Got rear-ended at a stop sign, other driver tried to say I backed into HER??

The 'you backed into me' thing is so infuriating and honestly more common than you'd think. The driver who hit me tried something similar — waited until the police showed up and suddenly had a totally different version of events. Glad you took photos immediately. That's going to matter a lot more than whatever story she tells.

Do NOT let the adjuster use 'minimal visible damage' as a reason to minimize your injury. That's one of the oldest tricks in the book. Low-speed impacts can absolutely cause serious soft tissue injuries — there's actual biomechanics research on this — but adjusters love to act like a few inches of bumper crush means nothing happened to your body. Push back and document everything.

Please don't brush off that neck and upper back strain. Soft tissue injuries from rear-end collisions can take days to fully declare themselves — you might feel significantly worse tomorrow or the day after than you do right now. Keep a daily notes on your pain levels, what movements hurt, and how it's affecting your sleep. That log becomes really valuable down the road, medically and otherwise. And follow up with your regular doctor, not just urgent care.

Speaking from the other side of this — when I worked claims, a driver who immediately offers an alternative story at the scene (especially a calm, rehearsed-sounding one) was often coached by a friend or family member who'd been through insurance claims before. It's a tactic. Your photos, the road geometry, and any traffic or doorbell cam footage from nearby homes will cut right through it. See if there are any cameras on businesses or houses near that intersection.

Three things: 1) Get yourself to a physical therapist soon, not just urgent care. 2) Write down everything you remember about the accident tonight while it's fresh — what you were doing, what you heard, what she said word for word. 3) Don't give a recorded statement to her insurance company without understanding what you're agreeing to. That's it.

The conflicting account she gave at the scene is worth documenting formally if you haven't already. If there's a police report, make sure your version of events is in it clearly. If officers weren't called, you can sometimes still file a report at your local non-emergency line within a certain window depending on your state. Also — keep every receipt related to this. Urgent care copays, any prescriptions, even parking at the doctor's office. It all adds up and it's all potentially recoverable.

Not doubting you at all, just curious — was there anyone else around? Any pedestrians, other drivers stopped nearby, or anything like that? And did you happen to have a dashcam running? The story flip she pulled is concerning but it'll be a lot easier to shut down if there's any corroborating evidence beyond just your word against hers.