They totaled my truck and I can't stop crying — is that weird?

It makes complete sense. When my car got totaled two years ago people kept doing the "just a car" thing and I wanted to scream. A car isn't just metal — it's the container for a whole chunk of your life. Give yourself permission to be sad about it. The feelings do settle eventually, I promise.

What you're describing is actually a really normal trauma response — and yes, the accident itself counts as a trauma even if you walked away without visible injuries. Your nervous system went through something scary, and now it's grieving both the event and the physical reminder of it. Be gentle with yourself. If the replaying-the-intersection stuff gets intrusive or starts affecting your sleep for more than a couple weeks, it might be worth talking to someone.

Emotional stuff aside — and I'm genuinely sorry you're going through it — please don't just accept the first number they give you on the total loss payout. Adjusters lowball on ACV (actual cash value) all the time. Pull comparable listings in your area yourself and push back if their offer doesn't match. The emotional weight of all this can make you just want it to be over, and they kind of count on that.

Jumping in to second what the person above said. I used to work on the claims side and total loss valuations have real wiggle room. The first offer is generated by a software tool that doesn't always account for condition, recent service records, or regional demand for your specific vehicle. You can — and should — negotiate. Ask them to show you the comparable vehicles they used to calculate the offer, then find your own comps and respond in writing.

One thing worth knowing: if the other driver was at fault, you may be able to pursue a diminished-value or total-loss dispute through their liability coverage. Keep records of everything — the photos, the adjuster's written valuation report, any comps you find. If the payout feels genuinely unfair, a PI attorney can often help you negotiate without any upfront cost to you since most work on contingency. Not telling you what to do, just flagging the option exists.

Your grandmother's chemo appointments, the music festival where you finally felt like yourself — that truck witnessed you. That doesn't disappear because it's gone. Those moments are yours forever. I really believe the next vehicle will collect its own set of memories. It won't replace this one, but it'll matter too.

Grieve the truck, absolutely. But set a deadline for yourself to deal with the practical side before the emotional fog makes you miss it — most states have a window where you can dispute a total loss valuation. Don't let the sadness cost you money on top of everything else.

Sorry you're dealing with this. Quick question though — did you have gap insurance or your own comprehensive coverage, or is this purely going through the other driver's liability? The path forward for the payout negotiation is a little different depending on which policy is actually handling the total loss.