It’s vitally important that a person never gets behind the wheel of a vehicle if they have been drinking. Alcohol consumption can greatly impair anyone’s ability to drive a car. While you and your loved ones no doubt understand this concept, there are other people on the road who just don’t follow that basic rule.
If your spouse was the innocent victim of a drunk driver and suddenly passed away as a result of the accident, the shock can be devastating. You may even be feeling as if you can’t go on. As unlikely as the prospect may seem at the moment, we’re going to talk a bit in this article about how you can recover from losing your spouse to a drunk driver.
Allow Yourself to Grieve
Many people feel as though they have to be strong in order to get through this ordeal, but it’s all right to allow yourself to feel what you need to as part of the grieving process. If you become overwhelmed with the sadness and can’t get out of bed anymore, then it’s time to talk to someone who can help you deal with the process and cope with the loss.
Financial Considerations
There are a number of financial considerations to take into account when your spouse dies. You may have to change the registration of vehicles and the name on various accounts. Check into claiming your spouse’s 401K or pension. Hopefully, there was sufficient life insurance to cover expenses and necessities. If you are taking legal action against the driver, be aware of the statute of limitations in the state where you live, as that may impact whether or not you are able to seek any monetary damages.
Find a Way to Forgive
As time goes by, you’ll need to find a way to make peace with what has happened. When your spouse dies unexpectedly and someone else is at fault, the immediate reaction is one of blame or worse. However, holding resentment inside will only harm you in the long run. You’ll need to find a way to accept the circumstances and even forgive the person who caused them. This isn’t something that will happen immediately. It may take a lot of time and help from family, friends, and professionals, but when you do forgive, you’ll be able to move on.
run. You’ll need to find a way to accept the circumstances and even forgive the person who caused them. This isn’t something that will happen immediately. It may take a lot of time and help from family, friends, and professionals, but when you do forgive, you’ll be able to move on.
Don’t feel that you have to go through this process on your own. While you no longer have your spouse and best friend to help you, you still have other friends and family who will. You can also find consolation from a local support group, and grief counselors are available.
Losing a family member is hard, and so is losing a pet. If you’ve lost a pet, look at these tips for helping your children cope.