Two resources were kindly introduced in the comment. I adopt this method: Use of quote marker と before unusual verbs. It explains you can use an italic font for a quotation. So, you might try to express "確実に勝ち目はないだろうなぁと" using an italic font in English writing.
Probably going like this, "If I were to get involved in the accident, it's pretty sure that I could not win, I was getting nervous like that".