My brother wrecked his only car and now he's drowning — any advice?

Ugh, I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago — other driver at fault, me with minimal coverage, storage fees ticking up like a taxi meter. First thing I'd tell your brother: call the at-fault driver's insurance himself, don't wait for them to reach out. They're not going to rush for anyone. The squeaky wheel really does get the grease here.

Those storage fees are a trap and the other insurance company knows it. The longer that car sits, the more desperate your brother looks and the more leverage they think they have. He should demand they move on a liability decision ASAP and ask the tow yard if they'll cap or pause fees while the claim is being processed — some yards will do this if you're upfront with them. Don't just assume the bill is fixed.

I used to work claims and honestly the delay you're describing is pretty standard — not because anything is complicated, but because adjusters carry huge caseloads and the file just sits in a queue. Your brother calling in and referencing the claim number every single day will literally bump it up. Also, ask specifically for a 'liability acceptance' timeline in writing. That one phrase tends to get people moving faster.

Short version: he needs to get that car out of storage as fast as humanly possible. Even if he has to tow it to a friend's driveway for free. Storage lots will absolutely lien a car if fees pile up high enough. That's the most urgent fire to put out right now.

A couple of practical things worth knowing: if the other driver is clearly at fault, their liability coverage should cover your brother's vehicle loss and reasonable rental costs — even if he didn't carry rental on his own policy. The key word is 'reasonable,' and he may have to push for it. Also, he should document everything: photos of the damage, the police report number, every phone call with names and times. That paper trail matters a lot if this gets contentious. Not legal advice, just stuff I see come up constantly.

This is so stressful, I feel for him. The job pressure on top of the car stuff is a lot. I really hope the other insurance steps up quickly. Just being there for him and helping him make phone calls might mean more than you know right now.

Since the other driver ran a red light, liability sounds straightforward, but insurance companies don't always see it that way without a fight. If they delay or dispute fault, it might be worth a free consultation with a PI attorney — many work on contingency so there's no upfront cost. Not legal advice, just something worth knowing is an option.

I know it feels like everything is falling apart right now, but the fact that the other driver was clearly at fault actually puts your brother in a relatively decent position compared to some situations people post about here. It's messy and slow and stressful, but there's a real path through this. Hang in there, both of you.