Someone hit my car nearly 2 weeks ago.

Where’s there’s blame there’s a claim and all that…

But in the same vein someone could mow you down as a pedestrian as well. Does that mean you won’t ever walk anywhere?

Getting back into your car as soon as possible is really important. Why dont you try to a driving instructor to take you out once or twice while you are feeling this way? I think that can be better than counselling actually.

Edited to say - Something happened to my heart and chest and i thought i was going to die and I can still remember how extreme it was. This was adrenaline - you feel it in your heart - its your body putting you into survival mode when something bad happens.

Were you a worrier before the accident? Although having some anxiety would be normal, categorically ruling out ever driving again is a very extreme reaction.

I would echo others who say you should consider getting some counselling or other help for your extreme reaction to this accident. Yes, it's given you a fright, and it's easy to think of the 'what ifs', but this was a relatively minor bump, if you're both OK (barring a bit of stiffness/soreness) afterwards. Your car is probably a total loss, because that's how cars are made now - to absorb the impact, and have crush zones to protect passengers. It's also almost impossible to hit the windscreen in modern cars, if you're wearing a seatbelt.. It really doesn't sound like death was imminent, but I do appreciate you feel that at the time. Hopefully those facts help you in getting confidence again.

I think you're now building driving up to be a terrifying thing. If you leave it, and don't do it because it's scary, you might find that it becomes this massive thing, which you won't ever do again. You could go out with a trusted friend/family member, and drive the car somewhere really quiet, just to get over your nerves. There are even driving instructors who could do that for you.

I've had someone go into the back of me twice, in my 32 years of driving. Yes, it gives you a fright. I've also been in a 7 car pile up (icy weather), and had someone reverse into me in a car park. (Only the pile up was even partially my fault, just for the record!) All of these have shaken me up at the time, but the best advice I got was that I should drive again straight away - barring injury and car drive-ability - as otherwise it's a 'thing'.

@NewPlumCat I had the same thing happen to me. I was 10 cars back at a red light. I was on a bridge, so nowhere to go. I watched the car behind me drive about 800 metres and drive into me at 60km/hr. He braked probably 5 metres from my car. Took out my just filled petrol tank, buckled the chassis. Lucky for me it was a light commercial chassis, so a bit stronger than a passenger vehicle. Still, I only had a millimetre clearance on the doors. My excel would have been jammed shut with me trapped inside. I had a bad concussion.

I've driven since I was young - grew up on a farm so learned on private roads, and I've driven a lot. So confidence and capability weren't an issue. That said, 15 years on, I still get panicky if people don't look to be slowing down when I'm stopped at lights.

I'd recommend driving as soon as you are able. Just go on a short trip somewhere familiar and easy. Then build on that.

Lots of people saying this wasn't a major accident and while I suspect that's right it would be helpful if you could tell us how fast the other driver was going when he hit you, OP? 20mph? Fast enough to do a lot of damage but well within the capability of the car to fully protect you. 50mph? That's a serious accident in anyone's book, understand your fears.

But regardless, as other PPs have said, one accident in 25 years means the next one could be in another 25 years* so you need to get a sense of perspective.

*I know statistics don't work like this.

So the chances of something like that happening are 1 in 25 years. You just need to get back on the horse.

The other drivers insurers need to provide you with help and quickly

If the incident stops you from driving and leaves you in distress then the longer its left the more they have to pay out.

Your own insurers may be able to advise you or a solicitor. Do you have any legal cover?

This happened to me after only driving for three months. You just need to do it.

I seem to be getting them at the moment I too had a blowout on the motorway (M1 no hard shoulder area) - and that was scary as peak rush hour morning traffic and 3rd lane. Luckily me and car were ok. I had no choice but to drive the same day as they dropped me off at a service station to get my tyre swapped so no other way back home (I actually very cautiously drove to work as I was stuck facing southbound on motorway anyway)

This has happened to me 3 times, the last time 2 weeks ago. I'm more pissed off about my car and the crappy driving than being in extreme shock.

