The Shoulder
The Shoulder
51
Insurancequick-dove-158

Other driver's insurance keeps calling me — do I need a lawyer before I say anything?

So I got hit about ten days ago and I'm still kind of in shock that I'm even dealing with all this. I was stopped at a red light when a guy in a sedan rear-ended me going what felt like full speed. Airbags didn't deploy but the back of my car is pretty wrecked and my neck has been stiff and painful ever since. Went to an urgent care the next morning and they told me to follow up with my regular doctor.

Here's what's stressing me out the most right now: the other driver's insurance company has already called me three times in the last week. They've been super friendly and chatty, which honestly makes me more nervous, not less. They keep saying they just want to "get my statement" and "start the process."

I've never been in an accident before. I don't know if I need a lawyer before I talk to them or if that's overkill for something like this. I work a physical job and I genuinely don't know yet how bad my neck is going to be — my follow-up appointment isn't until later this week.

Some things I'm trying to figure out:

  • Is it okay to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance?
  • Should I wait until I know the full extent of my injuries before doing anything?
  • How do I even find a good personal injury attorney without just picking someone from a billboard?

Any advice from people who've been through this would be really helpful. I feel like I'm already behind and I don't want to mess something up that I can't undo.

15replies

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15 replies

  • 18
    curious-newt-142

    Do NOT give that recorded statement. I cannot stress this enough. Those friendly calls are not them trying to help you — they're trying to lock you into saying something early, before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you say "I feel okay" or downplay anything, it's on record and they will use it. At minimum, wait until after your doctor's appointment.

    • 8
      tired-driver292

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

    • 2
      mellow-backseat295

      Adding this: keep copies of every email. It mattered for me.

  • 14
    silent-dove-019

    I used to work on the claims side and yeah, those early calls are very much a strategy. The faster they can get a statement or even a quick settlement offer, the better it is for them — not you. Soft tissue injuries like neck strain can take weeks to fully reveal themselves. If you settle or say the wrong thing now, you may be signing away your right to anything more. You don't have to be rude to them, but you can absolutely say "I'm not prepared to give a statement right now" and hang up. That's completely within your rights.

    • 4
      hopeful-commuter781

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

    • 7
      grounded-offramp727

      Saving this whole thread. Really appreciate the honesty here.

  • 16
    cool-lynx-242

    From a process standpoint: you are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. You may have obligations to your own insurer depending on your policy, but the adverse carrier? No. A lot of people don't realize that. Also — document everything right now. Screenshot those call logs, save any voicemails, keep a running note on your phone about how you're feeling each day. That kind of contemporaneous record can matter a lot later.

  • 12
    careful-finch-201

    I went through almost this exact thing two years ago. Got rear-ended, thought I was mostly fine, gave a quick statement because I didn't want to be difficult — and then my back got significantly worse over the following month. By then I had already said I was "doing alright" on a recorded call. It made everything harder. Please just wait until you actually know what you're dealing with medically before you say anything to them.

    • 2
      honest-neighbor426

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

  • 9
    gentle-beaver-268

    Just want to flag the medical side of this: neck stiffness after a rear-end collision can be whiplash, and whiplash symptoms sometimes get worse before they get better — not better right away like people expect. Make sure you tell your doctor everything at that follow-up, even stuff that seems minor. Pain that feels like a 3 today can be a 7 in two weeks, and you want that all documented from the start.

    • 18
      steady-kestrel-972

      Short answer: stop answering those calls until you talk to a lawyer. You have nothing to gain by rushing this and a lot to potentially lose. Get your doctor's appointment done first, then at least have one free consultation with a PI attorney before you say a single word to their insurance. It costs you nothing to be cautious here.

    • 7
      tired-walker867

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

  • 7
    hearty-swan-614

    Not legal advice, but generally speaking: consulting with a personal injury attorney before giving any recorded statement to an adverse insurer is almost always the smarter move. Most PI attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, so there's no upfront cost to just talking to someone. On finding one — skip the billboards and look for someone with actual reviews from real clients, not just ads. Your state bar may also have a referral service.

  • 9
    humble-newt-072

    I just want to say — please take care of yourself first. It sounds like you're really stressed and trying to handle a lot at once. The insurance stuff can wait a few more days. Your health and knowing what you're actually dealing with is more important than responding to their timeline.

    • 8
      tired-traveler626

      This is really helpful — thank you for posting it.