The Aftermath of Road Accidents

Book excerpt: Accidents on the road are so common place in our lives today it's easy to believe that there are plenty of support systems in place for the victims. Death and injuries on the road are construed primarily as medico-legal phenomena, re-inforced both by the way accidents are described and by issues of insurance and compensation for damage and personal injury. But there are many profound psychological and social consequences that remain underestimated. Margaret Mitchell has compiled this collection from leading researchers to examine this neglected area for the unseen victims: the families who have to cope with bereavement or a disabled relative, the driver who has killed but is medically uninjured. It will be of great direct value to psychologists, psychiatrists and other health professionals and will serve as a useful reference for those in the legal profession, voluntary associations and those with personal experience of road, traffic, accidents needing advice about where to seek further help.