Got T-boned at an intersection, other driver uninsured, got ticketed — do I even have a shot?

Almost the exact same thing happened to me about two years ago — intersection crash, disputed light, and I was the one who got cited. What I learned the hard way: fight the ticket. I hired a traffic attorney (super affordable, way less than I expected) and they got mine dismissed because the officer's notes were inconsistent. Once that ticket was gone, my insurance claim got a lot smoother. Don't just pay it and move on, that feels like an admission of fault even if it isn't.

That "lots of questions" feeling from your own insurer? Trust that instinct. Even your own UM carrier can act adversarially — they're still a business trying to protect their bottom line. Don't give a recorded statement without really thinking it through first. They'll ask you to do it quickly and frame it as routine, but your words can absolutely be used to reduce your payout.

I worked in claims for years and I'll be straight with you. When there's an open traffic citation against you, adjusters are trained to use that as leverage — even internally on a UM claim. It creates what we called a "liability question" that justifies a lower offer. Resolving or contesting that ticket before the claim settles is genuinely important strategy, not just for your driving record. Also, photograph everything you still can, get written documentation from the ER, and start a log of every symptom and every day you miss work.

Please take the shoulder finding seriously. I know it's easy to focus on the car stuff and the legal mess, but "flagged by the ER" is not the same as "fully evaluated." Shoulder injuries from side-impact crashes can be sneaky — rotator cuff stuff especially tends to feel manageable at first and then gets worse over weeks. Get into an orthopedic or sports medicine doc soon and make sure everything is documented in your medical record. That documentation matters for your health AND for any claim.

Not legal advice, but generally speaking: a traffic citation is not a final finding of fault. It can be contested, and even if it isn't dismissed, it doesn't automatically bar a civil recovery in most states — comparative fault rules often still allow you to recover a portion depending on how fault is ultimately divided. The uninsured motorist angle and your own policy's terms are really where the complexity lives here. Talking to a PI attorney for a free consult costs you nothing and they can tell you quickly whether this is worth pursuing. Most work on contingency so you're not out-of-pocket upfront.

A few practical things: First, preserve everything — dashcam footage if you have it, any traffic or business cameras near that intersection, witness names if anyone stopped. That evidence disappears fast. Second, check your policy language around uninsured motorist claims; some policies have arbitration clauses that change how disputes get resolved. Third, your gap coverage situation (owing more than the car is worth) is a separate issue worth flagging — some people don't realize gap insurance is a thing until it's too late, but it's worth checking if you have it.

Three things, in order: (1) Don't pay that ticket — contest it. (2) Don't give your insurer a recorded statement yet. (3) Call a personal injury attorney this week, not next month. Free consults exist for a reason. You're already behind on the clock and insurance companies know that people who wait get less. Move fast.