Other driver blew the light and now people online are blaming ME??

Ugh, the internet armchair experts are the WORST when you're already going through it. I got rear-ended at a light last year and posted about it somewhere online and immediately had people telling me I must have braked suddenly or was probably on my phone. People love to find any reason to doubt the person who got hurt. You're not alone in this.

Here's the thing nobody tells you — adjusters sometimes DO try to use that kind of logic. They'll call it 'comparative negligence' and try to assign you some percentage of fault even when the other driver clearly blew the light. It's a negotiating tactic to lower what they pay out. Do NOT give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance without thinking carefully first. They are not on your side, full stop.

Former adjuster here. That online noise doesn't directly affect your claim, but here's what does matter: your dash cam footage, the police report (especially if the responding officer noted the light violation), and any witness statements. If all of that lines up in your favor, a competent adjuster is going to have a hard time pinning meaningful fault on you. The problem is not every adjuster is competent, and some will fish for any reason to reduce liability. Protect your footage and don't delete anything.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — clear footage, a documented at-fault driver, and real physical injuries — is exactly the kind of situation where talking to a personal injury attorney before accepting anything from insurance makes sense. Most do free consultations. The comparative fault angle the skeptic mentioned is real, and you want someone in your corner who knows how to push back on it.

Please take the shoulder and neck stuff seriously and don't let the insurance chaos distract you from your actual recovery. Soft tissue injuries from side-impact crashes can feel manageable at first and then really flare up weeks later. Keep every appointment, follow through with that specialist referral, and document everything — symptoms, how you're sleeping, what activities you can't do. That paper trail matters medically AND if you end up in any kind of claim process.

Not doubting you, but a couple of things worth thinking through: Does the dash cam footage clearly show the light state for BOTH directions? Sometimes the angle only captures one signal. And was there a police report filed at the scene? If the responding officer didn't cite the other driver, that could complicate things even if the footage looks obvious to you. Just want to make sure your evidence is as solid as you think it is before you go in confident.