardless of who was at fault for the accident, your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance company is responsible for paying most of the economic damages you’ve suffered, such as necessary medical expenses and 85% of lost wages.
However, the at-fault driver can be held liable in a third-party insurance claim or lawsuit for serious injuries and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. You can also seek compensation from other parties, such as vehicle manufacturers if a defect contributed to the accident or a government entity if poor road maintenance caused the accident.
To navigate these complex legal issues and maximize the compensation you receive, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the nuances of Michigan’s no-fault laws and how they apply to your unique situation.
Get a Fair Settlement for Your Emotional Injuries After a Crash
Establishing fault in a car accident and seeking compensation for physical and emotional damages can be complicated. Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can help you receive the settlement you deserve.
At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we specialize in car accident and personal injury cases and are familiar with the effects these incidents can have on your life, including physical injuries, emotional distress, and psychological challenges.
Our legal team includes experienced nurse attorney Eileen Kroll, who brings an understanding of the medical aspects of your case. This combination of legal and medical expertise ensures that we can effectively advocate for your rights and work diligently to secure the maximum possible settlement for you.
Eileen’s comprehensive approach not only addresses the legal complexities of your case but also considers the medical evidence and its impact on your claim, providing a holistic strategy to support your recovery and compensation.
Contact us today to discuss your case and learn your legal options for receiving compensation to pay for mental and emotional distress related to fear of driving after an accident.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.