The Shoulder
The Shoulder
64
calm-swan-066

Driver cut across two lanes into a parking lot and hit me — what do I do now?

So this happened yesterday afternoon and I'm still kind of shaken up. I was driving in the right lane on a four-lane road, just cruising along, when the car in the second lane from the left suddenly swerved across ALL the lanes — including mine — to pull into a strip mall entrance. No signal, no warning, just came flying over. I had zero time to react and he clipped my front driver-side corner pretty good.

Here's where it gets complicated: when we pulled over, the guy showed me paperwork and the car turned out to be a rental. He gave me a photo of his rental agreement and some kind of insurance card from the rental company, but honestly I was so flustered I'm not even sure I got everything I needed. I did get his phone number at least.

I've already called my own insurance to give them a heads up, but the rep kind of rushed me and I didn't finish the full claim process. My thought was I should reach out to the rental company directly first? But I genuinely don't know if that's the right move.

No dashcam on my end. There might be a camera on one of the storefronts nearby but I have no idea how to even start getting that footage or how long they keep it.

My neck has been stiff since it happened and I'm debating whether to go get checked out. Is that worth doing even if I feel mostly okay?

First accident ever. I don't know the process at all. Any advice from people who've been through something like this would be huge.

11replies

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11 replies

  • 22
    bold-mole-272

    Please go get checked out, even if you feel 'mostly okay.' Neck stiffness after a collision is your body telling you something. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries can feel mild at first and then get significantly worse over the next 48–72 hours once inflammation sets in. Go to urgent care or your doctor, describe exactly what happened, and let them document it. Don't wait until it gets bad — by then you've also lost that early documentation window.

    • 10
      gentle-elk-945

      Three things, in order: 1) Finish filing your claim today — don't leave it half-done. 2) Go to a doctor and get your neck documented. 3) Go back to that strip mall and ask about the camera footage before it's gone. Everything else can wait. Do those three things first.

    • 1
      gentle-optimist964

      How long did it end up taking in your case?

  • 22
    swift-fox-491

    A couple of practical things worth knowing: rental situations typically involve at least two potential insurance sources — the rental company's liability coverage and whatever the driver's personal auto policy covers (some personal policies extend to rentals). Your own insurer can help sort out which applies. On the surveillance footage — if you think there's a camera on one of those storefronts, go back today or tomorrow and politely ask the business manager if they have footage and if they'd be willing to preserve it. Most small businesses overwrite footage within a week or two, sometimes less.

    • 5
      steady-tern-367

      I just want to say — being shaken up after something like this is completely normal and valid. Even 'minor' accidents are scary and disorienting. Please take care of yourself physically first. Everything else is fixable. You're asking the right questions and you're going to figure this out. 💙

  • 19
    tidy-tern-616

    Not legal advice, but from what you're describing — a driver crossing multiple lanes without signaling to enter a lot — that's a pretty clear right-of-way situation. The fact that it's a rental doesn't protect the driver from liability. If your neck issue develops into anything significant, it may be worth a free consultation with a PI attorney before you sign anything or accept any settlement offer. Most won't charge unless they recover something for you.

  • 13
    silent-marten-702

    Oh man, the rental car thing adds a whole extra layer of confusion — been there. When I got hit by a rental driver, I made the mistake of trying to deal with the rental company directly first and honestly it just wasted time. Their insurance and the driver's personal insurance both got involved eventually anyway. I'd just go ahead and complete your claim with your own insurer and let them sort out who's responsible. That's literally what you pay them for.

  • 11
    clear-elk-635

    Do NOT wait on completing your claim hoping the rental company will just make things easy. They won't. Their whole job is to minimize what they pay out. Get your claim fully filed with your own insurance TODAY, get that neck looked at, and keep a written record of every single conversation — who you talked to, what time, what they said. Adjusters count on people being confused and slow-moving right after an accident.

    • 2
      honest-wanderer983

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

  • 9
    clever-swan-032

    Former claims adjuster here. One thing people don't realize: when a rental car is involved, the rental company's insurer will often do their own investigation pretty quickly — and their goal is to establish facts early, ideally before you have legal representation or even a full account of what happened. Don't give any recorded statement to anyone (including your own insurer if possible) until you've at least had a chance to gather your thoughts and write down everything you remember. Memory fades fast and recorded statements can be used against you later.

    • 1
      quiet-commuter829

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.