Other driver said they were fine at the scene — now months later their lawyer is calling my insurer??

This happened to me almost exactly. Low-speed bump, other person waved me off, then silence for two months — then boom, attorney letter. The waiting-and-then-lawyering-up thing is more common than people think, unfortunately. The good news in my case was that my insurance handled it and I didn't have to do much, but I definitely wish I'd talked to someone before I gave any statement.

Please do not just call your insurer back and start talking without at least knowing your rights first. I don't care how friendly the claims rep sounds — that recorded statement is going into a file that could be used to limit what they pay out. Your insurer is ultimately protecting their interests, not just yours. Get at least a free consult somewhere before you say anything on the record.

Spent years on the inside of this process. A few things from that experience:

1. Delayed injury claims are extremely common — people wake up stiff, go to a chiropractor, the chiropractor recommends an attorney, and suddenly it's a case. It doesn't automatically mean fraud, but it also doesn't mean you're liable. 2. Your dashcam footage is genuinely valuable. Preserve it right now if you haven't — back it up in multiple places. Do not let the original file get overwritten. 3. Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster whose job includes managing their own exposure, not just protecting you personally. Being cooperative is fine; being unprepared is a different thing.

From a process standpoint — you're at a pretty early stage and there's no reason to panic yet. The attorney on the other side reaching out through your insurer is just the opening move. What matters now is that you don't do anything that complicates your insurer's ability to defend the claim. That means: preserve your dashcam footage, write down everything you remember about the incident while it's still clear, and yes, it's totally reasonable to ask your insurer whether you should consult with your own attorney before giving a statement. Many policies actually include some form of legal support for exactly this situation.

Not legal advice, just some general context: you have every right to ask your insurance company whether you need independent counsel before giving a recorded statement. In most states, your insurer has a duty to defend you, but that doesn't mean their interests and your interests are always perfectly aligned. The dashcam footage is potentially significant — chain of custody matters, so don't just email it around carelessly. A one-hour consult with a PI or defense attorney could honestly save you a lot of stress here.

Just want to add the other side of this — sometimes people genuinely don't feel hurt at the scene and then symptoms show up days later. Whiplash especially can be sneaky. I'm not saying that's what's happening here, but it's worth keeping in mind that the other driver may not have been acting in bad faith when she said she was fine. It doesn't change your situation legally, but it might make it feel less personal.

Three things: back up that dashcam footage TODAY. Don't give the recorded statement until you've at least had a quick consult. And write down every single detail you remember about that day — what time it was, what the conditions were, exactly what she said, who was nearby. Memory fades and notes you write now will matter more than you think later.

Quick question — do you actually still have the dashcam footage? Because if it's been months and you hadn't flagged the clip, a lot of dashcams loop and overwrite automatically. If you don't have it anymore that changes the picture a bit. Also curious whether your insurer was notified when the accident happened or if this is the first they're hearing of it?

Ugh, this sounds so stressful. You did everything in good faith and now you're stuck dealing with legal stuff months later. I don't have any expertise but I just want to say — don't go through this alone. Even just talking to someone who knows the process before you respond to your insurer sounds really smart.