At-fault driver's insurance totaled my car but the offer feels wrong — do I fight it or go through mine?

Oh this hits so close to home. Almost the exact same situation happened to me two years ago — other driver's fault, clear as day, and their insurance still low-balled my total loss and acted like the number was carved in stone. It is NOT. I went back and pulled comparable listings in my area for the same make, year, and mileage and sent them over in an email. They bumped the offer. It took like two weeks of back and forth but it moved. Don't just accept the first number.

Those multiple calls a day pushing you to sign? That's not them being helpful — that's them trying to close your claim before you figure out what you're actually entitled to. Once you sign, that's usually it. They know that. Don't let the urgency be their urgency. Take your time.

A few things worth knowing: first, going through your own insurance (if you have collision) can sometimes speed things up because your insurer then subrogate against the at-fault carrier — meaning they chase the money back and you may get your deductible refunded later. Second, your medical/injury claim and your property damage claim are two separate things. A lot of people don't realize that. You can resolve the car situation independently of the injury piece. I'd be really careful not to sign anything that bundles both together. Not legal advice, just things I've seen come up a lot.

Not legal advice, but generally speaking — do not sign a full release while you're still experiencing physical symptoms. Settlements are final. If you sign off and your whiplash turns into something more serious down the road, you typically have no recourse. The pressure to sign fast is a red flag worth paying attention to. Most personal injury consultations are free; it might be worth just talking to someone before you put pen to paper on anything.

Please make sure you and your sister have actually been seen by a doctor, not just urgent care if you can help it. Whiplash and soft tissue stuff can feel manageable in week one and then get significantly worse by week three or four as inflammation sets in. You want that documented now, not later when you're trying to explain a gap. Keep records of every symptom, every appointment, every medication. Your future self will thank you.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, especially after something already so scary. The fact that you had family in the car makes it so much more stressful emotionally. Please don't let them pressure you into signing anything while you're still this stressed and uncertain. You deserve time to actually understand what you're agreeing to. 💙

Three things: 1) Request the valuation report in writing today. 2) Stop answering their calls until you've had a chance to actually read what they're asking you to sign. 3) At minimum, talk to a PI attorney before you do anything — most don't charge for a first call and you're clearly not in a position where you have nothing to lose by getting a second opinion.