Finally talked to the other driver's adjuster — think I held my ground but nervous

You actually handled that way better than I did on my first adjuster call. I rambled about how sore I was and basically gave them a full medical update on day three when I had no idea how bad things would actually get. The neck thing especially — mine didn't fully show up until almost two weeks later. Just keep documenting everything, every symptom, every doctor visit, every time you have to take something for pain.

Good instinct not giving them a full medical rundown. That's exactly what they're fishing for on that first call — they want you to say something like "I'm a little sore but I'll be fine" so they can use it against you later when it turns out you actually need an MRI or physical therapy. The friendlier the adjuster sounds, the more careful I'd be honestly.

I used to do this job. The "other driver isn't responding" thing is real and it does sometimes slow down the bodily injury side, but it usually doesn't kill the claim — especially if liability is pretty clear from the police report and photos. What I'd watch is whether they try to lowball the repair estimate by steering you toward their preferred shop. You have the right to use your own shop in most states. Make sure whoever is doing the estimate is actually doing a thorough teardown, not just eyeballing the exterior damage.

Please don't wait to see someone about the neck stiffness and headaches. I know it feels like maybe it'll just go away, and sometimes it does, but post-collision soft tissue stuff can get way worse if it's not evaluated early. Also having that medical record from close to the date of the accident matters a lot if things escalate. Go get seen — urgent care, your primary, whoever can get you in fastest.

You did the right thing declining to give a full injury status update. That's actually standard guidance — you can't fully assess your injuries in the first few days and any statement you make can become part of your claim file. One thing worth doing now: start a simple running log. Date, what symptoms you felt, what you did that day that was limited because of the accident, any appointments. It sounds tedious but it becomes really useful documentation if this goes further.

Not legal advice, but the fact that liability sounds relatively clear and you've already preserved photos and a police report puts you in a decent position. Where people lose ground is on the injury side — specifically by either under-documenting symptoms early or settling the property damage in a way that accidentally closes out the whole claim. Those are usually kept separate, but it's worth confirming that explicitly before you sign anything. A free consult with a PI attorney wouldn't hurt just to know where you stand.

Don't sign anything related to the injury claim until you actually know what your treatment looks like and what it's going to cost. Property damage is fine to resolve — get your car fixed. But injury is a separate conversation and you should not be in a hurry on that side.