genuine-elk-69010h ago

Rear-ended while stopped, no police report info given at scene — what do we do first?

My husband got hit pretty bad two weeks ago and I'm still trying to figure out what steps we're even supposed to be taking. He was completely stopped at a red light when someone plowed into the back of him. Airbags didn't deploy but the trunk is basically crushed into the back seat — car is almost certainly a total loss.

He walked away, thankfully. Some neck stiffness and headaches that have been lingering, but he hasn't gone to a doctor yet because we're trying to figure out the insurance stuff first. (I've been told that's backwards but here we are.)

Here's the problem: the officer who showed up took everyone's info and said a report would be filed, but never told us a report number, never said where to get it, nothing. We exchanged info with the other driver at the scene but their insurance company hasn't reached out, and honestly I'm not even sure we wrote down the policy number correctly in all the chaos.

Questions I keep going back to:

How do we actually GET the police report? Do we just show up at the precinct?
Should we be calling the other driver's insurance ourselves, or wait?
Our own insurance keeps asking if we want to open a claim under our policy — does doing that hurt us later?
And seriously, should he see a doctor before any of this insurance stuff gets settled?

We're down to one car for a family of four and both working different shifts. The stress is unreal. Any advice from people who've been through this would really help.

8 replies

Most helpful first

hearty-swift-22010h ago
Been almost exactly in this situation. You can usually look up the police report online through your local PD or county sheriff's website — most have a records portal now. You'll need the approximate date, location, and one of the drivers' names. If that doesn't work, just call the non-emergency line and ask how to request a crash report. They'll tell you the process. It took me about a week to get mine but it had everything — the other driver's license, plates, and insurance info.
candid-stoat-90010h ago
Stop waiting for the other driver's insurance to call you. They have zero incentive to reach out. YOU call THEM. Use whatever info you have from the scene — even just the name and plate number can help you track down the carrier. And yes, get your husband to a doctor now. Headaches and neck stiffness after a rear-end impact are not something to sit on. The longer he waits, the easier it is for an insurance company to argue the injuries weren't from the crash.
- mellow-heron-15310h ago
  Please please please get him seen. Post-collision headaches and neck pain — even mild ones — can signal things that don't show up immediately. Whiplash injuries especially have a way of feeling manageable at first and then getting significantly worse over the following weeks. An urgent care or ER visit creates a medical record tied to the date of the accident, which matters a lot if symptoms escalate. Don't let the insurance logistics delay his care.
wise-owl-41710h ago
Be really careful about giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance before you know what you're dealing with medically. They will call eventually, and they'll sound super friendly and helpful, but that recorded statement can be used to minimize your claim later. You don't have to be hostile — just say you're still being evaluated and you'll follow up. You have that right.
daring-finch-99510h ago
Former auto adjuster here. Opening a claim with your own insurance doesn't automatically 'hurt' you — if you have collision coverage, your insurer can go after the at-fault driver's carrier for reimbursement through subrogation. The downside is you'd pay your deductible upfront (you'd get it back if liability is clear). What it DOES do is get your car moving through the process faster, since your own insurer is motivated to work quickly. That said, if the other driver's liability is clear-cut, going directly through their insurance avoids the deductible hassle entirely. Either way, you should open something soon.
mellow-stoat-15310h ago
A couple of practical things: most police departments charge a small fee for crash reports — sometimes you can get them online through a third-party records service your state contracts with. Google '[your state] crash report request' and it'll usually come up. Also, keep a running document of everything: dates you called insurers, what was said, any medical visits and symptoms. If this ever escalates to a claim dispute or legal action, that paper trail is really valuable.
steady-crane-00710h ago
This sounds so stressful on top of already dealing with the logistics of one car and two jobs. Just want to say you're not being paranoid — you're being a good advocate for your family. The fact that nobody has volunteered information doesn't mean you don't have options. Keep pushing.
bold-owl-78210h ago
Not legal advice, but — the combination of a clear-fault rear-end collision plus documented injuries (even soft tissue) is exactly the kind of situation where a PI attorney consultation is worth considering, especially since most do free consults. The headaches and neck pain your husband is experiencing should be evaluated medically and documented in connection with the accident before any settlement conversations happen. Settling before you know the full picture of his recovery can leave you with nothing if symptoms worsen. Just something to think about.