T-boned running a green light yesterday — airbags everywhere, brand new car, totally lost

Oh man, the shaky-hands-while-typing feeling is SO real. I was t-boned about two years ago and felt the same way. To answer your airbag question — in my experience, yes, when all the bags go off the repair cost usually ends up exceeding what the insurance company decides the car is worth, especially on a newer vehicle. Mine was declared a total loss within about a week of the shop doing their estimate. That said, it's not technically automatic — the adjuster still runs the numbers.

Please go get checked out today — don't wait. Neck stiffness after a side impact can be soft tissue stuff that seems minor and then really flares up over the next 48-72 hours. I've seen people brush it off at the scene and then be in serious pain by day three. Whiplash-type injuries don't always show up immediately. Go to urgent care or an ER, get it documented, and let them do imaging if they recommend it. Your health comes first, and honestly having that medical record also matters for your claim later.

Former adjuster here. A few things that might help:

1. Airbag deployment alone doesn't automatically equal total loss — it factors into the repair estimate, but the math is repair cost vs. actual cash value of the vehicle. On a nearly-new car with very low miles, the ACV should be high, so there's a chance it could be repaired. But realistically, full airbag deployment usually means a lot of structural and interior damage that adds up fast.

2. The at-fault driver's liability coverage should cover your property damage and your medical bills up to their policy limits. The catch is you don't know what their limits are yet.

3. Timeline-wise — expect a few days for someone to look at the car, then another few days for the total loss decision if it goes that way. Rental coverage depends on which policy you're going through.

One thing worth knowing: you can actually open a claim through your own insurance at the same time, even though the other driver is at fault. Your collision coverage can kick in faster sometimes, and then your insurer goes after the other driver's insurance for reimbursement — that's called subrogation. It's worth asking your own insurer about if the other side is being slow. Also, keep every receipt, every doctor visit, every Uber or rental expense. Document everything.

I just want to say I'm really glad you're okay. Six weeks into a new car and this happens — that's genuinely awful and you're allowed to be upset about it. Please don't tough out that neck pain. Go get seen.

Not legal advice, but — the increasing neck stiffness you're describing is exactly why you shouldn't delay medical care. From a claims standpoint, gaps between the accident and when you first sought treatment can be used against you later. Get evaluated now, tell them exactly what happened and where it hurts, and let them guide next steps. The rest — total loss, timelines, liability — those things work themselves out. Your health documentation is the foundation of everything else.

I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but being at a green light with a police report confirming the other driver ran the light is honestly about as clean a liability situation as you can have. You're not going to be fighting about who was at fault. That's a big deal. A lot of people on here are dealing with messy 50/50 disputes — you're not in that boat. Focus on your health, let the claims process move, and try to take it one step at a time.