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MVA

A trauma-sensitive guide to understanding motor vehicle accidents

By Carol Korenowski

Your body felt the crash.

Therapy Alberta

After a car accident, everything can feel different.

Some people notice it as a jolt of fear at brake lights or intersections.

Others feel it in their body, as tension, pain or trouble sleeping.

Some don’t connect it to the crash at all, especially if no one was hurt.

Maybe you feel:

angry
foggy
startled
uneasy

Your nervous system is staying alert after real danger, ready to protect you.

Your reactions make sense after what your body went through.

Etymology

accident

from the Latin accidere, to fall upon or happen

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What Happens After a Crash?

A motor vehicle accident (MVA) can affect your body, your mind and how you feel on the road.

The stress can show up right away, or weeks later when the shock wears off.

Your nervous system can stay on alert after a crash, even if you weren’t badly hurt.

Many people feel shaken after a crash, whether they were driving, a passenger, a cyclist or walking.

It can look different across people, from avoiding driving to hypervigilance or unexplained pain.

Your body is responding to real danger, whatever size the crash was.

Signs and Symptoms of MVA-Related Distress

Physical

headaches
neck pain
startling easily
trouble sleeping

Mental

foggy thinking
replaying the crash
scanning traffic
what-ifs

Emotional

anger
fear in cars
guilt
irritability

Social

avoiding certain roads
backseat driving
canceling plans
staying home

What Causes Stress After an MVA?

How an accident affects you depends on more than the crash itself:

Your body: injuries, pain or a concussion can make stress harder to settle.
Your experiences: past trauma, earlier crashes or a frightening moment in the crash can stay with you.
Your relationships: support, or blame, from the people around you can shape how you recover.
Your circumstances: insurance claims, missed work and needing to drive every day can keep stress high.

Avoiding the road can bring relief, and it can also make each drive feel harder.

Your body is doing what it can to keep you safe.

MVA and Your Nervous System

After a crash, your nervous system can stay on high alert, braced for danger.

Sounds, movement or the feeling of being in a car can set off a rush of fear.

How strongly you react is shaped by your sensitivity, stress and the support around you.

Many animals shake after a threat passes, and human bodies want to do the same.

People often tense up and hold it in, which works against what the body is trying to do.

A moment of safety can help your body begin to shake off some stress.

MVA and Trauma

What if the accident woke up something older?

After trauma, an accident or injury can trigger past pain and fear.

And your body can stay ready for the next impact, scanning every car and corner.

A sound, image or smell can bring the fear back before you know why.

That’s part of why the road can feel dangerous, even on a calm day.

Stress after a crash can look like gripping the wheel, refusing to ride in a car or snapping at others.

Each of these once helped you feel in control in the face of danger.

With enough safety, you can start to feel like yourself on the road again.

Ways to Care for Yourself

Let it shake

If your hands or legs tremble, let them. Your body is shaking off stress on its own.

Feel the seat

In a car, notice the seat holding you and your feet on the floor. Let your body rest into the seat.

Notice the brace

Notice where you tense in a car, like your jaw or your grip. Squeeze and soften a few times, if you can.

Choose your pace

Ride as a passenger, take short drives or take a break. Let yourself choose what feels manageable.

When to Get Help

You might tell yourself it was only a small accident, and you should be fine.

But the size of the accident doesn’t decide the size of your response.

It might be time to reach out if you:

feel jumpy on the road
have injuries that aren't healing
have trouble sleeping
keep replaying the crash

It doesn’t have to be a serious crash to affect you.

When you feel on edge, it’s time to get help.

Therapy can help your mind and body feel safe on the road again.

Curious how therapy helps after an accident?

MVA Therapy

Questions About MVA

Why am I so jumpy in the car now?

Why do I feel guilty when it wasn’t my fault?

Why did it hit me weeks later?

Why does a small crash affect me so much?

Is it normal to shake after a crash?

Can a crash cause PTSD?

Does auto insurance cover therapy after a crash?

Should I see a doctor after a minor crash?

Ask a Question

Resources After an MVA in Alberta

If you're in crisis, call or text 988 any time, day or night. For more crisis lines across Alberta, visit our crisis support page.

Support Lines

Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642. Free support and referrals for anyone in Alberta, 24/7.
211 Alberta: Call or text 211, or chat online, to find local supports, including transportation help.
Health Link: 811. Talk to a nurse any time about headaches, pain or signs of concussion.