Rear-ended/accident...what do I need to know?

Talk to your insurance company and let them handle it. That's their job.

It's a car accident, follow standard car accident procedure and don't yap about it online. Insurance companies love yappers. Don't give your opinion, don't tell people how you feel, don't even provide pictures to insurance of the damage. You let the shop that's going to fix it take all the pics and they'll submit it to insurance. No telling what you're not seeing as far as damages. The shop will find it and document it.

 

Sorry to hear that. This my understanding/experience from Oregon. Your insurance company works with shops that will evaluate the damage and estimate the cost of repair. An adjuster from the company should be calling you for more information and about getting the car to a shop near you. Call back and ask when you can expect that call. You may have to wait till Monday. When this happened to me, I had to take photos to send to the adjuster who then sent me a list of shops in my area. (Pre-COVID, an adjuster personally inspected my car after someone stole my catalytic converter).

You also have the option of working directly with the insurance company of the person who hit you, if that company concedes that its driver was at fault. Call that company. If fault is disputed, work first with your insurance company. In a rear-ender, when you're not at fault, the other driver's insurance is ultimately responsible for everything.

If you choose to work with your own insurance company in the first instance, it will deduct the amount of your deductible from its payout, which it will then try to recover for you from the other company. If you are able to work with the other insurance company from the get-go, you'll not have to deal with a deductible

Whichever insurance company you work with will get an estimate from the shop and offer you a payout. You don't have to accept the first offer. Look over it and see if they're missing any repairs that are needed or used bad comparables. Once you learn the final payout amount, you can then figure out your options. You can choose a different shop for the repairs. Alternatively, the insurance company may decide that it's a total loss and offer to buy the wreck from you. Or let you keep the wreck for a lesser payout.

If you have injuries, get thee to a doctor and a lawyer ASAP.