The Shoulder
The Shoulder
46
Insurancegentle-sparrow-975

Got rear-ended for the first time ever — do I even need to call MY insurance?

So this happened two days ago and I'm still kind of spinning from it.

I was sitting at a red light, completely stopped, when I felt this huge jolt from behind. The guy who hit me apparently didn't notice traffic had stopped — I honestly don't know what he was doing. My car got pushed forward a few feet. We pulled over, exchanged info, took photos, the whole thing. He was super apologetic and admitted it was his fault right there on the spot.

I called his insurance that evening and they opened a claim. They said they'd assign an adjuster and reach out about getting my car looked at. Okay fine, that part I sort of understand.

But here's where I'm lost — do I also need to report this to my own insurance company? I feel weird calling them when it wasn't my fault and I don't want my rates going up over something I didn't cause. Nobody has ever explained this stuff to me before and I genuinely have no idea if notifying my own insurer helps me or hurts me.

Also — and maybe this is the more important thing — I've got this dull ache across my shoulders and upper neck that wasn't there before. It's not unbearable, just... present. My sister keeps telling me to go get checked out but I feel dumb going to urgent care over something that might just go away. Do I actually need to see a doctor or am I overthinking it?

First accident ever. I feel like I should know how all this works by now but I really, really don't. Any advice from people who've been through this would mean a lot.

11replies

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11 replies

  • 9
    keen-dove-953

    I went through almost this exact thing last year — rear-ended, other driver's fault, felt fine-ish at first. I made the mistake of NOT going to the doctor right away because I figured the soreness would pass. It didn't. By day four I could barely turn my head. Go get checked out now, not later. Seriously. Your body is in a little bit of shock right after a collision and symptoms often get worse before they get better.

    • 2
      tired-dreamer538

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

  • 6
    curious-swan-374

    Yes, notify your own insurance — but be careful how much you share with the at-fault driver's carrier. Their adjuster works for them, not you. They will be friendly and seem helpful, but their job is to close your claim as cheaply as possible. Don't give a recorded statement to the other side without thinking it through first.

  • 20
    wise-kestrel-162

    Former claims adjuster here. You should absolutely notify your own insurer — most policies actually require it. It won't automatically raise your rates if you're not at fault; that's a really common fear but it depends on your state and your specific policy. What your own insurer CAN do is go to bat for you if the other carrier starts dragging their feet or lowballing your repair estimate. Think of them as backup.

  • 16
    hearty-tern-854

    Please don't ignore the neck and shoulder pain. What you're describing sounds a lot like the beginning of a whiplash-type injury, and those can sneak up on you over 48–72 hours as inflammation sets in. Get evaluated at urgent care or your primary care doctor. You'll want it documented medically — both for your health and because if symptoms do get worse later, you'll have a record showing it started right after the crash.

    • 5
      mellow-backseat404

      Took me three tries but they finally budged. Don't give up.

  • 14
    genuine-heron-933

    Two things worth knowing: First, most states and most policies have a duty-to-notify clause, meaning you're supposed to report accidents to your own insurer within a reasonable timeframe regardless of fault. Second, that medical documentation the nurse mentioned? It matters a lot if you ever need to make a bodily injury claim against the at-fault driver's liability coverage. A gap between the accident date and your first doctor visit can be used against you. Not trying to scare you, just being real.

    • 5
      spry-seal-853

      Your sister is right, please just go get looked at. I know it feels unnecessary but you'll have so much peace of mind either way. If nothing's wrong the doctor will tell you that. If something IS wrong, you caught it early. There's no downside to going.

    • 8
      thankful-backseat153

      Following up on this — any update on how it turned out?

  • 6
    kind-marten-884

    Three things: 1) Call your insurance today, just report it, don't overthink it. 2) Go to the doctor — shoulder and neck pain after a rear-end is not nothing. 3) Don't sign or agree to ANYTHING from the other driver's insurance until you actually know the full extent of your injuries. They may try to settle fast. Don't let them.

  • 5
    clear-grouse-988

    You did a lot of things right honestly — you kept your cool, got all the info, called their insurance the same day. That's more than a lot of people do. You're already ahead of it. Just fill in the gaps (your own insurer, a doctor visit) and you'll be in decent shape.