Tapped someone at low speed, now they're claiming serious injuries — anyone dealt with this?

I was on the other side of something like this — someone clipped me at low speed and I genuinely did have whiplash even though the cars barely touched. Soft tissue injuries are real even in minor impacts, so I don't want to dismiss the other driver. BUT — I also know how the process works from watching my own claim go through. Your insurance company's whole job is to evaluate whether the claimed injuries actually match the accident. They'll look at photos, police reports, medical records. It's not like she just says 'my neck hurts' and they write a giant check. Try to breathe a little.

I hate to be the one to say this but watch out for a few things. Some people absolutely do see a minor fender-bender as a lottery ticket, and there are medical providers who will run up bills way beyond what's reasonable for a low-speed bump. Your adjuster is handling dozens of files — they're not necessarily fighting hard for you. Document everything you remember about the accident right now while it's fresh: speed, road conditions, exactly what was said at the scene. If she claimed she felt fine and then changed her story, that matters.

Worked claims for years. Here's the honest truth: low-speed impacts get scrutinized heavily on the injury side. Adjusters will pull something called a damage-based assessment — basically comparing the property damage to the claimed bodily harm. A scuffed bumper with a herniated disc claim is going to raise flags and get a second look. That doesn't mean she's faking, but it does mean your insurer isn't just going to rubber-stamp whatever number she presents.

As for being sued personally above your limits — it's possible in theory but rare in these circumstances, and your insurer has a duty to try to settle within your policy if they can. Not telling you to relax completely, but this isn't as automatic a disaster as your brain is probably making it at 2am.

Not legal advice, just some general context: whether you can be held personally liable above your policy limits usually depends on a lot of factors — your state's laws, your assets, and whether your insurer handles the claim reasonably. In many low-speed cases with disputed injuries, things settle within policy limits. Definitely consult with a personal injury attorney in your state who can look at your specific situation — many do free consultations and can actually tell you what your real exposure looks like. Don't just guess and spiral.

Just to offer some medical context: neck and shoulder pain from low-speed collisions is genuinely common and often doesn't show up immediately — adrenaline masks it. I'm not saying she's exaggerating, but I also know that 'serious injury' in the medical sense after a minor fender-bender usually means soft tissue stuff that, while painful and real, typically resolves with PT and time. Catastrophic injuries from impacts like you're describing are rare. I'd be surprised if this turns into a six-figure medical situation, though I obviously don't know her history.

I can hear how stressed you are and I just want to say — you reported it, you're cooperating, you didn't flee the scene or do anything wrong. You made a small mistake at very low speed. Try not to let the worst-case scenario live rent-free in your head before you even know what she's actually claiming. Is there someone you can talk to just to get out of your own head while this plays out?

Stop refreshing this thread and call a lawyer for a free consult — not because you're definitely in trouble, but because you'll sleep better knowing exactly what your actual exposure is instead of imagining the worst. Also: don't talk to the other driver, don't post about this on social media with details, and let your insurance handle communication. That's literally what you pay them for.

Few questions before anyone can really weigh in: Do you have a copy of the police report and does it note anything about her condition at the scene? Did she actually go to the ER or just leave by ambulance? Was there any dashcam footage? The answers to those change the picture a lot. 'She left on a stretcher' and 'she has serious injuries' are very different things.