Was a passenger when my coworker rear-ended someone — whose insurance do I even call??

I was literally in almost the exact same situation — passenger in a friend's car, she caused the accident, and I felt SO guilty even thinking about filing a claim against her. But here's the thing: I talked to her about it first and she was actually relieved, because it meant her insurance handled everything and she didn't have to pay me out of pocket. It's what insurance is FOR. Don't feel bad about it.

As a passenger you're generally considered a "third party" who didn't contribute to the crash, which puts you in a pretty favorable position claim-wise. You'd typically start with the at-fault driver's liability coverage — in your case that sounds like your coworker's policy. If her limits aren't enough to cover your bills, you might also be able to look at your own auto policy for something called MedPay or Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage depending on your state. Worth pulling out your own declarations page and checking. Not telling you what to do legally, just how the process usually flows.

Former auto claims adjuster here. You filing against your coworker's liability coverage is completely normal and adjusters see passenger claims all the time — it's not personal, it's literally just how the system is designed. What I'd watch out for: the adjuster assigned to your claim works for the insurance company, not for you. Their job is to close the claim as cheaply as possible. If your injuries turn out to need ongoing treatment, don't accept a quick settlement offer before you know the full picture. Once you sign a release, that's it.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this on top of trying to heal 😞 The work situation making it awkward is SO real and I think a lot of people don't talk about that part. But your health has to come first, seriously.

Short version: file with your coworker's insurance first because she caused the accident. Keep every receipt, every doctor's note, every copay. Don't post about your injuries on social media. And if her policy limits are low, look into whether you have MedPay on your own car insurance — a lot of people forget they even have it.

Not legal advice, but as a passenger you generally have claims available against one or both drivers depending on how fault shakes out — and being a passenger almost never means you share in the fault. The tricky part is knowing when and whether to settle, especially before you've finished treatment. Statute of limitations varies by state so you don't need to rush into anything today, but don't let months slip by without understanding your deadlines. Worth at least a free consult somewhere.