We should realize Madison Cawthorn was paralyzed in a car accident caused by his then friend falling asleep while driving. Madison Cawthorn's then friend allegedly left Madison for dead in a burning wrecked car. Somehow, Madison managed to free himself from the wreck. Furthermore, despite being paralyzed from the waist down, he escaped the fire. I would expect Madison Cawthorn was severely traumatized by becoming paralyzed in an automobile accident where he nearly met his demise.
And like so many other claims about his life the claim about the accident is not all true. Yes, his friend did cause it by falling asleep while driving. As for the rest:
25-Year-Old Congressman Wasn't Left 'to Die' in Fiery Crash, Says Friend Who Was Driving
Cawthorn had been sleeping in the passenger seat, reclined back with his legs on the dashboard. An accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol states that Cawthorn, who had planned to go off to college that fall, suffered "incapacitating" and "life threatening" injuries.
The vehicle erupted into flames almost immediately after impact.
RELATED: Sheriff Who Supported GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn Now Says Lawmaker Helped 'Incite' Riots
Ledford, referring to Cawthorn by a nickname, says now that he quickly "recognized that Maddy was unconscious and
was realizing that the situation was getting worse and worse."
At the same time, the fire was drawing nearer and nearer.
Ledford says he moved toward Cawthorn and felt an intense heat on his right arm, then realized flames were engulfing the back half of the SUV. He tried to open the driver-side door to escape, but it was jammed. He tried to kick out the windshield, but it wouldn't budge.
So, Ledford says, he reached over Cawthorn and punched out the passenger window.
He climbed out, landed on the concrete and immediately turned around to unbuckle Cawthorn, with whom he pleaded to wake up, he says.
"While I was pulling him out of the window, a bystander came by and helped me carry him away from the car," Ledford says.
And:
That dispute is complicated: Records show the insurance company paid Cawthorn $3 million, per the insurance policy; then he unsuccessfully sued them for $30 million, claiming bad faith after a negotiation with Ledford. A court ruled against Cawthorn and then his appeal was rejected in 2019. But the Post reports he is continuing to seek money.
Under oath in a 2017 sworn deposition, in the middle of the suit, Ledford repeated the same story about breaking the window and dragging Cawthorn's body from the flames following the crash three years earlier.
For his part, Cawthorn said in a deposition that "I have no memory from the accident," the Post reported.
I would recommend reading the whole article. Ledford's account appears to be much more reliable.