@NewPlumCat gently I think you need to speak to someone, you were not nearly killed. It is a very common and minor crash as I got told by the police who attended mine. I got rear ended in early January I was not stationary doing 30-40mph as was slowing down in traffic on a 70mph dual carriageway. I was back driving as normal within a week - yes I was teary and shaking and cried on the phone to the poor insurance man and police attended and spoke with him. Had a day off work and then wfh the rest of week as had no car and was sore. I am a bit more conscious if people feel close but he took me very much by surprise. Injury wise I am now in physio paid for by his insurance as suffering with some minor muscular and nerve injury in my back and leg and got diagnosed with whiplash.

please do not drive while your in this level of anxiety as you will likely be a danger

As someone who has worked in a team dealing with collisions on a daily basis, trust me when I tell you that you were not nearly killed. If you were nearly killed the police would have closed the road, got the forensic collision investigator on site, your vehicle would have been recovered for examination and if you had nearly been killed you would have at least been admitted to hospital for an amount of time. So many people are actually killed on our roads or receive actual life changing injuries. Have a word with yourself and be grateful that you were involved in a slight injury collision not even serious injuries were sustained. You need to accept that you can’t control every other driver’s actions and as a PP said you have been driving for 25 years without incident.

After a bad accident on a motorway I went out with a trainer from the Advanced Institute of Motoring.
They talked it all through and really helped to ease my fear of driving.

You are massively blowing this out of proportion. You were most definitely not nearly killed at all. It was a rear shunt. It happens, it’s one of the risks of driving.
it Wasn’t a serious accident and you just have some muscle damage, also common in those types of accident. And it was just that an accident.
Yiu need to seek some support for your mental health as this reaction is not normal.
the dad to my eldest children was almost killed in a motorcycle accident, he wasn’t expected to survive his injuries but thankfully he did.
he as looking at his next motorbike when he was still in hospital 🤦🏼‍♀️

Therapy and don't buy a new car. You'll be a danger to others driving with the level of anxiety your describing.

Lots of people have been rear ended at lights or roundabouts, I have and so has DH, we're all alive. The worst is usually a bit of whiplash. How fast do you think he was going because you make it sound very dramatic , but roads with traffic lights are usually 30 mph, 40 tops.

FWIW my mum got hit by a lorry on the M25 her car span twice then he got her again masking her into the central reservation, she was fine.

There are a very low number of fatalities on the roads in the UK compared to the number of people using them daily.

Your reaction is very extreme you probably would benefit from therapy.

What advice do you want? I'm sorry you are in this situation, but accidents sometimes happen, and it wasn't serious. Not sure what advice you need.

Our bodies sometimes don't act logically. I was once witnessed in a fatal traffic accident and the aftermath, when the dead man's family turned up. I gave a statement to the police the following day and thought that was that, only i got extremely anxious and tearful over the next few days. I thought I was ok but my body clearly thought differently.

Speak to your GP. You might benefit from EMDR xx

You need to seek mental health support - this is an extreme reaction to an accident that while not ideal, was unlikely to have been life threatening. Can you ask your GP or maybe private counselling? Sometimes your employer will have a scheme that will offer counselling sessions.

I'm going to tell you what worked for me! I've been in 3 vehicle entrapments,none of which were caused by me. I'm severely claustrophobic.. second time I was knocked off the road by a hit and run. I couldn't even cross the road. I couldn't get near a car. The vehicle was in finance,ex h had lost his job. I had to get to work, nursing, rural hospital,no public transport. I signed up with The Institute of Advanced Motorists. Explained the situation, they were kind and supportive. Alternatively,find a good driving instructor. Have also been rear ended,DH was driving,well actually stationary at a roundabout. My car was also totalled.

In the kindest possible way you need to seek help and support for your mental health. This isn't a standard response to a relatively minor incident. I'm sure it felt very scary (I've been hit from behind several times, the noise is very loud). It sounds more like severe anxiety.

Do you normally suffer with anxiety and stress?

Was your handbrake on?

Cars are designed to take the impact. They literally crumple in order to protect the people in the internal “cage”. Even a low speed impact can leave considerable damage - this is a good thing. I’m sure the airbag kept you quite far from the windscreen, but it likely winded you.

1 non-fault collision in 25 years of driving is pretty bloody good. The odds of it happening again are small. The longer you give in to fear, the less chance of ever overcoming it. Get some counselling and go out in the car with a trust friend. Not far, but a bit each day going slightly further. Start when roads are quiet and work your way up. You’ll be limiting your opportunities if you’ll only go to places you can walk to.

It's scary how loud it sounds when you are hit from behind, even when there's little damage. I was hit from behind as I waited to let a pedestrian cross the road at a zebra crossing! Small bump but very loud bang- frightened the kids in the back (they were fine though)
In your case OP, it sounds more than that. If you had your seatbelt on you would have been safe. Your feeling of having a heart problem might have been a panic attack- these can be extremely frightening.
Remember you have had 25 years of experience - incident free?

Enquire via GP for some talking therapy to help you get it in perspective. Or does your insurance have cover for counselling?
Don't let this incident take away your independence.
Good luck