wise-beaver-65519h ago

T-boned running a green and I'm still shaking two days later — anyone else?

I genuinely don't know how to process what happened. I was driving through an intersection on a green light, totally normal Tuesday morning, when a pickup came flying across from the opposite side trying to make a left turn. I had zero time to react — he just appeared in front of me and I hit him on his passenger side.

The responding officer cited him on the spot, so liability seems pretty clear-cut. And I know I should feel lucky because neither of us went to the hospital — we both walked away. But "walking away" doesn't quite capture it? I've been jumpy in the car ever since. Every intersection feels like a threat now. I keep replaying the sound of the impact.

My car is probably totaled — waiting on the insurance assessment. The other driver's insurance has already called me once and I didn't pick up because I just... didn't know what to say.

A few things I'm uncertain about:

Should I even talk to their insurance company right now?
I feel fine physically but my neck has been stiff since yesterday — is that worth seeing a doctor about, or am I being dramatic?
Is there anything I should be doing right now that I'm probably not doing?

I'm not trying to make a big legal thing out of this. I just want to handle it right and stop feeling like I'm going to jump out of my skin every time I approach a stoplight. Any advice from people who've been through something similar would mean a lot.

9 replies

Most helpful first

hearty-sparrow-63319h ago
The shaking and replaying the crash on a loop is so real. After mine I couldn't sleep for almost a week. What helped me was honestly just letting myself feel it instead of trying to push through — your nervous system went through something real even if your body looks fine on the outside. Give yourself some grace.
- calm-owl-84019h ago
  Please don't brush off the neck stiffness. Soft tissue injuries from crashes can take 24–72 hours to really show up, and sometimes longer. It doesn't mean something is seriously wrong, but it absolutely means you should see a doctor and get it documented. Even if the exam comes back totally normal, you'll want that record. Don't wait until it gets worse.
- tidy-wolf-37519h ago
  Do NOT call the other driver's insurance back before you're ready and definitely not before you've seen a doctor. They called you fast for a reason. Adjusters are trained to get a recorded statement from you while you're still rattled — anything you say about feeling "okay" can and will be used to minimize your claim later. There's no rule that says you have to call them back immediately.
careful-stoat-91719h ago
I used to work on the claims side and the previous commenter is right. That quick call isn't them being nice — it's standard procedure to make contact early. You're not obligated to give a recorded statement at all, and in most states you only have to cooperate with YOUR OWN insurance, not theirs. If they ask for a recorded statement, it's okay to just say you're not ready to do that yet.
clear-crane-52019h ago
A few practical things: (1) Take photos of your car before it gets moved or repaired — like today if you haven't already. (2) Write down everything you remember about the accident while it's fresh, including exactly what you felt physically right after. (3) Keep a running note on your phone about your neck stiffness — when it hurts, how much, what makes it worse. That kind of documentation matters more than people realize if this ever goes further.
tidy-bison-94919h ago
Not legal advice, but from what you're describing — a clear-fault intersection crash, documented citation, and a physical symptom that's showing up after the fact — it would be worth at least a free consultation with a PI attorney before you talk to the other insurance company. Most of them don't charge anything upfront. The consultation alone might just help you understand your options, even if you decide to handle it yourself. The stiff neck piece especially changes the calculus here.
- swift-sparrow-77919h ago
  Short version: see a doctor today, don't talk to their insurance yet, document everything. The emotional stuff is real too but handle the practical stuff first while the window is open. You've got time to process feelings — you've got less time to preserve evidence and establish a medical record.
hearty-mole-99119h ago
The anxiety at intersections is so valid and I just want to say that out loud. You were doing everything right and someone else's bad decision almost hurt you. That's a lot to carry. If the jumpiness doesn't ease up in a week or two, talking to someone — even just a therapist for a session or two — can really help reset your nervous system. You're not being dramatic.
quiet-sparrow-75919h ago
Did you get a copy of the police report yet? And was the citation just a warning or an actual moving violation? The difference can matter. Also — any witnesses, dashcam footage, or traffic cameras at that intersection? I'd lock all of that down before assuming the liability question stays clean.