Hit by a car at 16 while walking to the bus stop — injuries were horrific and I'm still not okay

I was hit as a pedestrian too, though I was in my 20s, so I can't imagine going through all of that as a teenager. The cognitive stuff you're describing — the brain fog, the memory gaps — I had that too and it genuinely scared me more than the physical injuries. It did get better for me over time, slowly, but it did. Please don't give up on that possibility for yourself.

What you're describing — the ongoing pain, the cognitive changes after a head injury, the anxiety — none of that is unusual given what your body went through, but it also doesn't mean you just have to white-knuckle through it forever. A few things worth asking your doctor about if you haven't already: a neuropsychological evaluation for the cognitive symptoms, and a referral to a pain management specialist if you're not already seeing one. Trauma also has a way of living in the body, so if you haven't talked to anyone about the mental side of this, that's just as legitimate a medical need as the physical stuff. You've been through something massive. Be patient with yourself.

I just want to say I'm so sorry. Reading this broke my heart a little. You were just trying to get to school. You didn't deserve any of this and I hope you have people around you who remind you of that.

I used to work on the claims side of things and I'll be real with you: cases involving minors with catastrophic injuries are ones where the pressure to close fast is REAL, especially if liability is clear. The company wants it settled before the full picture of long-term impact is known. I hope your family had an attorney involved, because the initial offer in cases like yours is almost never the right one. Not trying to stress you out — just want you informed.

Not legal advice, but I'll say this: the long-term consequences you're describing — chronic pain, cognitive impact, scarring, disrupted education — are exactly the kinds of damages that are hardest to fully quantify right after an accident. They often take years to understand. If your case hasn't been resolved, or if it was resolved in a way that didn't account for your future needs, a conversation with a personal injury attorney is genuinely worth your time. Many offer free consults and work on contingency.

I know 'it gets better' can feel hollow when you're still in the middle of it, but I just want to say — the fact that you're 19, processing this, asking these questions, and still pushing through school? That takes real strength. Your nervous system has been through a war. Give yourself some grace. A lot of people find their footing eventually, even after injuries this serious. You're not stuck here forever.

Practical question: are you still getting any kind of regular medical follow-up, or did things kind of fall off after the acute stuff resolved? Because chronic pain and post-concussion symptoms are real medical conditions that need ongoing management, not just 'wait and see.' If your care has gone quiet but your symptoms haven't, push to get back in front of a specialist. You have to advocate for yourself in the medical system, unfortunately — especially once you're no longer in crisis mode.

I don't mean this harshly — your injuries sound genuinely devastating and I believe you. I'm just curious: when you say the cognitive stuff makes school harder, has anyone actually evaluated you for that specifically, or is it more just something you've noticed yourself? I ask because there's a real difference between documented post-TBI cognitive effects and general stress/anxiety from trauma (which is also real, just treated differently). Knowing which it is could actually open up some accommodations or treatment paths for you.