Among people who experienced a common type of traumatic event—a car accident—those who coped during the accident by dissociating were more likely to go on to develop PTSD than those who did not (Shalev et al., 1996). Other factors that increase the likelihood of PTSD’s developing after a car accident are ruminating about the accident afterward, consciously trying to suppress thoughts about it, and having intrusive, unwanted thoughts and memories about it (Ehlers, Mayou, & Bryant, 1998).