The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Insurancekind-raven-359

7 months pregnant, rear-ended hard, at-fault insurance keeps changing their offer — what's happening?

I really need some outside perspective because I feel like I'm losing my mind.

About six weeks ago I was sitting completely still at a red light and got slammed from behind. Hard enough that my car got pushed into the intersection. I'm 7 months pregnant. I went straight to the ER because I was cramping and the baby's movement felt off. They monitored us for several hours, ran a bunch of tests, and ultimately said baby looks okay — but the OB on call was pretty clear that some things "just can't be ruled out until delivery."

The at-fault driver's insurance finally got around to calling me last week. First offer: cover my ER bills plus a few thousand for pain and suffering. I asked one question — whether any future medical costs for the baby, if something showed up after birth that was tied to the crash, would be covered. The adjuster fumbled around, said maybe we could "revisit" things later if I could "prove" a connection.

Then, literally the next day, they called back and said they'd made an error on the first offer and wanted to bump it up — more on both the medical side and the pain and suffering side.

Now they're calling again wanting to "chat further."

I haven't signed or agreed to anything. But these back-to-back calls and changing numbers are making me nervous. Why does an insurance company keep revising an offer upward on their own? Is that normal? Are they worried about something I'm not seeing?

I'm exhausted, I'm huge and uncomfortable, and I just want to do right by my baby. Do I need a lawyer before I talk to them again, or am I overthinking this?

11replies

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11 replies

  • 7
    steady-mole-340

    I worked claims for years and I can tell you exactly what's happening: someone higher up reviewed the file and realized the exposure here is significant. A pregnant claimant, documented ER visit, a baby whose health can't be fully confirmed yet — that's an open-ended liability they want to close out cheap before you figure that out. The 'we made an error' callback is sometimes genuine, but in a case like yours it usually means a supervisor got involved. They are not your friend right now.

  • 23
    warm-owl-444

    Not legal advice, but I'd strongly encourage you to at least consult with a personal injury attorney before responding. Most do free consultations. The specific issue here — potential future harm to a minor — is genuinely complicated. Settlements typically require you to release all future claims. If something emerges after your baby is born that's connected to this crash, you'd generally have no recourse once you've signed. An attorney can help you understand whether that release language would cover your child and what your options are. The fact that the adjuster couldn't give you a straight answer about future baby-related costs tells you a lot.

    • 9
      gentle-driver920

      Really glad you posted an update — gives the rest of us some hope.

    • 7
      soft-spoken-sidewalk880

      This thread is gold. Thanks everyone.

  • 13
    clever-finch-066

    I wasn't pregnant but I was rear-ended pretty badly and had a similar experience where the adjuster kept calling and nudging the offer up. I thought I was doing great negotiating. Turns out I settled way too fast for an injury that got worse over the next few months. I wish someone had told me to slow down and get a lawyer on the phone first. With a baby in the mix, please don't rush this.

  • 18
    calm-crow-657

    As someone who works in maternal care — the fact that your OB said some things can't be ruled out until delivery is not just a throwaway comment. There are real conditions that can develop in newborns following significant trauma to the mother that aren't detectable in utero. I'm not trying to scare you, and hopefully everything is perfectly fine. But from a medical standpoint, you genuinely don't have the full picture yet, and settling before you do feels risky.

  • 18
    wise-otter-658

    I would be so stressed in your position, especially this close to your due date. Please don't feel pressured to respond to them quickly just because they keep calling. You're allowed to say 'I'm not prepared to discuss this right now' and hang up. You don't owe them a fast answer.

  • 17
    plain-hare-264

    One thing worth knowing: in most states, a settlement release signed by a parent does NOT automatically release claims belonging to the child. Meaning your baby may have their own separate legal rights if something connected to the crash surfaces after birth. This is actually a big reason why insurers sometimes want to move fast — they'd rather get the parent settled before anyone thinks to look into that. Talk to an attorney about how your state handles minor's claims specifically.

  • 13
    mellow-sparrow-705

    Stop taking their calls until you've talked to a PI lawyer. That's it. That's the whole advice. You can let it go to voicemail. A free consultation costs you nothing and could make a massive difference here.

    • 4
      level-late-shift141

      This thread is gold. Thanks everyone.

  • 13
    brave-badger-234

    Please do not call them back alone. The fact that they keep sweetening the offer without you even pushing back is a massive red flag. Adjusters do not voluntarily raise numbers out of the goodness of their hearts — they're trying to get you locked into a settlement before you realize what the full picture looks like. Especially with a baby involved. Once you sign a release, that's almost certainly it, no matter what happens after birth.