Police report blames my blind mom for the crash — but she had the right of way??

I went through almost the exact same thing after my accident two years ago. The report had me at fault even though I had a green light and a witness who saw everything. Police reports are NOT the final word — we successfully got the fault finding overturned once my attorney submitted the dashcam footage and a statement from the witness. Don't let that report discourage you. It feels devastating but it can be fought.

Please please PLEASE tell your mom not to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance. They will absolutely use anything she says — even just sounding confused or uncertain — to lock in that fault narrative. You can politely decline until she has some guidance. They may push back and act like it's required. It's not.

Former adjuster here. Police reports carry weight but they're not legally binding on liability decisions — insurers do their own investigations. That said, if the report goes unchallenged, a lot of adjusters will just lean on it because it's easy. The dashcam footage your mom has is genuinely valuable. Get that preserved somewhere safe and don't let the file get closed before someone reviews it.

On your question about deadlines — yes, there are real statutes of limitations for personal injury claims and they vary by state, but most are at least one to two years from the date of the accident. That said, the earlier you loop in an attorney, the better, because evidence like dashcam footage, surveillance from nearby businesses, and witness memories all degrade fast. The 'you only have X days' panic is sometimes overstated, but don't sleep on it either.

Not legal advice, but a couple of things worth knowing: first, the fact that your mom was disoriented and may not have been able to communicate clearly at the scene is actually relevant context — that can sometimes be documented in a way that explains why a statement wasn't properly taken. Second, dashcam footage showing the other driver running a stop sign is exactly the kind of objective evidence that can shift a fault determination. Most PI attorneys offer free consultations and honestly, given what you're describing, it's worth a call. — not legal advice, just my take.

Just want to flag — a mild concussion and internal bruising sound 'not that bad' when you're relieved she survived, but please make sure she's following up with a doctor, not just the hospital discharge instructions. Concussion symptoms can show up or worsen days later, and having that documented medical history matters both for her recovery and for any claim. Don't let her brush off symptoms because she feels guilty about being a 'burden.'

Three things: back up that dashcam footage to the cloud RIGHT NOW if you haven't already. Don't let your mom talk to anyone's insurance alone. And call at least two or three attorneys for free consults this week — not because you're in a crisis, but because knowing your options costs you nothing and ignorance can cost a lot.