First accident ever — do I call my insurance first or wait for the other driver to file?

I was in almost the same spot two years ago — cited, other driver had a commercial vehicle, freaked out about calling my insurance. Here's what I learned the hard way: call your insurance first. Don't let them hear about it from the other side before they hear it from you. My adjuster actually told me it looks worse when they get a claim notification before their own policyholder calls in. It doesn't feel good making that call but it's way better than getting blindsided.

Whatever you do, be careful what you say when you do call in. Stick to the basic facts — date, location, what happened mechanically. Don't editorialize, don't apologize, don't speculate about fault. Adjusters are trained to get you to say things that hurt your own claim. Even YOUR adjuster is still employed by a company that wants to pay out as little as possible.

Worked in claims for several years. Please report it yourself — today if you can. Most policies actually require you to report accidents promptly, and failing to do so can give them a reason to deny coverage later. Also, fleet vehicle accidents almost always get reported quickly because the company driver has to fill out an incident report the same day. Their insurance probably already knows. You don't want to be the last one to tell your own insurer.

On the citation question — it's usually worth at least consulting a traffic attorney before you just pay it. Paying a ticket is often treated as an admission, and in some states that can be used against you in a civil claim. A lot of traffic lawyers do free consultations and some charge a flat fee that's pretty reasonable. No guarantees they can beat it, but it's worth a 15-minute phone call before you decide.

Not legal advice, but your question about being personally sued if damages exceed your coverage is a real and valid concern. That's called an 'excess judgment' situation. It's worth pulling out your policy and checking your liability limits right now so you know what you're working with. If the numbers feel scary, talking to a PI attorney for a free consult might help you understand your exposure before anything is filed. Most won't charge you just to talk.

Are you physically okay? Sometimes adrenaline masks soreness for a few days and people don't notice whiplash or muscle strain until day 3 or 4. If anything feels off — neck stiffness, headaches, shoulder tightness — go get checked out. Don't brush it off. And if you do go, keep every single record because it matters if there's any dispute later.

Just want to say — you're handling this really maturely by asking questions instead of just panicking and doing nothing. That already puts you ahead. Take it one step at a time. Call your insurance, write down everything you remember about the accident while it's fresh, and don't talk to the other driver's insurance without knowing your rights first. You've got this.