Other driver's insurance keeps calling me — do I need a lawyer before I say anything?

Do NOT give that recorded statement. I cannot stress this enough. Those friendly calls are not them trying to help you — they're trying to lock you into saying something early, before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you say "I feel okay" or downplay anything, it's on record and they will use it. At minimum, wait until after your doctor's appointment.

I used to work on the claims side and yeah, those early calls are very much a strategy. The faster they can get a statement or even a quick settlement offer, the better it is for them — not you. Soft tissue injuries like neck strain can take weeks to fully reveal themselves. If you settle or say the wrong thing now, you may be signing away your right to anything more. You don't have to be rude to them, but you can absolutely say "I'm not prepared to give a statement right now" and hang up. That's completely within your rights.

From a process standpoint: you are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. You may have obligations to your own insurer depending on your policy, but the adverse carrier? No. A lot of people don't realize that. Also — document everything right now. Screenshot those call logs, save any voicemails, keep a running note on your phone about how you're feeling each day. That kind of contemporaneous record can matter a lot later.

I went through almost this exact thing two years ago. Got rear-ended, thought I was mostly fine, gave a quick statement because I didn't want to be difficult — and then my back got significantly worse over the following month. By then I had already said I was "doing alright" on a recorded call. It made everything harder. Please just wait until you actually know what you're dealing with medically before you say anything to them.

Just want to flag the medical side of this: neck stiffness after a rear-end collision can be whiplash, and whiplash symptoms sometimes get worse before they get better — not better right away like people expect. Make sure you tell your doctor everything at that follow-up, even stuff that seems minor. Pain that feels like a 3 today can be a 7 in two weeks, and you want that all documented from the start.

Not legal advice, but generally speaking: consulting with a personal injury attorney before giving any recorded statement to an adverse insurer is almost always the smarter move. Most PI attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, so there's no upfront cost to just talking to someone. On finding one — skip the billboards and look for someone with actual reviews from real clients, not just ads. Your state bar may also have a referral service.

I just want to say — please take care of yourself first. It sounds like you're really stressed and trying to handle a lot at once. The insurance stuff can wait a few more days. Your health and knowing what you're actually dealing with is more important than responding to their timeline.