wise-beaver-55412h ago

Got run off the road by a hit-and-run driver, lost everything I saved for — what do I even do?

I'm 21 and I feel like I just watched three years of my life disappear in about four seconds.

Some guy in a pickup came flying across the center line on a two-lane road last week. I jerked the wheel to avoid getting T-boned and ended up going off the shoulder into a drainage ditch. My car is totaled. The truck never even slowed down — just kept going. No plates, no witnesses, nothing.

Here's what makes it worse: I run a small mobile auto detailing business. My car is my business. All my equipment is in it, I drive to clients, everything. I saved up for almost two years working nights at a warehouse to buy that car outright. No loan, cash purchase. And now it's just... gone.

My own insurance is being super slow. I filed a claim the same night and they keep saying they're "still investigating" but won't tell me anything specific. I don't have rental coverage apparently — didn't think I needed it — so I've had to cancel four client appointments this week already. Those clients are probably not coming back.

I tried to figure out if uninsured motorist coverage applies here since the other guy ran, and my insurance rep was really vague about it. Like almost deliberately confusing.

I don't have family I can borrow a car from. Rideshares to job sites aren't realistic when you're hauling equipment.

I'm not the type to sit around and complain, I want to do something. But I genuinely don't know where to start. Has anyone been through something like this? What actually helped you move forward?

9 replies

Most helpful first

cool-kestrel-69112h ago
I went through something almost identical two years ago — hit-and-run on a back road, totaled my truck, used it for work. The uninsured motorist (UM) coverage thing is real and it absolutely can apply to hit-and-run situations, but your insurance company is NOT going to volunteer that information clearly. I had to push hard and specifically ask them in writing whether I had UM/UIM coverage and whether the hit-and-run qualified. Once I did that in writing, things moved faster. Don't let them just keep saying "investigating" without getting specifics from them.
mellow-finch-40712h ago
That "still investigating" line is a stall tactic, full stop. They know exactly what your policy says on day one. They are waiting to see if you get frustrated and go away, or accept something low. Don't give them a recorded statement without understanding your rights first, and document every call — date, time, name of the rep, what was said.
- hearty-marten-23412h ago
  Okay so I used to work claims and I'll be honest with you — adjusters are managing huge caseloads and the squeaky wheel genuinely does get the grease. Call every two to three days. Ask for a supervisor if your adjuster isn't giving you timeline updates. Also, regarding UM coverage for a hit-and-run: most states require that there be some physical contact between the vehicles for UM to kick in, but some states don't. Depends entirely on where you are. Worth asking an attorney about your specific state's rules because that detail matters a lot.
hearty-owl-87512h ago
A few practical things:

1. Request a copy of your full policy declarations page if you don't already have it. You need to know exactly what coverages you actually have — UM, UIM, comprehensive, etc. 2. File a police report if you haven't already, or follow up if you did — get the report number. 3. Most personal injury attorneys do free consultations for cases like this and work on contingency (no upfront cost). Even just a consult could clarify whether your UM coverage applies here.

You're not in a hopeless spot, but the clock on certain things can matter, so don't wait too long to get informed.
hearty-marten-23412h ago
Not legal advice, but: hit-and-run with an unidentified driver is exactly the scenario uninsured motorist coverage was designed for. Whether yours applies depends on your policy language and your state's laws. A free consult with a PI attorney would take maybe 30 minutes and would tell you a lot more than your insurance rep ever will. They have no incentive to walk you through your own rights — an attorney does.
- mellow-elk-54312h ago
  Stop waiting for your insurance company to help you understand your options — that is never going to happen. Get a free consult with a personal injury lawyer this week. Bring your policy, the police report number, and any photos. Even if there's no lawsuit to file, a good attorney will tell you exactly what you're entitled to under your own policy. That's information you need right now.
cool-kestrel-66512h ago
Wait — were you checked out medically after this? Going into a ditch isn't nothing. Adrenaline can mask a lot in the moment and people find out days later they have soft tissue injuries, whiplash, whatever. If you have any aches or weirdness, go get evaluated now and make sure it's documented. That stuff matters later and you can't go back and add it.
hearty-hare-41312h ago
I'm so sorry, this is genuinely awful. You built something real — your business, your savings, all of it — and some careless person just blew through it and kept driving. That's infuriating. I hope you get some real answers soon. Don't give up on pushing the insurance company, you deserve what you paid for.
bright-dove-91812h ago
You rebuilt once from nothing and you clearly know how to grind. That doesn't disappear. The situation is bad but it's not permanent — and the fact that you're already asking the right questions means you're ahead of most people in this position. Hang in there.