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careful-crane-231

My brother got hit, other driver is lying, adjuster is pressuring us to take the blame — help?

I'm so frustrated I don't even know where to start. My brother was driving on the highway a few weeks ago and had to stop suddenly because traffic backed up out of nowhere. The guy behind him didn't stop in time and clipped the rear corner of my brother's car pretty good — scraped up the bumper and cracked the taillight housing.

Here's where it gets wild: the other driver is now telling his insurance that my brother "cut him off" and that's why the collision happened. That is completely false. My brother was already fully in the lane and had been for a while before traffic stopped.

No police showed up — dispatch said since no one was seriously hurt and both cars could be driven away, they weren't sending a unit. So there's no official report, no neutral party account, nothing. Just two people saying opposite things.

My brother is on my parents' policy. Their adjuster called him yesterday and, reading between the lines, basically suggested he should just "accept some fault" to make the claim go away faster. And today we found out the other driver has an attorney involved now, which honestly scared us.

Why would my brother accept blame for something he didn't do? And why does it feel like his own insurance company is working against him?

Has anyone been through something like this? What should we actually be doing right now? Do we need to get our own attorney? Any advice would mean a lot. 🙏

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9 replies

  • 11
    steady-crane-071

    That adjuster move is textbook. They float the idea of accepting partial fault because settling fast is cheaper for them — not better for your brother. The adjuster works for the insurance company, not your family. Don't let them forget that distinction, and don't let your brother sign or agree to anything without understanding exactly what it means.

  • 16
    genuine-marten-960

    I worked claims for years and I'll be honest — when there's no police report and no witnesses, adjusters sometimes push the insured toward shared liability just to close the file. It's a numbers game on their end. That doesn't mean your brother has to accept it. He can push back, request that they actually investigate (photos, road geometry, dashcam from either vehicle, anything), and document every single conversation he has with that adjuster in writing.

  • 8
    tidy-stoat-572

    Went through almost the exact same thing last year. Other driver lied, no police report, and his insurance tried to pin half of it on me. What helped me was writing out a super detailed timeline right away — like, where I was in the lane, how long I'd been there, what I saw before the impact. The more specific you can get, the harder it is for the other side to just steamroll the narrative.

  • 2
    mellow-heron-013

    Not legal advice, but I'll say this: once the other party has an attorney involved, your brother should seriously consider consulting one too — even just a free initial consult. The playing field shifts the moment lawyers enter the picture. Most PI attorneys will talk to him for free and at least tell him where he stands. Doesn't mean he has to file anything.

  • 7
    sharp-hare-209

    A few practical things worth doing right now: (1) Have your brother write out everything he remembers about the accident in as much detail as possible and keep that document somewhere safe. (2) Request a copy of the claim file from the insurer — he's entitled to that. (3) If the other driver's attorney sent any paperwork, don't ignore it even if it turns out to be a demand letter rather than a lawsuit. Deadlines matter.

    • 11
      patient-elk-038

      Is your brother doing okay physically? Sometimes the adrenaline from the crash and then all the insurance stress afterward masks symptoms that show up days later — neck stiffness, headaches, back pain. If he hasn't seen a doctor yet and anything feels off, he should go get checked out and make sure it's documented. Seriously, don't wait on that part.

  • 14
    steady-otter-013

    This sounds incredibly stressful for your whole family. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. The fact that you're asking questions and advocating for your brother already puts you ahead — a lot of people just cave when they feel pressured. Hang in there.

  • 7
    quiet-elk-022

    Stop talking to the adjuster on the phone. Start putting everything in writing — email only. That way there's a record and nobody can later claim your brother "agreed" to something he didn't. And seriously, go get at least one free consult with a PI attorney before this goes any further.

  • 14
    sharp-heron-639

    Was there really zero dashcam footage from either vehicle? A lot of newer cars have them built in or people have aftermarket ones. Also — any chance there were traffic or business cameras near where it happened? Even a grainy angle showing your brother's car already in the lane before the impact could make a huge difference in a he-said-she-said situation.