At-fault fender bender — did I handle the aftermath right? First time dealing with this

I was in a really similar spot about two years ago — at-fault merge gone wrong, no injuries, no police report. Honestly the most important thing you already did: report to your own insurance fast. I waited almost four days and my adjuster gave me a minor headache about the delay. You're ahead of where I was.

On your question about calling her insurance — generally you don't have to. Once your carrier opens the liability claim, they'll contact the other party or her insurer directly. Where it gets complicated is if the other driver decides to go around your insurance and file directly with hers first. That's not necessarily a problem, just means two claims might be open simultaneously for a bit. Your insurer should coordinate. Keep a log of every call you make and get claim numbers in writing — seriously, write down dates, rep names, and what was said. That paper trail matters more than people expect.

Whatever you do, be careful how much you say to her insurance if they call you. They are not on your side. Be factual, be brief, and let your own carrier do the talking where possible. Adjusters are trained to get you to say things that expand your exposure. You already admitted fault to your own insurer — that's fine and necessary — but volunteering extra details to the other side is a different story.

Former claims rep here. The missing license plate isn't a huge deal since you have her insurance info — your carrier can pull the rest. What actually matters more is documenting the damage to YOUR car right now if you haven't already. Take timestamped photos from multiple angles today. Even in an at-fault claim, that documentation protects you if the other driver later claims damage that wasn't from your accident. It happens more than you'd think.

You're overthinking it a little. You called your insurance, you exchanged info, nobody got hurt. That's basically the checklist. Follow up with your insurer every few days so the claim doesn't go cold, and don't give recorded statements to anyone without knowing exactly what you're agreeing to.

First accidents are so rattling even when they're "minor." You sound like you're handling it responsibly — just make sure you're also checking in with yourself. The adrenaline crash after something like this is real and it can hit a day or two later.

Quick question — you said no police came because it was on private property. Did you at least check whether your state requires you to file a self-report form when there's no official report? Some states have a threshold (usually tied to estimated damage amount) where you're legally required to file something directly with the DMV or DOT. Worth a five-minute Google for your specific state.

Not legal advice, but one thing people in your position often overlook: even in a clear at-fault situation, you still have rights. If the other driver later claims injuries that weren't apparent at the scene (soft tissue stuff especially), or if the damage estimate balloons unexpectedly, having your own documentation is important. Your insurance handles the liability side, but you want to understand your own policy limits so you're not caught off guard. If anything escalates beyond a routine property claim, a quick consult with a PI attorney is usually free and worth it.