Driver blew through a red light and shattered my brother's collarbone — I'm livid

I felt every word of this. My dad got hit by someone who ran a stop sign last year and the frustration of watching the at-fault person just continue their life while your family member struggles is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. It does get better but the early weeks are brutal. You're doing right by your brother just by being there.

I used to work claims and I'll be honest — when liability is clear-cut like this (camera footage, citation, obvious fault), the delay is usually a strategy. They're either waiting to see how serious the injuries end up being, or they're hoping the claimant settles before they fully understand the extent of medical costs. With a collarbone surgery and ongoing PT, your brother's treatment is probably not close to done. Settling before maximum medical improvement is one of the biggest mistakes people make.

Collarbone fractures plus rib injuries are no joke recovery-wise. He needs to take the PT seriously and not push through pain to 'prove' he's better — that can actually set back healing and create long-term complications. Also make sure every single appointment, every symptom, every bad night is documented somewhere. A pain journal sounds tedious but it genuinely matters later.

To answer your question — yes, it can be 'normal' for the other party's insurer to go quiet early on, especially with injuries this significant. They know a bigger claim is coming and they're not in a hurry. One thing worth doing right now: make sure your brother is keeping all his documentation in one place. Medical records, bills, PT notes, any out-of-pocket expenses, even mileage to appointments. If this goes further, that paper trail is everything.

I'm so sorry. You sound exhausted and you're clearly holding this whole thing together for your brother. Please make sure you're taking care of yourself too — caregiver burnout is real and you can't pour from an empty cup. Sending you both so much support.

Not legal advice, but given the documented injury severity, the existing camera footage, and the citation — this is exactly the kind of situation where at least a free consultation with a personal injury attorney makes sense before your brother talks to the other driver's insurer again. Most PI attorneys work on contingency so there's usually no upfront cost. Just worth knowing your options before you're locked into anything.

Stop waiting for the insurance company to tell you what to do. They work for the other driver, not your brother. Get a PI attorney on the phone this week — free consult, no obligation. The footage and the citation basically hand them liability. Your brother is a contractor who can't work. That lost income matters. Don't leave that on the table by going it alone.