The Shoulder
The Shoulder
63
Insurancecalm-vole-426

Got rear-ended at 7 months pregnant — insurance already calling with an 'offer.' Do I even pick up?

I'm still kind of in shock writing this out. I was driving home from a prenatal checkup last week when someone blew through a red light and slammed into the back of my car. I'm 29 weeks along. The impact wasn't catastrophic or anything, but it was hard enough that my whole car lurched forward and I hit the steering wheel with my forearm.

I went straight to labor & delivery. They monitored the baby for hours, did an ultrasound, checked my placenta — thankfully everything looked stable. My OB wants me back in for a follow-up next week just to be sure. My neck and upper back are killing me and I can barely sleep on my side anymore, which is literally the only position I'm allowed to be in right now.

Here's the thing — the other driver's insurance has already called me twice this week. Left a voicemail saying they wanted to "get things resolved quickly" and mentioned a specific dollar figure as a "goodwill gesture." I haven't called back. I don't even know if I should.

I went through my own insurance first and they've been handling the car stuff, but the liability side with the at-fault carrier is a whole separate thing I don't really understand.

Has anyone been pregnant during an accident and dealt with this? I don't want to say the wrong thing or accidentally close the door on something I don't fully understand yet. And honestly — how do you even put a number on the stress of not knowing if your baby is okay for six hours in a hospital?

Any experience appreciated. I feel really alone in this.

10replies

Not sure what your claim is worth?

AskMatlock can connect you with an independent injury lawyer for a free case check — no pressure, no cost to start.

Check my case

0 / 4000 · posted under a randomly assigned handle

10 replies

  • 18
    wise-newt-194

    I just want to say — I'm really sorry you're dealing with this on top of being pregnant. The fact that you had to spend hours in the hospital not knowing if your baby was okay is genuinely traumatic, and you deserve to take the time you need before making any decisions. Don't let anyone rush you, including an insurance company.

    • 6
      calm-survivor922

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

  • 17
    mellow-marten-813

    I wasn't pregnant but I was in a similar situation where the other side called me super fast with a number and I almost took it because I was stressed and just wanted it over. I'm so glad I didn't. My injuries turned out to be worse than they seemed in week one. Please don't call them back until you know the full picture of your health and your baby's health. That 'goodwill gesture' language is a flag for me.

  • 17
    plain-finch-668

    That "goodwill gesture" and "resolve things quickly" language? That is a script. They use it specifically because people are overwhelmed and want closure. The faster they close your claim, the less they pay. You calling them back and engaging is the first step toward them locking you into something. You don't owe them a single word right now.

  • 12
    plain-marmot-860

    I used to work claims, so I'll be straight with you — when an adjuster calls a pregnant woman within days of an accident and throws out a number, that's not generosity, that's strategy. Pregnancy-related accident claims can get complicated fast, especially with ongoing prenatal monitoring, emotional distress, and any downstream complications. They want this gone before any of that develops. You are well within your rights to simply not respond while you figure out your situation. Nothing bad happens to you legally for not picking up that phone.

    • 13
      brave-wolf-033

      Please make sure you go to every single follow-up your OB recommends and document everything — any cramping, reduced movement, sleep disruption, anxiety, all of it. Stress during pregnancy is genuinely a medical concern, not just an emotional one, and it belongs in your medical records. Those records matter if this goes further. Also be honest with your OB about how you're feeling mentally, not just physically. That stuff is real and it counts.

    • 5
      patient-rider288

      Same boat here. Did anyone mention a deadline to watch out for?

  • 11
    patient-wolf-882

    Not legal advice, but situations involving pregnant victims tend to have more variables than a standard fender-bender — fetal monitoring costs, potential future prenatal complications, emotional distress, lost wages if you're on modified activity. Most PI attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, so there's usually no cost to at least getting a professional read on your situation before you engage with the other side at all. That call from the adjuster can wait.

  • 9
    bright-raven-138

    A couple of things worth knowing: you are never required to speak directly with the at-fault party's insurance. You can let everything go through your own carrier or through a representative. Also, signing or accepting anything — even verbally agreeing on a recorded call — can be treated as a settlement. Until you know the full scope of your medical needs (which you genuinely can't know yet at 29 weeks with a follow-up still pending), you're not in a position to evaluate any offer. That's not being difficult, that's just being informed.

  • 7
    quick-raven-959

    Don't call them back. Full stop. You're not being rude, you're not doing anything wrong. You have a follow-up appointment next week and you don't even have complete medical information yet. No sane person finalizes anything before they have all the facts. Let the voicemails stack up for now.