A drunk driver jumped the curb and totaled my car AND put a hole in my fence/shed — now what?

Went through something weirdly similar — a driver lost control and took out part of my carport and my parked truck. Short answer: file against EVERYONE. The at-fault driver's liability coverage, the car that physically hit your property, AND keep your own claim open. You can sort out who pays what later. Don't close any doors early.

Whatever you do, be really careful about giving recorded statements to any insurance company that isn't yours — especially the at-fault driver's insurer. They will call you sounding super friendly and helpful, and the whole point is to get you to say something they can use to minimize your payout. You're not required to give them a recorded statement. Politely decline until you know more about where things stand.

Former adjuster here. On the registered owner question — yes, in most states the owner's liability policy is on the hook even if someone else was driving, as long as the owner gave permission (express or implied). If it was a family member driving the owner's car, that's usually covered. The insurer will investigate the permission angle, but don't let them use that as an excuse to stall you indefinitely.

Also — your own insurer opening a claim is fine. If they pay out, they'll subrogate (go after the at-fault party's insurance to get reimbursed). You may owe your deductible upfront but could get it back later.

On the rental car question — even without rental coverage on your own policy, the at-fault driver's liability coverage should include loss of use. That means they can owe you a rental (or the equivalent dollar value) while your car is being evaluated or replaced. Get that request in writing to their insurer ASAP and keep every receipt if you end up paying out of pocket in the meantime.

I know this is mostly a property question but — did you get checked out medically? Sometimes the shock of an event like this masks adrenaline-covered soreness. Even if you feel fine, a quick urgent care visit creates a record just in case you wake up in two days with whiplash or back pain. Easier to document now than to try to connect it later.

Not legal advice, but this fact pattern — DUI driver, borrowed vehicle, property damage to a third party who was just minding their own business at home — is exactly the kind of situation a personal injury attorney would want to hear about. Many will do a free consult. The drunk driving element can be significant. Worth a conversation before you settle anything. Don't sign any releases from any insurer until you fully understand what you're giving up.

Document everything right now while it's fresh. Hundreds of photos of every angle of the car, the shed, the fence, any debris. Screenshot the weather, time-stamp everything. Write down exactly what the officers said to you. This stuff fades fast and you'll want receipts when someone tries to argue about the extent of the damage.

It's a lot to deal with all at once, I won't sugarcoat that. But the DUI citation actually puts you in a stronger position than most property damage claims — liability is pretty hard to dispute when the guy got arrested at the scene. Hang in there, this is solvable.

What's the at-fault driver's insurance situation — do you actually know yet if the vehicle owner had active coverage? And did your own insurer tell you whether they're treating this as a collision claim or a comprehensive claim? That distinction matters for your deductible. Also curious how old the shed is — insurers sometimes try to depreciate older structures down to almost nothing.