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

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.