So, yesterday, Friday around 11:50am. I was driving in the car with my mom and my aunt. And we were stopped at a red light. I had 2 other cars in front of me. Then I noticed a SUV almost hit me as they passed me in the left turn lane. I was in the left go straight lane. Then a few seconds after I almost got hit by the passing SUV, another car slammed into the back of my car. Rear ending me. I stayed put. I was startled. They came out of no where. I did not know what was going on or where they came from. They were obviously not paying attention. The second after I got hit, the light turned green. Since the 2 cars in front of me did not get a domino effect from my car due to her impact and my awesome foot pressure on my breaks, they left. And fast. Then the person, sped past me. I knew she was the one who hit me because no one was in the right lane and she hit my car in the right rear side. Like a reflex, I took my hand and pressed it on the horn and left it there to blare my horn at her. I knew it would do no good, but I wanted to bring attention to the following people around. A cry for help. A silver car honked and sped past us. We had 3 witnesses. 2 guys across the street and then the guy in the silver car (who chased down the hit and run vehicle and had her return to the scene). By then, I had my mom and my aunt outside assessing the damage (it will be a hefty price to fix it) - my back bumper is falling off, my trunk door is busted and the right corner of my car is pushed in, and my right back light is broken, metal from my bumper flew off into the road - and I was in the car on the phone with 911. I reported it as a hit and run and told them everything. 5 min later, a cop pulled up. He was nice. I told him the story and made sure I told him it was a hit in run but that this guy chased her down and made her come back. But she did sped off at first. The cop got statements from the 3 witnesses, my aunt, my mom, and me. I am a bit terrified to drive now. I had never been in a car accident. And it was not my fault. She hit me from behind. I was stopped at a red light. Though, we are mostly fine, my mom got whiplash on her neck and I got seatbelt bruises on my shoulder (which swelled up) and my back got hurt and my left foot swollen. My mom is a dr. so we did not report we got injured because we did not want to go through that mess too, as we were preparing for me to graduate from college the very next day (today, Saturday). My aunt who was in the car with me during the accident got so angry with me and my mom for reacting the way we did. I think we reacted normally. Shocked. scared. hurt. confused. it was all normal reactions. my aunt was like "you both responded horribly" and she just responded in a quietness. I am angry with her because my mom and I have every right to react the way we did. I had never been in an accident. I was not at fault. My aunt acted like it was a normal part of everyday life. It was like she was saying "suck it up and drive." My uncle heard of what happened and is acting like I was at fault for getting rear ended at a red light where I was stopped like I was supposed to. He thinks I am awful at driving. I am not. To top it off, I had a nightmare a few nights ago where my mom was murdered and I knew it was a dream but it felt so real. It upsets me because my mom was in the backseat of my car on the side that the girl slammed into. If she was going any faster, she probably would have greatly hurt my mom even more. I fear having nightmares. I am told by my therapist that they are just dreams. I know they are, but because I had that nightmare and then this happened, a part of me fears that now my nightmares might actually come true. I just lost my dad unexpectedly last year, and I do not want to lose anyone else in my family unexpectedly. It breaks my heart. This breaks my heart. I am having a difficult time coping with this. Yes, we got her info. They assessed her car damage (she only had a small amount of scratches. Nothing more. No dents. No nothing. Just small scratches. How does one get back to feeling normal driving after getting into a car accident? Especially a first car accident? How long does it usually take to get a car fixed from something like that?

[childofchaos831]

