Got rear-ended, driver gave me bogus insurance info — now what?

Oh man, this happened to me almost exactly. Different situation but same fake insurance card trick. I was so angry I couldn't sleep for days. What actually moved things forward for me was talking to a personal injury attorney — a lot of them will do a free consult and they know how to track down uninsured drivers through the DMV and other channels that you and I just don't have access to. Don't try to handle this one on your own.

Even though your insurer said they 'can't help,' I'd push back harder. Ask them specifically if you have any uninsured motorist coverage — sometimes it's bundled in or added without people realizing it. Adjusters sometimes give you the quick 'no' because it closes the file faster. Read your actual declarations page, not just what they tell you over the phone.

Former adjuster here. A few things: First, document every single symptom you're having physically — neck and shoulder pain after a rear-end can absolutely become a bigger issue and you need a paper trail starting now. See a doctor this week, not next week. Second, your insurer's answer might genuinely be correct if you only have liability, but the uninsured motorist question the person above raised is worth a real look. I've seen people surprised by what's actually on their policy.

The traffic cam footage is actually a really important detail. Depending on your city, DOT or the municipality only retains that footage for 15–30 days before it gets overwritten. You may need to submit a formal public records request soon — like this week. An attorney can often do this faster and with more authority, but you can also try submitting a written request yourself to the city traffic department. Don't wait on that one.

Please don't brush off the neck and shoulder pain. Rear-end whiplash can feel manageable at first and then get significantly worse over the following weeks as inflammation builds. Go get evaluated — even if it feels like 'just soreness.' Having medical documentation also matters a lot if this ends up going any legal route.

Not legal advice, but this is exactly the scenario where a free consult with a PI attorney is worth your time. With a plate number and an address lead, there are legal tools — like a DMV records subpoena — that can confirm identity and potentially uncover assets. You also may have an uninsured motorist claim you haven't fully explored. The police are correct that it's civil, but 'civil' doesn't mean 'hopeless.' Just means a different path.

Liability-only policies are brutal in exactly this situation, and I say that without judgment — most of us are just trying to save money on premiums. Going forward, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is cheap to add and this is literally why it exists. For right now though: doctor first, then talk to a lawyer. That address lead you have is more valuable than you probably realize.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. The fact that he handed you a fake card so calmly is honestly chilling — that's someone who's done this before or at least planned for it. You deserve to not be left holding the bag for something that was completely his fault. Please take care of yourself physically too, not just the car stuff.

Quick question — did you actually verify the address you found through that lookup site, or could it be outdated info? Those people-finder databases can be pretty stale. I'm not saying don't pursue it, just don't build your whole plan around an address that might be two years old. Worth confirming somehow before you go too far down that road.