Someone hit my car nearly 2 weeks ago.

But many, if not most, of us have been in a similar situation. Being rear-ended is a very common accident, and if it's only happened this one time in 25 years, you're extraordinarily lucky. The damage to your car is irrelevant as many cars nowadays completely crumple at the smallest hit. Which prevents you from being seriously injured. I can't really imagine a situation where just being shunted could result in death, however fast the person was going. Though you may certainly get whiplash, especially if you weren't looking in the mirror and were unprepared.

If this isn't a windup, or an attempt to see how much compensation you may be entitled to, I really do think you need to seek some help as you are hugely overreacting to what should be little more than an annoyance. Both the police and NHS are involved and they'll be seeing accidents like this probably daily, so will be able to offer proper advice and assistance.

Did you read my post, I really was nearly killed, life flashed before my eyes as my car was hit by and then spun several times in front of a huge lorry that then hit me again to roll me over and through a fence into a field. I survived, you survived. Just think how great it is that neither of us was actually seriously hurt and get on with living.

I was also once hit in the back at a zebra crossing, someone stepped out right in front of me in the dark I braked hard and stopped but the car behind didn't and just ploughed into the back, huge damage to my car, these things happen, hopefully not too often. Get psychological help if you need it.

OP, I get you. It happened to me 2 years ago but I was lucky not to have any physical injuries. But mentally it is another story. I totally understood that nothing 'major' happened, it is only a car, no injuries, insurance paid, move on. But I am struggling to get behind the wheel unless it is absolutely necessary, would rather walk, use the bus or ask DH to drive. Just hope that with time, it will pass and I will get back to normal driving. At the moment it is like some mental block is in my head.

Nonsense.

I was rear-ended by a drunk driver whilst stopped at traffic lights. Car was written off, he ended up in jail. My injuries were worse than yours, to the point where I received some (modest) compensation for them. I still glance in the rear view mirror if I ever stop at those lights, but that's the only long term impact. You are over-reacting - you'd have a lot more than 'muscle injury' if it was a near death experience. Contact your GP, your reaction is not normal.

OK you feel you have had a "near death experience" and are suffering "severe trauma".

So what are you doing to address that trauma which you feel has ruined your life? Apart from declaring it is what it is, and that you'll quite clearly never drive again.

Many of us HAVE been rear ended. I was rear ended by a man in a white van, on his phone, who hadn't noticed I had slowed to a crawl with my indicator on to turn left into a very tight driveway. My car was written off because of the damage to the rear and the fact the impact pushed my car forward into a wall which damaged the front too. Yes I was shaken and literally shaking, I was angry and my head was running through the what ifs. The police attended, it was all quite dramatic at the time.

So many of us CAN relate and are still saying your reaction is disproportionate to the incident. You need professional therapy/counselling.

I feel very sorry for the obvious trauma you’re experiencing but you’re catastrophising. A rear end shunt isn’t a near death experience. @ThatInbetweenBigCoatAndJacketWeather had a near death experience, you didn’t.

It’s entirely understandable that you were shaken and probably clinically shocked after it but you didn’t nearly die and your life isn’t ruined. You need to get some professional help to get some perspective on this because your reaction is very extreme.

If you are still feeling this way, I think you need to investigate some counselling. Its very easy to live your in a secluded and sheltered way, but thats not really a life.

You could be hit by a bus walking down the road, you could be in a train crash, you could get a paper cut opening a letter that turns septic.... there are so many bad things that can happen in the world

Seriously - investigate counselling

He didn’t nearly kill you. You’re catastrophizing and while it feels very scary, going down this route won’t help you. Get some therapy and see if you can get in for some advanced driving lessons (not to learn but to have someone beside you while you start driving again) or a friend and start driving again.

https://carolcsharptherapy.co.uk/driving-rehabilitation.html
It’s a shock, I’m sorry you’re going through this OP.

it’s very possible to overcome it with the right help.

Carol C Sharp is a therapist with immense expertise helping people overcome driving issues as a result of trauma, accident, anxiety, confidence etc. she got me back to confident driving after years of avoidance.

the earlier you get expert help, the better.

Yes really need a sense of perspective, it is highly unlikely to be killed by being hit in the back at traffic lights.

Blimey OP - if this shunt has "ruined your life" how would you describe your life if, say, you had both legs amputated? Or went blind? 🙄

SUCH over dramatics!

