The Shoulder
The Shoulder
55
Car accidentswarm-kestrel-227

Got rear-ended at a stop sign, other driver tried to say I backed into HER??

Still kind of shaking as I type this so bear with me.

Was sitting at a stop sign this morning waiting for a gap in traffic to turn left. Full stop, foot on the brake, not moving an inch. Out of nowhere — BAM — someone plows into the back of me and pushes my car halfway through the intersection. Genuinely thought I was about to get T-boned by cross traffic.

We both pull over and here's where it gets wild. The other driver gets out and the first thing out of her mouth is that I rolled backward into her. I'm sorry, WHAT? I was on a flat road with my foot on the brake. She kept insisting, real calm about it too, which honestly creeped me out more than if she'd been yelling.

Her car had basically zero visible damage. Mine has a crumpled rear bumper and something feels off with the trunk. I got her info, took about 40 photos, and filed a claim before I even got home.

Here's the thing though — I felt totally fine in the moment. Adrenaline I guess. By the time I got home my neck was stiffening up and now a few hours later I can barely turn my head. Went to urgent care and they said I have soft tissue strain in my neck and upper back.

I feel ridiculous complaining because the damage looks minor and I wasn't knocked unconscious or anything dramatic. But I genuinely cannot get comfortable and the muscle spasms are no joke.

Has anyone dealt with an at-fault driver who immediately tried to flip the story like that? And does minor-looking damage mean insurance will lowball the injury claim? Feeling pretty lost right now.

14replies

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14 replies

  • 18
    calm-raven-743

    Speaking from the other side of this — when I worked claims, a driver who immediately offers an alternative story at the scene (especially a calm, rehearsed-sounding one) was often coached by a friend or family member who'd been through insurance claims before. It's a tactic. Your photos, the road geometry, and any traffic or doorbell cam footage from nearby homes will cut right through it. See if there are any cameras on businesses or houses near that intersection.

    • 6
      humble-raven-460

      You are absolutely not being dramatic. You got hit by a car and now your body hurts — that's just reality. The fact that the bumpers don't look that bad doesn't mean your neck is fine. Take care of yourself first and let the insurance stuff work itself out around your recovery, not the other way around.

    • 5
      kind-rider267

      This is really helpful — thank you for posting it.

  • 16
    genuine-wolf-487

    The 'you backed into me' thing is so infuriating and honestly more common than you'd think. The driver who hit me tried something similar — waited until the police showed up and suddenly had a totally different version of events. Glad you took photos immediately. That's going to matter a lot more than whatever story she tells.

    • 1
      calm-rider408

      Seconding this. The same approach worked for me last year.

  • 15
    wise-bison-978

    Please don't brush off that neck and upper back strain. Soft tissue injuries from rear-end collisions can take days to fully declare themselves — you might feel significantly worse tomorrow or the day after than you do right now. Keep a daily notes on your pain levels, what movements hurt, and how it's affecting your sleep. That log becomes really valuable down the road, medically and otherwise. And follow up with your regular doctor, not just urgent care.

    • 3
      calm-neighbor970

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

  • 14
    daring-stoat-848

    Do NOT let the adjuster use 'minimal visible damage' as a reason to minimize your injury. That's one of the oldest tricks in the book. Low-speed impacts can absolutely cause serious soft tissue injuries — there's actual biomechanics research on this — but adjusters love to act like a few inches of bumper crush means nothing happened to your body. Push back and document everything.

    • 6
      hopeful-neighbor321

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 12
    sharp-swan-877

    Three things: 1) Get yourself to a physical therapist soon, not just urgent care. 2) Write down everything you remember about the accident tonight while it's fresh — what you were doing, what you heard, what she said word for word. 3) Don't give a recorded statement to her insurance company without understanding what you're agreeing to. That's it.

    • 7
      steady-walker528

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

  • 12
    daring-crane-907

    The conflicting account she gave at the scene is worth documenting formally if you haven't already. If there's a police report, make sure your version of events is in it clearly. If officers weren't called, you can sometimes still file a report at your local non-emergency line within a certain window depending on your state. Also — keep every receipt related to this. Urgent care copays, any prescriptions, even parking at the doctor's office. It all adds up and it's all potentially recoverable.

  • 8
    curious-marten-806

    Not doubting you at all, just curious — was there anyone else around? Any pedestrians, other drivers stopped nearby, or anything like that? And did you happen to have a dashcam running? The story flip she pulled is concerning but it'll be a lot easier to shut down if there's any corroborating evidence beyond just your word against hers.

    • 10
      daring-bison-610

      You did everything right though — stayed calm, got her info, filed immediately, and went to get checked out the same day. A lot of people talk themselves out of seeing a doctor after something 'minor' and then have a much harder time connecting injuries to the accident later. You're already ahead of most people in this situation.