My Mom Was In A 3mph Collision. They’re Claiming It Broke One Persons Spine, And Knocked The Teeth Out Of The Other Persons Head And Gave Them A Heart Attack.

Here’s a photo of the damage

This is a long read. Please read it anyway if you think you might have any advice to give, I’ve been literally sick with anxiety about this. Also feel free to message me.

I’m in Missouri. My mom was involved in a collision four years ago in a drive thru. Her foot slipped off the brake, from a complete stop on level ground, and she rolled into the car in front of her, causing zero damage to the vehicle, not a dent, not even a chip in the paint, not even spilling the lid-less drink I had in between my legs. I could have caused more damage leaning on their car with buttons on my pockets. Now they’re suing my mom for a “serious vehicular collision causing lifelong pain and suffering” - they’re claiming that this accident fractured vertebrae, knocked someone’s teeth out of their head, and gave them a heart attack. But after the bump, they both got out of the car, teeth intact, pacing, screaming, waving their arms and getting in our faces, totally unharmed. The insurance company’s lawyer recently said that this is the most bizarre case he’s seen in his 40 year career, and that the person suing my mom has successfully done this once before, to an old man several years ago. In that accident, in 2016, the plaintiff claimed they “suffered severe and permanent injuries to [their] head, neck, back, shoulders, and body extremities.”

They were offered 50k, the limits of my moms policy, plus $500 each, but they rejected the offer.

They’ve been wracking up medical debt for four years now. One of the plaintiffs missed their deposition because they’re claiming they’re disabled from the collision.

I have questions: - With only a handful of photos of the lack of damage, what are the chances my mom will be held liable for 100% of their debt? - Is there anything we can do? Could we legally hire a private investigator ourselves? - Does the “severe and permanent damage” from their accident in 2016 have any impact on this case, positive or negative? - Is there any way to get access to information from their accident in 2016? It was in Illinois. - Should we/could we look into another lawyer? - Editing to add: If they get caught lying about the claim that the impact knocked their teeth out, could it help my mom’s case/call into question the rest of their claims? (they didn’t mention a single thing about their teeth until years later, and they went to the hospital that night or the next day, so my hope is that there could be documentation that their teeth were intact)

Edited to add link to photo