The Shoulder
The Shoulder
63
Insurancewarm-marmot-757

Both insurance companies are blaming me but I found footage that proves otherwise — what now?

So this happened about six weeks ago. I was driving through an intersection when another car ran what I'm pretty sure was a late red light and clipped my front end. The impact spun me sideways into a curb and I ended up with a pretty bad neck strain and some shoulder issues I'm still dealing with.

Fast forward to this week — I get a letter basically saying the other driver's insurance completed their investigation and they're calling me at fault. Then I call MY insurance and they're basically singing the same song. At fault. Based on what exactly? From what I can tell, it's just the other driver's statement versus mine.

Here's the thing though — I went back to that intersection myself and noticed a restaurant on the corner has cameras pointing toward the street. I reached out and they actually still had the footage. It pretty clearly shows the other car blowing through after the light changed.

Now I'm sitting here with mounting medical bills, a car that's not fully fixed, and both carriers pointing fingers at me while I'm the one actually hurt. Nobody is offering to cover my treatment or my lost time at work.

I don't even know where to start. Do I just hand the video over to my adjuster and hope they reverse course? Do I need a lawyer? I feel like I'm being steamrolled and I did nothing wrong. Has anyone been through something like this where you had to go find your own proof? What actually moved the needle for you?

14replies

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14 replies

  • 18
    quick-marten-808

    I used to work on the claims side and I'll be honest with you — when both carriers land on the same at-fault determination early, it's often because one adjuster talked to the other and they just agreed on the path of least resistance. Your recorded statement, their insured's statement, done. Video evidence genuinely can flip that. I've seen it happen. But the key is presenting it strategically, not just dropping it into the claim and hoping someone notices. Get your ducks in a row first.

  • 17
    bright-wolf-102

    This is almost exactly what happened to me two years ago. Both sides blamed me and I had nothing but my word. I never thought to look for outside camera footage — honestly wish I had done what you did. The fact that you actually secured that video is huge. Don't just hand it over casually though, make sure you have your own copy saved somewhere safe before you do anything else.

    • 0
      kind-commuter991

      This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you.

  • 16
    clear-tern-702

    Please don't let the insurance battle distract you from staying on top of your medical care. Neck and shoulder injuries from accidents can seem manageable at first and then really flare up weeks later. Keep going to your appointments, follow through on any referrals, and document everything — every visit, every symptom, every day you couldn't do something because of the pain. That paper trail matters both for your health and for any claim.

    • 9
      clever-crane-591

      I'm really sorry you're going through this. It's so stressful to be hurt AND have to fight just to be believed. The fact that you went out and found that footage on your own says a lot — most people would've just given up. I really hope you get this sorted out and can focus on actually healing.

    • 8
      careful-dreamer962

      Appreciate the detailed write-up. Saving this for later.

  • 15
    bright-swan-602

    Not legal advice, but in disputed liability cases with physical evidence like this, representation often makes a real difference in how quickly and seriously insurers respond. An attorney can formally present the footage, request the other driver's full recorded statement, and put carriers on notice in a way that solo claimants usually can't. The fact that you're also injured adds another layer — medical claims and liability disputes together can get complicated fast. Worth at least one conversation with a PI lawyer before you do anything else.

    • 4
      hopeful-dreamer149

      Did you have to escalate, or did they come around after the first ask?

  • 15
    wise-crow-183

    You have video. You are injured. Stop trying to handle this yourself. Call a personal injury attorney today — not tomorrow, today. You've already done the hard part by finding the footage. Let someone who knows how to use it take it from here.

    • 6
      level-sidewalk300

      Adding this: keep copies of every email. It mattered for me.

    • 1
      hopeful-dreamer265

      Did you have to escalate, or did they come around after the first ask?

  • 15
    plain-mole-164

    Quick question — when you say the footage 'clearly shows' the other car going through after the light changed, have you had anyone else watch it and agree? Sometimes what feels obvious to us because we were there looks more ambiguous to a stranger. Not doubting you at all, just want to make sure you go in with realistic expectations about what the video actually shows versus what you're hoping it shows.

  • 7
    plain-vole-754

    Please be careful how you hand that footage over to your own insurance company. Adjusters are not on your side — they're trying to close the file cheaply. I'd be very hesitant to just email it to them and trust they'll do the right thing. Once you give it up, you lose some control over the narrative. Talk to someone who's actually in your corner before you make a move.

    • 19
      cool-fox-262

      A few practical things: first, preserve that footage in multiple places right now — cloud storage, a USB drive, email it to yourself. Surveillance footage can get overwritten or 'lost.' Second, if the restaurant gave it to you voluntarily, great, but get their contact info documented in case you need them to authenticate it later. Third, this situation — disputed liability, documented injuries, video evidence — is pretty much exactly the scenario where a free PI consultation is worth your time. Most personal injury attorneys don't charge for an initial call and they deal with this stuff constantly.