Got hit in a parking lot, no police report, other driver went ghost — what now?

I was in almost this exact situation a couple years ago — low-speed lot accident, no cops, other person went silent after admitting fault over text. Honestly those texts saved me. When I contacted her insurance directly and mentioned I had written acknowledgment of fault, things moved pretty fast. Don't underestimate what you've got in that message thread.

Do NOT wait for this woman to respond. Call her insurance company yourself, directly, today. You have her card — use it. Adjusters are way more motivated to open a claim when the claimant contacts them first rather than waiting on their insured to self-report. And be careful: when the adjuster calls you, don't let them record a statement until you know exactly what you want to say. They will use vague language against you.

A few practical things: yes, you can usually file a late self-report with the DMV or local police — the window varies by state so look that up for your specific state ASAP. Second, contact the grocery store's management or corporate and ask about parking lot camera footage. Stores often overwrite footage after 7-14 days so time is actually a factor here. Third, your own insurer should be looped in even if you don't plan to use your own coverage — they can sometimes assist in going after the other party on your behalf.

Are you feeling okay physically? Parking lot impacts can be deceptively jarring — the weird angles and low speeds sometimes mean you don't feel soreness until a day or two later. If anything feels off in your neck, shoulders, or back, please see a doctor now rather than waiting. It's easier to connect symptoms to the accident when you're evaluated close to the date.

Stop stressing about what you didn't do and focus on what you can still do. You have her info, you have photos, you have her admitting fault in writing. Call her insurance. Ask about filing a late report. Chase down that parking lot footage. You're not as stuck as you think.

Ugh, this is so stressful, I'm sorry. The fact that she admitted fault over text and then ghosted is honestly really frustrating. You did the right thing getting the estimate — just keep all those documents somewhere safe and don't delete anything.

Not legal advice, but the text admissions are more meaningful than people realize — written acknowledgment of fault is something that can come up in a dispute. If her insurer denies the claim or lowballs you, it might be worth at least a free consultation with a PI attorney to understand your options before you accept anything. Most will talk to you for free.