Car was fine after the crash, now won't start two days later — is this normal??

DO NOT sign anything yet. I made that exact mistake — accepted a quick offer, then a week later my transmission started slipping and the shop said it was definitely impact-related. Insurance basically laughed at me because I'd already settled. Delayed damage is super real, especially electrical stuff.

That "goodwill payment" language is a red flag. Adjusters are trained to close claims fast before you discover hidden damage. The pressure they're putting on you is a tactic, not a courtesy. The moment you cash that check or sign a release, you're almost certainly done — even if your car needs thousands more in repairs.

I used to work claims and honestly, quick-offer calls go out almost automatically on rear-end cases before a full inspection happens. It's not malicious every time, but it IS designed to close files cheaply. Electrical gremlins showing up a day or two post-impact are actually pretty common — a jarred connector or a damaged module doesn't always fail immediately. Get the shop to put in writing whether the damage is consistent with a collision event. That documentation matters a lot.

A few practical things: First, don't sign any release or accept any payment until you have a written repair estimate that accounts for all identified damage. Second, ask the shop specifically to note in their report whether the electrical fault could be consistent with rear-end impact forces. Third, if the other driver's insurance is pushing hard via phone, it's totally fine to just say "I'm waiting on my repair diagnosis before I make any decisions" — you don't owe them a faster timeline. Not legal advice, just process stuff I've seen come up a lot.

Also — how are you feeling physically? Sometimes the adrenaline after a crash masks soreness for a day or two and then it hits you. Neck and back stuff especially. Just make sure you're not so focused on the car that you're ignoring your own body. If anything feels off, get seen before you settle anything.

Tell the insurance company you'll call them back when the shop gives you a full diagnostic. That's it. You're not being difficult, you're being reasonable. Anyone pressuring you to settle before you know what's broken is not acting in your interest.

Not doubting you, but did anything happen between the crash and day three that could have drained the battery? Like leaving a light on, a door ajar, anything like that? I'd want the shop to confirm it's actually crash-related before going to war with the insurance company. If the mechanic says it's collision damage, then yeah, full steam ahead — but get that confirmation in writing first.