Rear-ended with my infant in the car — weird movements after the crash, freaking out

First — I'm so glad you're both physically okay. The twitchy startle-like movements in infants can sometimes just be their immature nervous system responding to stress and overstimulation, which makes sense after something that traumatic. BUT repeated episodes that you're noticing consistently are worth taking seriously. I'd call her pediatrician first thing today, not the ER — her own doctor can do a focused follow-up and decide if neurology needs to weigh in. Don't let anyone brush you off. You know your baby's baseline better than a busy ER doc who saw her for 20 minutes.

We were hit with our 6-month-old in the car two years ago and I felt exactly this panic. The thing nobody told me was that babies can't tell you where they hurt, so you have to be really persistent with doctors. I ended up bringing him back to his pediatrician two days after the ER visit just to have fresh eyes on him. Turned out he was fine, but I needed that second check to breathe again. Go get that follow-up — don't talk yourself out of it.

Please don't call that insurance adjuster back yet, or at least don't give any recorded statement. They are calling fast on purpose. The moment you say something like 'we're doing okay' they will try to use that. Your baby's symptoms are still developing and you have no idea yet what the full picture looks like medically. You can't un-say things to an adjuster.

I used to work claims. The quick call the morning after an accident is a standard move — it's not malicious exactly, but the goal is absolutely to get information while you're still in shock and before you've talked to anyone. You are under zero obligation to speak with them right now. A simple 'I'm still seeking medical attention and will be in touch' is all you need to say if you do pick up. Document everything in the meantime — photos, medical paperwork, all of it.

A few practical things worth knowing: keep a journal starting today. Write down every symptom you notice in your daughter, every appointment, every phone call from the insurance company. Timestamps matter. Also photograph the car before anything gets repaired. With an infant involved in a crash, the claim gets more complex and having a clear paper trail from day one genuinely helps. Oh, and most PI attorneys offer free consultations — talking to one doesn't mean you're suing anyone, it just means you understand your options.

Two action items: (1) Get your daughter to her pediatrician today, describe exactly what you described here. Ask specifically about whether she needs any imaging or a neurology referral. (2) Don't talk to the other driver's insurance until you've at least had a free call with a personal injury attorney. Those are the only two things you need to focus on right now. Everything else can wait.