The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Car accidentshumble-sparrow-131

Got T-boned out of nowhere yesterday and I can't stop shaking — is this normal?

I don't even know why I'm posting this. I guess I just need somewhere to put it.

Yesterday afternoon I was driving through a green light at a pretty normal intersection — one I've gone through probably a thousand times. Out of literally nowhere a truck blew through the red on the cross street and slammed into my driver's side. I didn't even have a split second to react. The impact spun my car almost completely around and I ended up halfway onto the curb.

My window shattered. The door is completely caved in. Somehow I walked away with what the ER called a mild concussion, some bruised ribs, and a ton of glass cuts on my left arm. They kept me for a few hours and sent me home.

Here's the thing — physically I know I'm "okay" by some miracle. But mentally I am not okay. I keep replaying that truck appearing in my peripheral vision over and over. Last night I barely slept and when I did I woke up in a panic. This morning I had to pull over on the way to pick up my prescription because I suddenly couldn't breathe right.

I haven't really talked to anyone about it. My roommate knows it happened but I kind of just said "I'm fine" because I didn't want to get into it. The other driver's insurance has already called me once and I let it go to voicemail.

Is the shaking and replaying-it thing normal? Does it go away? And should I even be calling that insurance company back right now when I can barely think straight?

10replies

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10 replies

  • 13
    tidy-crow-790

    The shaking and the replay loop — yes, completely normal. After my wreck I couldn't drive past the intersection where it happened for like three weeks without my heart going insane. Your nervous system just went through something traumatic. Be patient with yourself, seriously. It does get better but it takes longer than people expect.

    • 14
      curious-owl-985

      Do NOT call that insurance adjuster back yet. Seriously. They're calling fast on purpose — they want a recorded statement while you're still rattled and not thinking clearly. Anything you say can get used to minimize your claim later. You are not legally required to talk to the other driver's insurance right now.

  • 7
    mellow-seal-091

    What you're describing — the intrusive replays, the panic while driving, the trouble sleeping — those are really classic acute stress responses after a traumatic event. Your brain is basically trying to process something it didn't have time to process in the moment. It's worth mentioning all of this to your doctor, not just the physical injuries. Sometimes a short-term referral to a counselor who works with trauma can make a huge difference. Please don't brush it off as "just nerves."

    • 17
      calm-finch-464

      Not legal advice, but I'd strongly suggest at least a free consultation with a personal injury attorney before you engage with the other driver's insurance at all. A concussion plus rib injuries can carry real costs — follow-up imaging, lost work, ongoing treatment — and it's easy to unknowingly say something that limits your options. Most PI attorneys don't charge for an initial call and it doesn't commit you to anything.

  • 15
    spry-crow-102

    I'll back up what the person above said. When I worked in claims, early contact with a claimant was absolutely a strategy. The goal isn't to help you — it's to get information and set a low-dollar expectation before you know the full extent of your injuries. A concussion and bruised ribs can have symptoms that develop or worsen over the next week or two. You don't even know your full picture yet. There's no harm in waiting.

  • 15
    clever-newt-749

    A couple of practical things worth doing right now while everything is fresh: write down everything you remember about the accident — time, weather, exactly what you saw, what was said at the scene, names of any witnesses if you got them. Also gather all your ER paperwork and keep every receipt related to this (prescriptions, Ubers if you can't drive, anything). You don't have to decide anything right now, but having that documentation organized helps a lot down the road regardless of which direction you go.

  • 10
    brave-seal-911

    Please don't tell yourself you're fine just to avoid burdening people. You got hit by a truck. That's a big deal. Let someone sit with you, even if you don't want to talk about it. You shouldn't be alone processing this.

    • 0
      restless-road-soul941

      Adding this: keep copies of every email. It mattered for me.

  • 16
    keen-dove-409

    I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but the fact that you're aware enough to recognize you're not okay is actually a really good sign. A lot of people push it down and it comes back harder later. You're already doing the right thing by letting yourself feel it.

  • 6
    swift-dove-214

    Three things: don't give a recorded statement, see your doctor again if symptoms change at all (concussions are sneaky), and don't settle anything until you know exactly what your recovery looks like. Everything else can wait a few days.