We walked away from something that should have killed us and I can't process it

The disconnected feeling you're describing — watching yourself from the outside — I felt that for months after my accident. Nobody warned me that surviving something traumatic could feel so disorienting. You don't have to be grateful every second. What happened to you was terrifying and your brain is still catching up to the fact that you're safe. Give yourself room to feel all of it, not just the "right" emotions.

What you're describing — the spacing out, the emotional numbness, the hypervigilance while driving — those are really textbook signs of acute stress response, and they can absolutely develop into PTSD if left unaddressed. That doesn't mean it WILL, but please don't wait to talk to someone. A trauma-informed therapist, not just a general counselor, makes a big difference. Your brain literally went through a life-or-death event and it's trying to file that away somewhere safe. It needs help doing that. The physical injuries get treatment; this deserves the same.

I teared up reading this. Please don't apologize for posting it. You needed somewhere to put this and that's exactly what this place is for. I'm so relieved you and your sister got out.

I know the mental health piece is the most important thing right now and I don't want to minimize that at all. But when you're ready — and only when you're ready — please make sure every therapy appointment, every psych evaluation, every doctors visit related to this is documented and tied back to the accident. Insurance companies on the other side of a hit-and-run claim LOVE to argue that emotional distress isn't real or isn't connected. Paper trail protects you.

Not legal advice, but since a hit-and-run is involved: depending on your state, your own uninsured motorist coverage may be the primary way you recover anything here, and UM claims have their own deadlines and quirks. The emotional and psychological injuries you're describing are compensable in most jurisdictions — they're real damages. Worth at least a free consult at some point so you understand your options. But right now, take care of yourself first.

Worked claims for years. The hit-and-run piece complicates things but doesn't leave you with nothing — your own policy's UM/UIM coverage exists precisely for this scenario. What I'd caution you about: if your own insurer contacts you for a recorded statement, you are not required to give one immediately. You can say you're still under medical care and need more time. Adjusters are trained to move fast while people are still shaken. Slow it down.

I know "silver lining" feels hollow when you're in the middle of the fog, so I'll just say this: the fact that you're here writing this, that you're feeling things even if they feel wrong, means you're processing. That's your mind doing its job. Six weeks out from something like that and you're upright and reaching out — that matters.

Two things: get into therapy specifically for trauma, not just general talk therapy — there's a difference and it matters. And call your insurance company to report the hit-and-run if you haven't already, because there are time windows on that. Do those two things and you've done enough for today.