Other driver's insurance agent is her brother-in-law — should I be worried?

Okay so I can actually speak to this a little. I worked in claims for several years before switching careers. The agent and the claims adjuster are almost always completely separate sides of the operation — different departments, different incentives, different systems. The agent's job is to sell and service policies. The adjuster's job is to evaluate and settle claims. In most mid-to-large carriers there are literal walls between those functions.

That said, I won't pretend the insurance world is some perfectly neutral machine. Document EVERYTHING. Every call, every email, every conversation — write down the date, time, and what was said. If anything feels off with the adjuster, you can escalate to a supervisor or file a complaint with your state's department of insurance. Don't let anyone pressure you into a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries.

Family connection or not, adjusters are trained to close claims for as little as possible. That's just the job. Don't assume good faith. Don't give a recorded statement without thinking hard about what you're saying. And please, do NOT accept any settlement offer while you're still in active treatment — you might not know the full cost of your injuries yet. They're counting on people being eager to just get it over with.

I had a similar vibe with my claim — not a family thing, but I felt like the adjuster was weirdly chummy with the other driver's side. Turned out it was just how they operate, but my gut kept telling me something was wrong. I ended up getting an attorney involved and honestly it changed everything. Not saying you have to, but having someone in your corner who knows the process made me feel so much less like I was getting played.

The agent relationship is probably not a legal conflict of interest in the formal sense — agents typically don't have claims authority. But if you ever feel like the adjuster is acting in bad faith (lowballing, delaying, misrepresenting coverage), that IS something attorneys take seriously. Keep records of every interaction with the insurance company. Screenshots, voicemails, emails — all of it. That paper trail matters more than most people realize.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — a clear-cut liability situation with documented injuries — is exactly the kind of case where people accidentally leave a lot on the table by handling it solo. You don't have to hire anyone right now, but at least get a free consultation so you understand what your claim is actually worth before you say yes to anything. Most PI attorneys don't charge upfront. The family connection to the agent is probably not your biggest issue; making sure your medical treatment is fully documented IS.

Honestly that setup would make me uneasy too, family or not. Trust your gut. You were the one who got hit, you have the witnesses and the camera footage — don't let anyone make you feel like you're the difficult one for asking questions and pushing back.

Stop dealing with their insurance directly. Get a personal injury attorney. Free consult, no upfront cost, they take a percentage only if you win. You have a solid liability case with a traffic cam and a police citation — that's strong. Don't give any recorded statements and don't sign anything until you know what your medical future looks like. This is not the situation to wing it.