Matlock & Partners
The Shoulder
The Shoulder
45
clever-kestrel-313

Got rear-ended at a stoplight last night — back is sore and I'm honestly kind of freaked out

Still processing this. I was sitting completely still at a red light on my way home from work last night — had been stopped for a while — when someone slammed into the back of my car. Broad daylight, totally normal intersection, and then just bam.

My car has some visible damage to the rear but it's still drivable, so I didn't think much of it at the scene. We swapped info, I took photos of everything, and we both went on our way. No police showed up — dispatch said since nobody needed an ambulance they weren't sending anyone out.

Here's where I'm second-guessing myself: I had a pretty rough muscle injury in my upper back about a year ago that I did physical therapy for and thought was behind me. Today my neck and that same area are definitely talking to me. Nothing unbearable, maybe a 3 out of 10, but it's there. Also — and this sounds dumb — I've felt weirdly on edge all day. Drove to the grocery store and my heart was pounding the whole time I was stopped at lights.

I have a coworker in the car with me who's also complaining about soreness in her shoulder today.

Some things I'm unsure about:

  • Should I go to urgent care even if the pain feels minor right now?
  • Do I call my own insurance, the other driver's, or both?
  • Does a pre-existing injury that got stirred up actually matter for a claim?
  • Can the anxiety/driving nervousness be part of this at all?

I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, I just don't want to accidentally mess up my options. Any advice appreciated.

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9replies

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9 replies

  • 13
    hearty-badger-665

    Please just go to urgent care. I know it feels like a hassle and you probably feel like you're overreacting, but you're not. Your coworker is sore too — that tells you the impact was real. Take care of yourself first and figure out the paperwork stuff second.

  • 12
    mellow-sparrow-239

    You actually did a lot right at the scene — got all their info, took photos, stayed calm. That puts you ahead of a lot of people who come here. The uncertainty you're feeling right now is the hardest part, but you have options and you haven't missed any windows yet.

  • 8
    curious-elk-372

    Almost the exact same thing happened to me two years ago — minor-looking hit, drivable car, and I talked myself out of going to the doctor because I felt 'mostly fine.' About a week later I could barely turn my head. Please go get checked out now. The gap between the accident and when you seek care can be used against you later, even if you feel like you're being dramatic. You're not.

    • 7
      genuine-dove-779

      Three things: see a doctor today, don't talk to the other driver's insurance without knowing what you're dealing with medically, and keep every piece of paper related to this. That's really it for now. Everything else can wait until you know how you're actually doing physically.

  • 14
    humble-wren-923

    From a medical standpoint, go get evaluated today if you can — don't wait for the soreness to get worse. Soft tissue injuries from rear-end collisions are notorious for feeling mild at first and then peaking a few days later once the adrenaline fully wears off. Mention your previous injury to whoever sees you, because that context matters for your treatment plan. And the anxiety you're describing around stopping at lights is a real physiological stress response — don't brush it off as 'nothing.'

    • 11
      gentle-bison-887

      A few practical things: document everything starting today — photos of your car, a written timeline of what happened, and a symptom journal where you jot down how you're feeling each day (pain level, sleep, mood, anxiety triggers). That journal can be surprisingly valuable later. On the insurance question, you generally can open a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance directly — you don't have to route everything through your own carrier, though your own insurer usually still wants to know. Also, pre-existing conditions that got aggravated in a crash are absolutely part of personal injury claims. That's not a disqualifier.

    • 14
      candid-wolf-416

      One thing to be careful about: if the other driver's insurance contacts you before you've had a chance to get checked out, do not give a recorded statement right away. They may reach out quickly and sound very friendly and reasonable — that's the point. You don't have to accept anything or commit to anything while you're still figuring out the extent of your injuries.

  • 7
    hearty-kestrel-337

    Not legal advice, but a few things worth knowing: anxiety and emotional distress following a collision can be included in a personal injury claim — it's not just about physical injuries. And yes, aggravation of a pre-existing condition is a recognized basis for damages. The key in both cases is documentation. If you continue to have symptoms that affect your daily life, a consultation with a PI attorney (most do free ones) could help you understand your options before you accidentally settle for less than your situation warrants.

  • 6
    warm-owl-447

    I used to work claims and I'll tell you honestly — adjusters absolutely do look at the time gap between an accident and first medical visit. It's not that they think you're lying, it's that it gives them an argument to minimize. Going to urgent care today gives you a medical record that ties your symptoms directly to the crash. Also, that pre-existing back condition? It doesn't kill your claim — there's actually a legal concept around 'aggravation of a pre-existing condition' that adjusters are well aware of. Just make sure your providers document that too.