You can claim injuries and trauma to your insurance company, they will send you to their doctor for a report and you may get offered compensation. And costs of treatments paid if you have to go to a private physiotherapist or a psychologist to hep you come to terms with what happened.

I got hit on the motorway by a foreign lorry, my car was spun several times and then rolled over a fence into a field, it was a write off. Quite a shock and minor injuries, although my neck has never been right since! I did get a pretty minor payment for the neck injury and some physiotherapy, but I was just glad it wasn't much more serious. I had no choice but to get straight back in the courtesy car, I had to get to work and get the kids to school, neither doable any other way.

You need some therapy to help with your feelings.

Are you pursuing a personal injury claim for the whiplash? They may cover some EMDR trauma therapy for you too. Speak to your insurance or legal cover if you have it.

You need to speak to someone.

Over time you can have lessons again with an instructor if you feel able to get back in a car even just to help you be a passenger. Going from always driving to always walking seems massive step and with help you may not need to do this.

You don't need to think about the future just now except for getting some help with the trauma.

OP, meant kindly but the other driver was responsible for crashing into you. You are responsible for not seeming to be willing to address your mental state.

You are absolutely catastrophising, you are wallowing in it.....don't make this a "thing".

8 years (ISH) ago, someone smashed into me at a roundabout, the impact was so severe that it shifted me into the car in front of me and wrote off my car completely. I had to have physio for weeks, I had just dropped off my baby twins at nursery so I was very grateful they weren't in the car.

I carried on with life.

18 months ago someone pulled out of a junction into the side of my car and wrote my car off. Again. My children weren't in the car and for that I was grateful. No physio needed.

I carried on with life.

I might be involved in another accident at some point. That's just life.

Not driving doesn't mean anything, you could step out in front of a bus tomorrow, you could get trampled by a herd of cows!

Get some therapy, see if the insurance will pay for it, or does your employer have an employee assistance program?

But don't just settle into your fear- it will paralyse you!

Wow, talk about dramatics.

You had a shunt, you went to hospital. You were found to have a muscular injury which is quite common for a shunt. He admitted liability and the insurance companies are sorting it out.
With how dramatic you are being I can only pray you never get back behind the wheel again.

Agree with most other people in that your reaction to this accident is very out or proportion and you would benefit from some help in talking it through and getting things into perspective.

Of course I was. But I knew I had to do it as soon as I was physically recovered enough to do so.

And of course I was in shock. I still think about it when I drive that route, which is frequently.

But to say it’s ruined the OP’s life is ludicrous and, quite frankly, insulting to those who are dealing with much worse or those who have had accidents where they have suffered life changing or life ending accidents.

Op your feelings are entirely valid. I’m sorry you have come here for some comfort in what feels like a terrifying experience and are being told you are over reacting.
There’s no right or wrong way to feel and how you feel right now will likely pass as you come to terms with it.

Give yourself some time to process it all but like others have said the quicker you get back out there the easier it will be because too much thinking about it first and you will only talk yourself out of it and it will seem harder.
I would start with small trips to a local shop and then a bit further, go with someone so you have someone there to talk to if it helps.
You are clearly very shaken up and probably still in pain which is a constant reminder right now.
Maybe an appointment with the GP might be an option for you if you feel that you can’t manage the shock but time is a great healer so don’t write yourself off as a driver just yet.
None of this is your fault and you will get through it even if you don’t see it now.

These thing you can do is get right back out in your car and drive, pick quieter times until you feel more confident, take someone with you.

my dds friend was in a head on collision when learning to drive( uninsured driver lost control and crashed into her) she didn’t want to drive again but instructor turned up at her door the next week and took her out. She now confidently has passed her test and drives again.

you have to think that you’ve driven for 25 years and this is the first time a minor incident has occurred.

I am starting to think this entire post is a wind up

You might have felt nervous going back on the road though? I'd be very surprised if not.

I think also there's something about being hit by another driver which is particularly horrible as it's totally out of your control. I think it's normal to have a level of PTSD. The OP will get over it but she's obviously still in the moment, and I can remember what that feels like.

If you dont think you are safe to drive then dont you could kill someone but this seems all out of proportion so seek mental health help if you think you need it

I read the other day that playing Tetris (yes, really) helps with PTSD. Something to do with how traumatic memories lodge in the same part of the brain and playing Tetris helps shift them/stops them lodging there in the first place. The sooner you start playing after the event the better. Might be a load of old tosh, but it’s certainly worth a try.