spry-badger-2415/10/2026

Guy who hit me in a parking lot gave fake info — now totally ghosting my insurance

Still kind of in shock that this is happening to me.

About two weeks ago I was sitting in a grocery store parking lot, just about to pull out of my space, when a delivery-style van clipped the entire driver's side of my car while cutting through the lot way too fast. The driver got out, seemed totally calm, apologized, and we exchanged info. I even took a photo of his license and what I thought was a business card for the company whose logo was on the van. No police — I know, I know. The damage looked like a bad scrape and a dented door, so I figured it was straightforward.

Here's where it gets fun. My insurance has now tried to reach him six times by phone and twice by mail. Radio silence. The mobile number he gave me still rings but goes to a generic voicemail. The address on the card appears to be a UPS Store mailbox. My adjuster told me the van's plates come back to some kind of LLC with no clear owner listed.

My car, by the way, is in worse shape than it looked. The frame got tweaked and repairs are going to cost more than the car is worth. So now I'm staring down a potential total loss and the guy who did it has basically vanished.

Here's what I do have: the logo on the van, which I reverse-searched and found an active business Instagram. Pretty sure I spotted the same van in one of their recent posts.

I'm torn on whether to show up at the business, contact them on social media, or just let my insurance handle it. Does anyone have experience tracking down a hit-and-run type situation like this? What actually moved the needle for you?

9 replies

Most helpful first

calm-newt-2565/10/2026
Almost the exact same thing happened to me — guy gave me a number that worked at the scene and then just... stopped picking up. What actually helped me was sending a certified letter to the business address I found. Something about getting physical mail seemed to shake things loose. Also, document every single attempt you make to reach this person with timestamps. Seriously, screenshot everything.
- clever-vole-9355/10/2026
  Don't let your own insurance adjuster slow-walk this into a 'we can't locate the other party' denial. They have access to skip-tracing tools and third-party investigators that they don't always bother using unless you push them. Ask your adjuster directly: 'What steps is the company actively taking to identify the at-fault vehicle's owner?' Put it in writing via email so there's a record.
brave-seal-0015/10/2026
From the inside, I can tell you that when a vehicle is registered to an LLC or a business entity, claims can sit in limbo for a while because there are extra steps to identify who's actually liable — the driver, the company, or both. The business whose logo is on that van may have their own commercial auto policy, and that could actually be good news for you. If the van was being used for business purposes, the company itself could be on the hook. I'd make sure your adjuster is looking into that angle specifically.
- careful-kestrel-9545/10/2026
  Go to the business. Bring photos of the damage, a photo of their van, and a written timeline. You're not threatening anyone — you're informing a company that one of their vehicles was involved in an accident and the driver appears to be avoiding responsibility. Any legitimate business owner would want to know this. If they blow you off, then you escalate.
clever-beaver-4815/10/2026
Not legal advice, but a couple of things worth knowing: if that van was being operated in the course of business, the employer can potentially be held liable under a legal theory called respondeat superior. Also, depending on your state, you may have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that could step in here. Talking to a PI attorney for even a free consult might clarify your options faster than waiting on your adjuster. Most don't charge anything upfront.
silent-otter-6475/10/2026
Are you doing okay physically? Sometimes door impacts cause soreness that shows up days later — neck, shoulder, lower back. If anything has felt off even mildly, please get it checked out and documented by a doctor now rather than later. Medical records tied to the date of the accident matter a lot if this ends up becoming a bigger claim.
- bright-dove-3185/10/2026
  Quick question — did you actually confirm the van in the Instagram post is the same vehicle, like same plate or visible damage? I'd be careful about confronting a business if there's any chance you're looking at a different van from the same fleet. Do you have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy? That might actually be the faster route depending on how this plays out.
patient-stoat-7605/10/2026
A few practical things: file a police report now if you haven't — it's not too late in most places, and some jurisdictions allow delayed reports for property damage incidents. Also contact your state's DMV about the plates; there's often a process to request registered owner info for insurance purposes. And save absolutely everything — the business card photo, the Instagram posts with the van, call logs, adjuster emails, repair estimates. All of it.
plain-seal-6795/10/2026
Ugh, I'm so sorry. You did everything right at the scene and this guy is just making your life miserable. I really hope the business angle works out — seems like the most direct path to actually getting someone to answer for this. Rooting for you, keep us posted.