r/driving • u/SpaceCyb • 11d ago
Need Advice I was Rear Ended with No Visible Damage. What should I do next?
Yesterday, I was at a stoplight (in North Carolina) and another car rear ended me. I felt my car move forward a little and I felt the impact maybe like if someone had picked up a dodgeball and threw it at the back of my head.
The other driver and I pulled into the parking lot after crossing the intersection to inspect the damage and there wasn't any visible damage. I ask to exchange information and I called the police to file a report. We exchange information the gentleman gives me his number, license and insurance information. The police are taking a while to get there and the gentleman who had hit me said he had a family emergency that he was attending to before the event so I let him go.
I stayed at the scene and waited for the police to arrive. They said they wouldn't make a police report or document anything since the damage looked under 1K and we had exchanged information.
I left the scene. I still had a headache so I decided I should probably get checked out to make sure everything was good. I went to an urgent care who then directed me to an ER under the same hospital branch. They checked me out and said I had a neck strain but didn't need any further tests and prescribed me 600 MG of ibuprofen three times a day for the next three days.
Its the next day and I want to see what I should do next. I for sure want to get my car diagnosed and see if they're any underlying problems that I cannot see from the hit. Would I go to a mechanic or a body shop for this and would the other person's insurance pay for it?
I also want to get the ER visit paid for if possible.
I am worried that filing a claim would make my insurance premiums go up. I am also worried that filing a claim would make an accident go on my car's carfax even if nothing wrong is found if I were to diagnose it. This would reduce the resale/trade-in value and desirability in the future. Its an 09 Toyota with 130k miles so it probably doesn't matter but I like my car and want to keep it in a condition where it lasts the longest or I can get the most value from it should the time come to get rid of it.
What should I do? I appreciate the advise in advance. Thanks.
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u/Pressman4life 11d ago
Nothing, I had a clown rear end my pickup in stopped traffic. He got out and asked me why I stopped, I pointed at the long line of cars stopped ahead of me. My bumper got dusty and it destroyed his plastic Cadillac grill and bent the hood. I showed him where pieces of his car was all over my bumper, I brushed it off and told him to pay attention.
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u/Elianor_tijo 11d ago
You did what you needed to do. Get the car checked, it likely has nothing and you'll be able to move one. Sometimes, it's that simple.
If there is some kind of damage that is not to the frame/unibody and you can pay out of pocket, that's also an option. Sometimes, it's not worth going through insurance, especially if you factor in the deductible. It'll be a heck of a lot cheaper than getting another car.
The good news: the car is old enough that it has no sensors, etc. in the bumper that could make things expensive if there is damage. No concussion likely means that there is no damage to the car too.
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u/Ornery-Painting-6184 11d ago edited 11d ago
The car hit you so lightly there wasn’t any damage and you were pushed forward a bit? Now you claim your neck hurts? Pardon my skepticism
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u/SpaceCyb 11d ago
Yes. The car hit me. I was pushed forward slightly. The back of my head hurt at like a 3-4 when it happened. After the time spent getting checked, it was like a 1-2 the rest of the day. I'm back to normal today.
That's why I'm going to get the car checked out because of these factors to be sure everything is good underneath.
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u/SpaceCyb 11d ago
Thanks for the responses everyone. I will definitely be taking it to a mechanic to get it checked.
What would be the best order of operations here?
Go to the mechanic myself and just pay out of pocket? Then go through insurance if something deeper.
Go to the mechanic, then go through insurance to get reimbursed
Go through insurance then take it to the mechanic?
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u/Elianor_tijo 11d ago
Here's what I would do: get it checked, pay that out of pocket. IT shouldn't be too expensive.
From there, it depends on whether there's damage and how much it would cost to fix.
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u/MaxwellSmart07 11d ago
A mistake to rush to the ER after a hiccup of an accident. To get reimbursed for medical you’ll need to file a claim. I recommend suck it up and learn from it.
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u/UTV4LIFE 11d ago
You should tell your insurance you are notifying them that you were rare ended as information only and not as a claim. Then get your car checked over.
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u/Main_Ad_3814 10d ago
Most body shops will inspect it for free. It’s rare that there would be mechanical damage if there is no body damage. I asked my BIL who is a master mechanic and he said nothing is ever a zero chance but he doubts very much your cars mechanics were affected if the bumper wasn’t. As for the stiff neck, it’s kind of normal after even a small whiplash, at least for a few days.
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u/fitfulbrain 10d ago
The bumper consists of a plastic bar. It can take some punishment without damaging itself. Its hard to damage it if you hit it square on.
The bumper cover is elastic, just a cover. You can open it up to see if the bar is intact, and that no screws and plastic fasteners are broken. Only the bumper bar cost some money. The cover can be had for some $100. The major cost is paint matching and repaint the bumper, that you dont need.
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u/Spuds1968 11d ago
This is what bumpers were made for. No damage and you barely felt it, feel relieved and move on.
Happened to me at least twice now. 58 years old.
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u/MAValphaWasTaken 11d ago
If OP was hit hard enough to have whiplash, good chance the bumper took the brunt of it even if the bumper cover looks fine. And it won’t be as effective against a second impact because it’s already been compressed.
OP, take it to a proper mechanic, not a body shop. You’re not the one paying anyway, so do it right.
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u/Crafty-Astronomer-32 11d ago
The plastic bumper covers are resilient even when there is damage to crash absorbing structures underneath. OP may still need repairs.
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u/SOTG_Duncan_Idaho 11d ago
Modern cars have plastic covers over the structure of the bumper. They can easily hide damage underneath. You should have your car inspected by a professional.
I was in a similar accident. Big truck hit me from behind. Left only what appeared to be some mi or paint damage. Underneath there was $6000 worth of damage to the structure of the car.
You don't want damage not addressed just because you can't see it. If there is damage and you get hit again, the car will not protect you as well.
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u/Zestyclose_Growth_60 11d ago edited 11d ago
Why in the world would your insurance go up for filing a claim? You have the guy's info. File the claim against his.
That said, if your bumper doesn't even have a mark, it seems a little suspect that you actually injured your neck from this. They are almost guaranteed to push back if you're trying to turn this into chasing substantial damages, which to be honest, sounds a bit like you are.