Ran a 4-way stop (I think?) and got hit — cited at fault but I swear I stopped. What now?

I was cited at fault in an intersection accident two years ago — also had a witness statement against me. First thing I did was call my own insurance and just report it. Didn't admit fault, didn't editorialize, just said 'I was in an accident and here's what happened.' They handled the whole process from there. The rate increase stung but it wasn't the apocalypse I imagined. Report it sooner rather than later — dragging your feet doesn't help.

Please be really careful about what you say to the other driver's insurance if they call you. They WILL call you, probably soon, and they'll be friendly and sound like they just want to 'get your side of things.' Anything you say can be used to lock in fault and calculate their payout. You don't have to talk to them at all — your own insurer can handle that communication.

Former adjuster here. A few things worth knowing:

1. A citation doesn't automatically mean 100% fault in insurance terms. Adjusters do their own liability investigation independent of the police report. That said, a citation + witness statement does make it harder to argue shared fault. 2. On the tow lot — call them TODAY and ask about a storage fee cap or release timeline. Some jurisdictions have rules on daily fees, but the lot doesn't advertise that. If your claim is filed and your car is deemed a total loss or approved for repair, the insurer sometimes covers storage from the loss date, but not always retroactively. 3. The 'stiff neck' comment is the thing I'd take seriously. Soft tissue claims can come in weeks later. Your liability coverage is what handles that, not your collision.

Just want to gently flag — you said you're still shaking a few days later. That's worth paying attention to. Adrenaline and stress after accidents can mask your own symptoms too. If anything feels off physically — neck stiffness, headaches, trouble sleeping beyond normal stress — don't brush it off. Get checked out. I've seen people 'feel fine' for a week and then suddenly have real issues that are harder to document because they waited.

The 'neck is a little stiff' thing would have me stressed too, honestly. Hopefully they feel better and nothing comes of it, but it sounds like you're being thoughtful about this whole situation. Just make sure you're documenting everything — photos of the car, the intersection, any texts or communication. You'll want that later.

Not legal advice, but I'll say this: if the other occupant later claims injury, your liability coverage is your protection — that's literally what it's there for. The more important question is whether your limits are adequate. If your bodily injury limits are low and there's a real injury claim, you could theoretically be exposed beyond the policy. If you have any reason to think this could escalate, talking to a PI attorney (most do free consultations) sooner rather than later gives you a clearer picture of your actual risk. Again, not legal advice — just context.

Three things to do right now: (1) Call your insurance and report the claim — today, not tomorrow. (2) Call the tow lot and ask exactly what it costs per day and what you need to do to stop the bleeding on storage fees. (3) Don't post about this accident on any social media. Seriously, nothing. Everything else can wait a few days while you process, but those three can't.