Originally Posted by Milo16

So, yesterday, Friday around 11:50am. I was driving in the car with my mom and my aunt. And we were stopped at a red light. I had 2 other cars in front of me. Then I noticed a SUV almost hit me as they passed me in the left turn lane. I was in the left go straight lane. Then a few seconds after I almost got hit by the passing SUV, another car slammed into the back of my car. Rear ending me. I stayed put. I was startled. They came out of no where. I did not know what was going on or where they came from. They were obviously not paying attention. The second after I got hit, the light turned green. Since the 2 cars in front of me did not get a domino effect from my car due to her impact and my awesome foot pressure on my breaks, they left. And fast. Then the person, sped past me. I knew she was the one who hit me because no one was in the right lane and she hit my car in the right rear side. Like a reflex, I took my hand and pressed it on the horn and left it there to blare my horn at her. I knew it would do no good, but I wanted to bring attention to the following people around. A cry for help. A silver car honked and sped past us. We had 3 witnesses. 2 guys across the street and then the guy in the silver car (who chased down the hit and run vehicle and had her return to the scene). By then, I had my mom and my aunt outside assessing the damage (it will be a hefty price to fix it) - my back bumper is falling off, my trunk door is busted and the right corner of my car is pushed in, and my right back light is broken, metal from my bumper flew off into the road - and I was in the car on the phone with 911. I reported it as a hit and run and told them everything. 5 min later, a cop pulled up. He was nice. I told him the story and made sure I told him it was a hit in run but that this guy chased her down and made her come back. But she did sped off at first. The cop got statements from the 3 witnesses, my aunt, my mom, and me. I am a bit terrified to drive now. I had never been in a car accident. And it was not my fault. She hit me from behind. I was stopped at a red light. Though, we are mostly fine, my mom got whiplash on her neck and I got seatbelt bruises on my shoulder (which swelled up) and my back got hurt and my left foot swollen. My mom is a dr. so we did not report we got injured because we did not want to go through that mess too, as we were preparing for me to graduate from college the very next day (today, Saturday). My aunt who was in the car with me during the accident got so angry with me and my mom for reacting the way we did. I think we reacted normally. Shocked. scared. hurt. confused. it was all normal reactions. my aunt was like "you both responded horribly" and she just responded in a quietness. I am angry with her because my mom and I have every right to react the way we did. I had never been in an accident. I was not at fault. My aunt acted like it was a normal part of everyday life. It was like she was saying "suck it up and drive." My uncle heard of what happened and is acting like I was at fault for getting rear ended at a red light where I was stopped like I was supposed to. He thinks I am awful at driving. I am not. To top it off, I had a nightmare a few nights ago where my mom was murdered and I knew it was a dream but it felt so real. It upsets me because my mom was in the backseat of my car on the side that the girl slammed into. If she was going any faster, she probably would have greatly hurt my mom even more. I fear having nightmares. I am told by my therapist that they are just dreams. I know they are, but because I had that nightmare and then this happened, a part of me fears that now my nightmares might actually come true. I just lost my dad unexpectedly last year, and I do not want to lose anyone else in my family unexpectedly. It breaks my heart. This breaks my heart. I am having a difficult time coping with this. Yes, we got her info. They assessed her car damage (she only had a small amount of scratches. Nothing more. No dents. No nothing. Just small scratches. How does one get back to feeling normal driving after getting into a car accident? Especially a first car accident? How long does it usually take to get a car fixed from something like that?

I want to reply more in depth, but it is late here and my meds are really kicking in... I will definitely try to respond tomorrow. I was in a bad accident back in September, that I am still reeling from medically, and had to hire a lawyer for damages and costs. I really can't even read your post fully and understand the details right now, but I will be back in the morning.

[tooldtoplay]

oh yes, I have experienced similar -years ago and recurrent /vivid dreams too.. finishing your post,was ready to relate and support common experiences but I had a knee jerk reaction, an epiphany maybe, as a thought suddenly entered my head - and it was, oh yeah,it sucks to have others blame you for what you cannot control!!! wow, it opened a new path to recovery ,never thought of that before...or it didn't register the same way.
insurance settlements and repairs etc can be quick or drawn out...experienced both. stay in touch with your agent and ask questions ... hopefully you feel better.

[Big Mama]

(((Hugs))) I am sorry you have so much on you right now. Keep coming here and keep talking to us and let us hold you up in moments that you are to weak to hold yourself up. That is what this site is for and that is what friends are for. Keep coming to the forums and coming to chat. We will all get threw this together. (((HUGS)))

Originally Posted by Big Mama

(((Hugs))) I am sorry you have so much on you right now. Keep coming here and keep talking to us and let us hold you up in moments that you are to weak to hold yourself up. That is what this site is for and that is what friends are for. Keep coming to the forums and coming to chat. We will all get threw this together. (((HUGS)))

Thanks, mama! I will. I am spooked by this. My brother took a look at my car, same with the rest of my family and they said the damages my car sustained are much worse than they look. He said that it will more than likely get totaled. then my mom would lose thousands of dollars by having to buy a new car for me to use.

My mom and I have to bring it to her hometown (8 hour drive) to get it to the body shop she trusts for our cars. Good thing is, I now am able to get rental cars. But the scary thing is, having to drive it a long distance in such bad conditions. The cops marked it as still drivable on the scene.

[childofchaos831]

I had a bad accident in September. The other driver ran a red light, probably going around 40mph. She didn't hit her brakes at all. She T boned me, and I started spinning, and ended up on a median. I vaguely remember seeing her coming, and then I remember being on the median and I was still flooring the accelerator.

I basically got spun out of my seat belt, hit my head on the steering wheel, serious concussion, my back is still messed up, and still dealing with the aftermath.

I am still terrified of driving. Part of me just wants to take the bus and relax for a while, but it's getting hot here and that would be miserable.

I wish I could say it will go away soon, but it really depends on how much the accident traumatized you. Mine was so frightening, every time I go thru that intersection, I start to freak out still, and it's been 9 months...