Just got in a wreck 30 mins ago — car might be totaled, what do I do RIGHT NOW?

First — breathe. I went through something really similar last year and the shock is real. The most important thing I wish someone had told me immediately: go get checked out at urgent care or the ER today, even if you feel mostly fine. Neck stiffness after a collision is not something to sleep on. My neck felt like 'just tension' and it turned out I had soft tissue damage that took months to treat. Getting that documented early made a huge difference for everything that came after.

Do NOT give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance when they call. They will call fast — sometimes within hours — and they'll be super friendly and casual about it. That's the trap. Anything you say can be used to lowball you or shift blame. Just tell them you'll be in touch and hang up. Seriously.

Former adjuster here. A few things from the inside: (1) document your car's condition obsessively before you let anyone tow or move it further. (2) If they declare it a total loss, they'll pull 'comparable vehicles' to set your payout — but those comps can be cherry-picked low. You're allowed to dispute them with your own research. Pull listings for similar vehicles in your area and push back in writing. (3) If you still owe money on the car and the payout doesn't cover your loan balance, that gap is a real problem — look into whether you have GAP coverage on your policy.

Please go get evaluated tonight, not tomorrow. Neck stiffness post-collision can be whiplash starting to set in, and symptoms sometimes peak 24-48 hours later when the adrenaline fully wears off. Even if the ER just clears you, that medical record from the day of the accident is really valuable documentation. Don't tough it out and wait.

A few practical steps for your paper trail right now:

• Write down everything you remember about how the crash happened while it's fresh. Time, weather, exactly what the other driver said to you at the scene. Even voice memo it to yourself.
• Keep every receipt going forward — towing, rental car, any medical visit, prescriptions, everything.
• Don't post anything about this on social media.

If you end up with any ongoing injuries or a dispute about the total loss value, having thorough notes from day one is genuinely really helpful.

Three things: get medical care today, don't talk to their insurance without knowing what you're doing, and don't sign anything releasing claims until you know the full extent of your injuries. That's it. Everything else can wait a few days.

Not legal advice, but: given that you have a clear liability situation (other driver admitted fault at the scene, police report), documented damage, and a potential injury, this is exactly the kind of situation where a free consultation with a PI attorney is worth your time before you engage much with the insurance company. Most will talk to you for free and can at least tell you what your situation looks like. You don't have to hire anyone — just get informed before you make moves you can't undo.