The Shoulder
The Shoulder
67
plain-crow-292

Rear-ended while driving for a rideshare — herniated disc found on MRI. Where do I even stand?

Long post, sorry. Still processing all of this.

Back in the spring I was driving for one of the big rideshare apps with a passenger in the car when someone blew through a yellow at an intersection and slammed into the back of me. Hard enough that my head snapped forward and back. My passenger was shaken up too but seemed okay.

I felt off right away — stiff neck, that kind of electric-y soreness you can't really describe — but I figured it was just shock and adrenaline. Went to urgent care that same night. They gave me a muscle relaxer prescription and told me to follow up if things got worse.

Things got worse.

Two weeks later I could barely turn my head to back out of my driveway. Went back, got imaging ordered, started with a chiropractor. Six weeks in I still wasn't improving so my primary sent me to a spine specialist. MRI came back showing a herniated disc at one of the cervical levels plus some additional stuff going on. Specialist says I'm looking at a series of epidural steroid injections and probably another couple months of physical therapy before they'll even reassess.

Here's my thing: I was working when this happened. So there's the other driver's liability insurance, but also my rideshare company's commercial coverage potentially in play? And my own health insurance is already pushing back on some of the treatment costs.

I have no idea what any of this is actually worth or even what questions I should be asking. I haven't signed anything. I did get one call from the at-fault driver's insurer and I didn't say much — just took down their info.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, especially the rideshare work angle? Any advice on what NOT to do right now?

17replies

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17 replies

  • 21
    mellow-wolf-115

    Please don't skip or delay the steroid injections if your specialist is recommending them. I know it sounds intimidating and people sometimes put it off thinking they'll 'get better on their own.' With a confirmed cervical herniation, letting inflammation go unchecked can draw out your recovery significantly. Go through the treatment your doctors are recommending — it's also important for your own health, not just the claim.

    • 7
      tired-rider241

      Appreciate the detailed write-up. Saving this for later.

  • 20
    swift-seal-539

    Reading this stresses me out on your behalf. You were doing your job, someone hit you, and now you're the one navigating a maze of insurance companies while dealing with actual pain and medical appointments. That's so much to carry. Please don't let anyone rush you into settling anything until you're done with treatment and actually know what you're dealing with long term.

    • 10
      curious-rider122

      Going through something similar right now. Did following up actually move the needle for you?

  • 19
    mellow-tern-605

    The rideshare layer is real and it complicated my situation too. I wasn't driving at the time of mine but I know people who were — the commercial policy through the app company can be substantial, but getting them to actually engage is a whole different fight. Don't assume they're on your side just because you were working for them when it happened.

  • 18
    quick-fox-389

    A few things worth keeping track of right now even before you decide anything:

    • Save every single medical bill, EOB from your health insurer, and any out-of-pocket receipts (meds, parking at appointments, whatever)
    • Keep a running note on your phone — even just a sentence a day — about your pain level and what you couldn't do because of it. That stuff matters later.
    • Document any lost rideshare income. Screenshots of your earnings history before vs. after.

    Not legal advice, just the stuff that tends to matter when a case gets evaluated.

    • 2
      grounded-overpass372

      Exactly my experience. Persistence paid off in the end.

    • 4
      kind-walker461

      Appreciate the detailed write-up. Saving this for later.

  • 16
    bold-seal-008

    The overlap between the at-fault driver's personal liability policy and the rideshare commercial umbrella is genuinely complex — the rideshare company's coverage typically kicks in at different levels depending on your status at the time (waiting for a ping, en route, passenger in car). You were mid-trip so that's actually the highest coverage tier. Worth at least a free consult to understand what you're dealing with. Not legal advice, just context.

    • 21
      mellow-mole-249

      Not doubting you at all, but just thinking through how the other side might look at this — do you have documentation showing the herniation is from the crash and not pre-existing? Insurance will absolutely probe that, especially since you mentioned 'additional findings' on the MRI. Did your specialist note in writing that the trauma is consistent with the mechanism of the accident? That kind of language in your medical records is really important.

    • 7
      gentle-rider145

      This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you.

  • 14
    quick-wolf-444

    The fact that you didn't say much to the adjuster and haven't signed anything is genuinely a good position to be in right now. A lot of people panic and take the first offer just to feel like it's over. You still have options open. That matters.

    • 8
      quiet-driver252

      This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you.

  • 12
    mellow-dove-818

    I used to work claims. The moment they see 'rideshare — on trip' in the file, multiple coverage layers come into play and honestly the adjusters sometimes use the confusion between policies to slow-walk everything hoping you'll settle cheap just to be done with it. The cervical herniation confirmed by MRI is significant documentation — that's not a soft-tissue-only case. Just know that they know that too.

    • 6
      bright-seal-041

      Three things: 1) Don't settle until you're at maximum medical improvement — you don't know yet if the injections will handle it or if you're looking at something more serious down the road. 2) Get a personal injury attorney, most work on contingency so it costs you nothing upfront. 3) Stop talking to any insurance adjuster without knowing exactly what your rights are first. That's it.

    • 2
      quiet-traveler473

      Wish I had seen this a month ago — would have saved me a lot of stress.

  • 11
    clever-seal-745

    That call from the other driver's insurer? Do not call them back without knowing exactly what you're doing. They are not your friend. They will ask you to 'just describe what happened' and use anything you say to minimize your claim later. You already did the right thing by keeping it short. Keep doing that.