Re: Motor Vehicle Collision and ADHD symptom relapse?

[Scattybird]

Hi ADDled – goodness, it sounds like you’ve had quite an experience. I am glad everyone involved is physically OK. Crazy roadsense the other people had! I suppose the moral there is never assume the other driver is going to do the logical thing. Horrible for you.

So firstly, I doubt the accident would cause a relapse of your symptoms directly, but it’s likely to do so indirectly. You are bound to be stressed as a result of this and stress, anxiety and lack of sleep all mess with ADHD symptoms. You must discuss this accident with someone who can listen and help – you are quite likely to have post-traumatic stress. If you keep re-living it then it might be post-traumatic stress. If not, then more likely plain stress and shock, which are enough to deal with.

Also, you are stressed by the insurance stuff too. So once the stress is lifted and you regain your confidence in the car again the ADHD should settle. This is only my opinion and nothing more, but life experiences teach us things, although of course we are all different and react to things differently.

Secondly the insurance thing is important. If the ADHD is on your medical record I would suggest you need to be upfront with the insurance company. It wouldn’t look good if they think you are trying to hide something. However, they may not delve into your medical history considering the other party must be completely at fault and it is in their interest to prove that, and not to find fault with you. If there are no questions on the forms relating to your medical history then perhaps keep quiet unless asked. You may need to get your doctor to verify that you are capable of driving and the meds don’t affect you.

In the UK ADHD needs to be declared to the vehicle licencing people and the insurance company. As it turned out my insurers are not interested in anything medical! The driver licencing people wanted a medical report from my psych to say I am fit to drive. I was worried about it, but having seen the report form it seemed to be really just for people who are suffering from worse stuff than ADHD. It made me a bit paranoid when they were assessing me in case I had a bump.

But insurance companies want to keep their money. So don’t lie to them and get your doctor on side if necessary. Do you know the people you hit? If you do and they know you have ADHD then you maybe better get in first with that info.? But your driving record obviously speaks for itself and since ADHD is a life-long thing, I wouldn’t have thought you need to worry. It’s not affected your driving ever has it? The numbers (years driving with no accidents) are proof of that so stick to the facts and make them do so too.

I hope you get it all resolved. The most important thing is that everyone walked away in one piece.

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