How Long Until You Can Drive After a Traumatic Brain Injury?

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Driving represents freedom, independence, and a return to everyday life. If you are recovering from a traumatic brain injury, getting back on the road may be a challenge.

How long until you can drive after a traumatic brain injury?

Recovery from a brain injury looks different for everyone, and the decision to drive again depends on several factors. Here is what you should expect if you have experienced this type of injury.

Brain Injuries Can Affect Driving

A brain injury can change the way your brain and body work in subtle but serious ways. Driving is a complicated task. You need to think quickly, see clearly, move precisely, and stay calm under pressure. Unfortunately, a TBI can affect the following skills:

• Cognitive skills like memory, attention, and reaction time
• Physical coordination, including strength, balance, and muscle control
• Vision, especially peripheral vision or depth perception
• Emotional regulation in how you respond to stress or unexpected situations on the road

Even a mild concussion can cause symptoms that make driving unsafe. You may suffer from dizziness, slower processing, or fatigue. For this reason, you do not want to rush back on the road.

There’s No Set Timeline

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, over 69,000 Americans suffered a TBI in 2012. And all of these injuries are unique from each other.

If you’re hoping for a specific timeframe, like two weeks, three months, or six months, the truth is it doesn’t work that way. Your readiness to drive again depends on your specific injury, symptoms, and progress in recovery.

For a mild TBI, like a concussion, you might be able to return to driving within a few days or weeks. However, this can only happen after all symptoms have cleared up and your doctor gives you the green light.

For those with moderate or severe TBI, the recovery process is usually longer. Many times, getting back on the road could take several months. Once again, this depends on how well your brain functions and physical abilities improve.

What matters most is that you and your doctor feel confident that you’re ready.

Talk to Your Doctor First

Before you even consider getting behind the wheel, talk to your doctor. They can examine your cognitive, physical, and visual abilities. In some cases, they might recommend more testing to be sure you are safe to drive.

Your physician may often refer you to a driving rehabilitation specialist or an occupational therapist. These professionals specialize in evaluating driving skills after an injury. They can conduct:

• Off-road assessments to evaluate your reaction time, memory, attention, and visual processing
• On-road tests in a dual-control vehicle to assess your actual driving performance

These evaluations are designed to keep you and others on the road safe. They also help determine whether you need vehicle modifications or more therapy before returning to independent driving.

Know the Legal Requirements

In Nevada, the Department of Motor Vehicles has the authority to require medical evaluations for drivers with conditions that might impair their ability to drive safely. Yes, this includes individuals recovering from TBIs.

If there’s a concern about your fitness to drive, the DMV may request a medical report from a licensed physician. This report will detail:

• The nature of your medical condition
• Any medications you’re taking and their potential effects on driving
• The physician’s assessment of your ability to operate a vehicle safely

Keep in mind that if a physician believes your condition severely impairs your driving ability, they can report this to the DMV. However, reporting is discretionary and not mandatory under Nevada law.

Pay Attention to How You Feel

Even with medical approval, you need to be honest with yourself.

Are you feeling overwhelmed?

Easily distracted?

Tired during the day?

These are all signs that you may not be ready just yet. Anxiety and depression are common after a TBI. This can also impact on your confidence and safety on the road.

Support Is Available

If you are not ready to drive but still need to get around, you can use alternate forms of transportation. These include:

• Rideshare services
• Public transit
• Community-based mobility programs

They can help you stay independent while keeping safety a priority.

Driving rehab programs are also available to help you rebuild your skills at your own pace. These programs often include:

• Simulator training for reaction time and decision-making
• Behind-the-wheel coaching with a specialist
• Recommendations for adaptive equipment, like hand controls or special mirrors

All these resources can support you through this transition and help you regain your confidence.

If you’ve had a traumatic brain injury, getting back to driving is possible. You should think of it as more of a process, not a deadline. Many times, this requires patience, honest conversations with your medical team, and some outside evaluation and training.

Whether you get back behind the wheel or not, these are real losses you may have endured due to someone else’s negligence. And, in these cases, you may have the right to seek compensation.

At the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, we know the devastating outcomes of traumatic brain injuries.

We here to offer you compassionate legal support during these difficult times.