The Shoulder
The Shoulder
57
Car accidentsbold-dove-270

Rear-ended at a red light, can't lift my arm, and my claim is just... sitting there

I don't even know how to start this. Three weeks ago I was stopped at a red light on my way to my shift and someone plowed into the back of me going full speed. The impact was bad enough that my car got pushed into the intersection. I walked away (or stumbled away, I guess) but my shoulder and neck have been a mess ever since.

The worst part is I work in a warehouse. Lifting is literally my whole job. I haven't been able to go back since the accident and my supervisor is already making noises about 'how long this can go on.' I'm not trying to milk anything — I genuinely cannot raise my right arm above my chest without a sharp, nauseating pain shooting through my whole side.

My claim is still 'under review.' That's all I get when I call. Under review. Meanwhile my rent is due, I've got a stack of urgent-care and imaging bills sitting on my kitchen table, and I had to ask my mom to cover my utilities this month which I hated doing.

I've been icing, doing the stretches the urgent care doc showed me, but I honestly don't know if I need more imaging or a specialist or what. And I don't know if I'm supposed to be talking to the other driver's insurance, my own insurance, or just waiting.

Has anyone been through something like this? How did you handle the financial gap while the claim dragged on? Did you end up needing a lawyer? I feel like I'm just white-knuckling it and hoping something breaks my way soon.

11replies

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11 replies

  • 17
    curious-kestrel-998

    Three things: get a proper specialist appointment booked now, not eventually. Talk to a PI attorney before you say anything else to either insurance company. And ask your employer in writing what their policy is on medical leave — get it documented so they can't just quietly push you out. You're in a vulnerable spot and the best thing you can do is stop operating on hope and start creating a paper trail.

  • 16
    sharp-raven-915

    I just want to say I'm really sorry you're going through this. The physical pain on top of the financial stress on top of the job anxiety — that's so much for one person to carry. Please don't forget to check in on yourself emotionally too. Trauma from accidents is real even when the injuries aren't visible.

  • 13
    tidy-swift-722

    Please don't just keep doing urgent care stretches if the pain is that sharp and persistent. Shoulder and neck injuries from rear-end collisions can involve things that don't show up without an MRI — rotator cuff tears, disc issues in the cervical spine, all kinds of stuff. Push for a referral to an orthopedic specialist or at minimum get imaging beyond the basic x-ray. Also document everything — every symptom, every bad day, every time it prevents you from doing something. That documentation matters more than people realize, both medically and if this becomes a legal thing.

    • 4
      calm-dreamer155

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

  • 13
    patient-finch-413

    That 'under review' line is a delay tactic, full stop. Adjusters know that the longer they stretch things out, the more desperate claimants get and the more likely you are to accept a lowball offer just to end the bleeding. Do NOT give them a recorded statement without understanding your rights first. And if they ask you to sign any kind of release or settlement paperwork before you even know the full extent of your injuries — do not do it.

    • 3
      plainspoken-co-pilot243

      Did the timeline change anything for you? Mine dragged on for weeks.

    • 0
      quiet-dreamer108

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

  • 12
    wise-tern-743

    I was in almost this exact situation about two years ago — rear-ended, soft tissue damage, couldn't do my job (I'm in construction). The financial limbo while the claim sat there was honestly the most stressful part, worse than the pain some days. What helped me was getting a PI attorney involved earlier than I thought I needed to. A lot of them work on contingency so there's no upfront cost, and suddenly the insurance company started actually responding. Hang in there, it does move eventually.

    • 20
      bold-beaver-019

      I spent years on the inside and I'll be honest with you: a claim sitting stagnant like that usually means either it got assigned to an overloaded desk, or they're waiting to see if you'll get impatient and settle cheap. Calling in and asking for a supervisor or escalating to a 'claim manager' sometimes shakes things loose. Also, your state's department of insurance has a complaint process — just mentioning that you're aware of it on a call can sometimes speed things up dramatically. Not saying it always works, but it's worth knowing.

  • 9
    candid-lynx-454

    Quick question — was a police report filed at the scene? And do you have photos of the damage, the intersection, anything like that? I'm not doubting you, but those details matter a lot for how the claim gets handled. If the other driver is disputing fault or the damage looks 'minor' on paper, insurance companies will use that to drag their feet or lowball. Just want to make sure you've got your documentation locked down.

  • 8
    tidy-dove-536

    A couple of practical things: first, check whether your own auto policy has MedPay or PIP (personal injury protection) coverage. That can pay medical bills regardless of fault while the liability claim is still being sorted — a lot of people don't know they have it. Second, most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and can at least tell you whether you have a viable claim and what the timeline might realistically look like. You're not committing to anything by calling.