Got rear-ended into a 3-car pileup, car is totaled — what do I actually do now?

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. That's their insurer, not yours — they don't have the same leverage people assume. Lost wages are absolutely a recoverable damage in a claim like this, but you need documentation: pay stubs showing your normal earnings, and written notes from your employer or time records showing exactly which days you missed and why. Start building that paper trail now if you haven't already.

Three things: don't give the recorded statement, don't accept the first car valuation without fighting it, and don't settle anything until you actually know how bad the ribs are. That's it. Everything else can wait a few days.

I know it feels overwhelming right now but honestly you're in a better position than a lot of people — liability sounds clear, you have the other driver's insurance engaged, and you went to the doctor right away which means there's a medical record. A lot of people wait and then have a much harder time connecting their injuries to the crash. You're doing the right things, just don't rush.

Quick question — did the police come to the scene and was a report filed? And does your own insurance know about this yet? Those two things change the picture a lot. If there's a police report confirming the other driver caused the chain reaction that helps a ton. And your own uninsured/underinsured coverage might matter depending on how this shakes out with the second vehicle involved.

Not legal advice, but in a situation like yours — clear liability, a total loss, documented injuries, and missed work — at minimum it's worth a free consultation with a PI attorney before you sign or say anything. Most won't charge unless they recover something. The reason I mention it is the recorded statement issue: once that's done it's done, and you can't take it back. Just something to consider before you respond to their requests.

I used to work claims and honestly the speed of that outreach is a tactic. When adjusters move fast it's usually because liability is clear and they want to settle cheap before you figure out what your claim is actually worth. On the car valuation — you are 100% allowed to push back. Pull comparable listings yourself, not just whatever they send you. Condition, mileage, local market prices all matter. Send it in writing and ask them to justify the difference.

Went through something almost identical two years ago — rear-ended at a light, total loss, chest pain from the seatbelt. The rib/chest stuff took way longer to heal than I expected and my follow-up imaging actually found something the urgent care missed. Please see a doctor again, don't just wait it out. And keep every single receipt, every note about work you've missed, everything.

Bruised ribs and chest pain after a crash is no joke, please don't downplay it. Breathing shallowly because it hurts can actually lead to complications like pneumonia over time because you're not fully expanding your lungs. If the pain isn't improving or you develop any shortness of breath beyond the rib soreness, go back in. Also worth asking your doctor to document specifically how the injury affects your ability to do physical work — that kind of functional limitation note matters a lot for a claim.

That 'same day' call from their insurance is a massive red flag. They're not being nice — they're trying to lock you into a statement before you know the full extent of your injuries or damages. Do NOT give a recorded statement without at least understanding what you're agreeing to. Once it's on record, they will use anything you say to minimize your payout. Slow down, don't let them rush you.