gentle-grouse-2224/14/2026

18-wheeler totaled my car, can't find their insurance anywhere — am I just stuck?

So this happened about six weeks ago and I'm still tangled up in it. A commercial truck ran a red light and plowed into the driver's side of my SUV. Police showed up, the truck driver got cited on the spot, and my vehicle got towed away — total loss. That part I've already dealt with through my own insurance and it's settled.

The problem is the injury side of things. I've been going to physical therapy for my neck and lower back, and I'm still getting headaches that won't quit. My own insurer opened a bodily injury claim for me but the bills haven't fully come through yet.

Here's where it gets maddening: nobody can figure out who actually insures that trucking company. I've called three different numbers that came up connected to the company:

One said they only cover the cargo, not the vehicle
Another said the policy lapsed months before my accident
The third just transfers me in circles

My own insurer told me they'll "work on locating the correct carrier" but that's been weeks with no update.

I do have UM/UIM on my policy but the limits aren't huge. My real questions are:

1. Is it actually common for trucking companies to have messy, hard-to-trace insurance like this? 2. If my insurer genuinely can't find coverage, does my UM/UIM become my only shot at anything for injuries? 3. Should I be digging into this myself or does that just make things complicated? 4. At what point does this situation basically require a lawyer?

I'm not trying to be greedy — I just want my medical bills covered and some acknowledgment that this guy blew a red light and wrecked my life for a few months. Any help appreciated.

9 replies

Most helpful first

clever-kestrel-0544/14/2026
Went through almost the exact same thing two years ago with a delivery truck. The insurance trail for commercial vehicles is genuinely a nightmare — they sometimes have separate policies for the truck, the cargo, the driver as a contractor, and the company itself. It took months to untangle in my case. You're not doing anything wrong, this is just how chaotic that industry is.
- sharp-dove-4734/15/2026
  A few things worth knowing: commercial trucks operating interstate are federally required to carry minimum liability limits, and those filings are public record through the FMCSA. Also, if the driver was an employee (not an independent contractor), the company itself may have direct liability exposure. These cases often have multiple potentially liable parties — the driver, the company, sometimes even a leasing entity. That's part of why a PI attorney who specifically handles truck accidents is worth talking to early. Not telling you what to do, just flagging that it's more complex than a typical two-car crash.
- plain-seal-1484/15/2026
  Not legal advice, but I'll say this: trucking cases are a genuinely specialized area. The web of entities — the driver, the carrier, the motor carrier authority, cargo insurers — can be intentionally confusing, and some smaller companies absolutely bank on injured people giving up. Your UM/UIM is a backstop, but it shouldn't necessarily be your ceiling if the trucking company has legitimate coverage that just hasn't been located yet. I'd at least consult with someone who handles commercial vehicle cases specifically before assuming UM/UIM is your only option.
steady-badger-7894/14/2026
Please don't rely on your own insurer to "work on finding" the other carrier out of the goodness of their heart. Their incentive is to pay you as little as possible from YOUR UM/UIM limits and close the file. The harder they look for the trucking company's real insurance, the more money comes out of someone else's pocket instead of theirs. Keep pushing and document every single call you make.
hearty-crane-6994/14/2026
I used to work claims and commercial trucking cases were always the messiest. Trucking companies — especially smaller regional ones — sometimes juggle multiple carriers, let policies lapse and reinstate, or lease their trucks from a separate entity that carries its own coverage. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) website actually has a public database where you can look up a trucking company's registered insurance filings by their DOT number. If you got the truck's DOT number off the police report, that's your starting point. It's public info and costs you nothing.
calm-fox-8994/15/2026
Just want to flag the medical side — persistent headaches after a crash, especially combined with neck symptoms, really need to be documented thoroughly and consistently. Don't downplay anything at appointments thinking it'll get better soon. If it lingers, you want a clear medical record showing the timeline. That matters a lot for any eventual claim, regardless of which insurance ends up paying.
quick-grouse-1744/17/2026
Get a truck accident lawyer on the phone this week. Most do free consultations, they work on contingency so no upfront cost, and they have resources to track down insurance coverage that you simply don't have access to as an individual. This isn't the kind of situation where waiting and hoping your own insurer figures it out works in your favor.
curious-crow-7014/18/2026
This sounds so stressful on top of already dealing with injuries. I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope you have someone helping you keep track of all the calls and paperwork — it sounds like a lot to manage alone while you're still in physical therapy.
calm-wolf-4304/19/2026
Did the police report list a DOT number or a company name for the trucking outfit? And was the driver an employee of the company or listed as an owner-operator? Those details change the picture significantly. Also curious whether your insurer has given you anything in writing about their search efforts or if it's all been verbal.