The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Car accidentspatient-swift-943

Passenger in a T-bone crash — at-fault driver admitted it, now what do I do?

So this happened about two weeks ago and I'm still kind of in shock about the whole thing, honestly. My coworker was giving me a ride home and we got absolutely slammed on her side of the car by someone who blew through a stop sign at a residential intersection. The impact was bad enough that both airbags deployed and her car had to be flatbedded away.

She got the worst of it — possible fractures in her wrist and collarbone, went by ambulance straight to the ER. I walked away with some gnarly bruising across my chest and shoulder from the seatbelt, plus my neck has been stiff and painful ever since. I went to urgent care that same evening.

Here's the thing — the other driver initially tried to say he "rolled through slowly" but a neighbor who saw the whole thing gave a statement to the police and the guy eventually just admitted he ran the sign entirely. So fault seems pretty clear.

My coworker is handling things on her end with her own insurance, but I'm kind of on my own figuring out what to do as the passenger. I've never dealt with an accident claim by myself before. I haven't called anyone's insurance yet — not hers, not mine, definitely not the at-fault driver's.

Do I need my own lawyer even as a passenger? Should I be filing something with the at-fault driver's insurance directly? My neck and chest are still bothering me and I don't even know if I need more medical care or how to pay for it in the meantime.

Any advice from people who've been through something similar would mean a lot right now.

13replies

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13 replies

  • 22
    swift-marten-945

    I was a passenger in a crash a couple years back and honestly being the passenger is its own confusing situation because you feel like you're kind of caught between two different insurance situations. What I did was contact the at-fault driver's insurance directly as a third-party claimant. You have every right to do that without going through your coworker's insurance at all. Just make sure you don't give them a recorded statement without thinking it through first.

    • 16
      mellow-vole-243

      Please do NOT call the at-fault driver's insurance and just start chatting with them like it's casual. They will be friendly, they will seem helpful, and they are absolutely collecting everything you say to use against you later. If they ask for a recorded statement, you are not legally required to give one. Seriously, look into getting representation before you pick up that phone.

    • 7
      restless-offramp797

      Saving this whole thread. Really appreciate the honesty here.

    • 6
      curious-rider524

      Going through something similar right now. Did following up actually move the needle for you?

  • 19
    patient-mole-456

    Not legal advice, but passengers generally have strong standing in these situations and most PI attorneys offer free consultations. Given that you're still having symptoms and haven't spoken to any insurance company yet, that's actually a reasonable position to be in — you haven't made any missteps. A consult would at least help you understand your options before you say anything to anyone.

  • 18
    mellow-seal-426

    A couple of practical things: first, start a notes document right now with dates, symptoms, any appointments, anything you've had to cancel or miss because of this. Even informal notes help. Second, as a passenger you can file a claim against the at-fault driver's liability coverage — that's separate from anything your coworker is doing. Your own auto policy may also have MedPay or PIP coverage that can help with medical bills regardless of fault. Worth calling your own insurer just to ask about coverage, not to make a claim statement.

    • 0
      patient-neighbor268

      Solid advice. Getting it in writing is the part most people skip.

  • 18
    warm-elk-864

    Two weeks of neck pain is not nothing. Please don't brush that off just because you technically "walked away." I'd focus on getting checked out medically first and worry about the claim stuff second — your health has to come first here.

    • 5
      gentle-neighbor213

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.

  • 16
    genuine-owl-954

    Former adjuster here. As a passenger you're actually in a decent position because liability is almost never disputed against you — you weren't driving anything. That said, adjusters will still try to minimize your injury claim, especially soft tissue stuff like neck and shoulder pain. They love to say things like "that's just typical post-accident soreness" and offer you something fast before you even know the full extent of your injuries. Don't take an early offer if you're still symptomatic.

    • 15
      quiet-finch-130

      Three things: stop putting off the doctor, don't give recorded statements to anyone yet, and talk to a PI lawyer before you do anything else. Consultations are free. Just go get information — you're not committing to anything by asking questions.

  • 9
    bold-beaver-529

    Please go get a follow-up with a doctor if your neck and chest are still bothering you two weeks out. Seatbelt injuries can involve more than just bruising — costochondral issues, soft tissue damage, even hairline rib fractures that urgent care might have missed. You also want that documented in your medical records as ongoing, not just a one-time urgent care visit. From a medical standpoint, a clear paper trail of your symptoms matters a lot.

    • 1
      steady-neighbor449

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