So far my games have played out like this:
1. Shoot enemy first
2. Enemy shoots back
3. AIMPUNCH / SCREEN SHAKE INTENSIFIES
4. Gun accuracy down the toilet
5. Die
I must be missing some setting. This game is based on quake so you just know there are crazy config tweaks.

Options > View
You can disable Blood Flash and Blood Splatter, perhaps Crosshair Pulsing, to reduce the screen reactions to being shot/shooting
You can crouch to increase the accuracy too

you can disable blood flash and splatter as mateos said, but not the camera going up

When the camera goes up, don't try to counter it by moving mouse down. Because during aimpunch bullets don't go where crosshair is. They go where crosshair was before the aimpunch.

Like everyone else said, turn off blood flash on hit so it's not as annoying and disorientating, and don't worry about your aim getting thrown off. Getting hit by bullets in ET is the same as getting hit by the machinegun in Quake 3 Arena - your shots will still be landing where you were aiming before the aimpunch knocked your camera up.

Options > View
You can disable Blood Flash and Blood Splatter, perhaps Crosshair Pulsing, to reduce the screen reactions to being shot/shooting
You can crouch to increase the accuracy too
Damn, I toggled blood splatter off, but still get the blood splatter. :/

Options > View
You can disable Blood Flash and Blood Splatter, perhaps Crosshair Pulsing, to reduce the screen reactions to being shot/shooting
You can crouch to increase the accuracy too
Damn, I toggled blood splatter off, but still get the blood splatter. :/
there 2 settings in "Options > View": Blood Flash and Blood Splatter

Thanks, Kimi. I changed both but still see blood when i get shot. Using ETLegacy fwiw. Eh I guess it's not really a big deal. I'll live with it if I have to. The game is just as much fun as I remember! Still haven't played any shooters quite like it.

Yeah this is the worst part about the game lol but you get used to it

There is always a little blood, but with these off, you should notice a difference though

maybe post your config. use pastebit I guess
I don't really know what you are doing wrong. It is certainly possible on legacy (and other mods) to disable blood flashing on the screen. Only aim punch is not possible to turn off

Maybe try setting it directly with a console command.

Cheers all!