When you’re in an accident, it can be hard enough to deal with the results of the situation. But when it’s your friend who was injured, how do you help them?
They’re probably getting plenty of advice from well-meaning people. However, they’re coming to you for your opinion, and you want to make sure you say the right thing.
This guide is full of tips on what to say—and what to avoid saying—when your friend has been in a personal injury accident.
1. Don’t Offer Them Annoying Cliches
Sometimes, it’s awkward when you see someone you care about hurting and upset. If you’re not sure what to say, you often end up spewing trite words like, “It’s all going to be okay” and “Everything happens for a reason.”
These phrases might make you feel better, but they aren’t very helpful for your friend. Instead, let them know you’re there for them if they need you. Offer to stay at their house for a few hours a day (or overnight if you can) to help them if they’re in too much pain to move.
While you’re there, do a little light housekeeping and cook or DoorDash a meal or two for you both. It’s absolutely the best way you can help someone in physical pain and under mental stress.
2. Remind Them to Stay off Social Media
This piece of advice can’t be stressed enough. There are two big reasons for staying off social media after a personal injury accident:
- Chances are, your friend is missing out on some activities they were looking forward to or depressed about not being able to live their normal life. Social media is where most people go to show off their adventures and exciting news. It’s not a place to hang out while you’re already feeling low.
- Anything they post on social media can be used against them in their court case if they’re suing another party. Someone who is in pain isn’t thinking clearly. Your friend could make a post that comes back and hurts them later.
In personal injury cases, social media posts are fast becoming one of the top ways the defence is able to have a case thrown out. There are millions of personal injury claims made every year. The defence attorneys know how to use a plaintiff’s actions and words against them.
3. Encourage Them to Accept Help
Most of us see needing help as a sign of weakness. It’s okay when other people need a little assistance now and then, but us? Never.
After a significant personal injury, your friend is going to need a lot of help. They’ll have to learn how to accept it, and you can give them advice to guide them.
There’s a fine line between helping and doing everything for someone. Here are some acceptable forms of assistance as your friend is recovering:
- Help them set up a grocery delivery account
- Offer to pick up their medications if they can’t be delivered
- Get together with other friends and family to set up a schedule for meal prep and doctor appointment visits
- Encourage them to talk to their lawyer with any questions or doctor with any medical concerns
If your friend has young children, they’re going to need even more help. The children shouldn’t have to see their parents in pain and upset. Find ways to distract them. Call their friends and relatives to see if they can help.
4. Work on Patience For Both of You
There isn’t a timeline on how quickly or slowly a personal injury will heal. A lot of it depends on the severity of the injury and how well the patient listens to their doctor.
If your friend sees themselves as a burden to you and others, this will stress them more. They’ll likely try to do things they shouldn’t do before they’re ready. It could exacerbate their injury and set the recovery back further.
To avoid this complication and speed up the natural healing process, advise your friend to be patient.
In the meantime, don’t take everything they need done on your own shoulders. You can ask for help, too. Otherwise, you may end up burnt out and losing patience yourself.
It’s going to be a long road to a full recovery. Patience is the best trait everyone can have during this time.
Conclusion
Healing from a personal injury isn’t quite the same as recovering from surgery or a minor accident. These injuries are caused by a traumatic event, so the injured person is dealing with physical and mental trauma.
They’re also probably dealing with legalities, insurance companies, and medical expenses. You, as a good friend, don’t want to see them going through all this alone, but you’re not sure how to help.
With these four simple pieces of advice, you can be there for your friend and help them on the road to healing.
