Hit-and-run drunk driver totaled my car while I was asleep — insurance won't cover my rental yet??

That 'we only cover rental when repairs start' line is a classic delay tactic. They're hoping you'll give up or figure something out yourself so they don't have to pay. The at-fault driver's insurance owes you a comparable replacement vehicle from the moment your car became undrivable — not from whenever their repair shop gets around to it. Push back hard and get everything in writing.

I used to work claims and I'll be honest — that policy about waiting for repairs to begin is something adjusters use when they think they can get away with it. Technically the liability carrier is responsible for your 'loss of use' starting from when the loss occurred. If you can show the delay is due to parts availability and not anything on your end, you have a reasonable argument that the rental clock started the day of the incident. Document every conversation, ask for the adjuster's supervisor, and send a brief written summary of what you've been told so far. Paper trails matter.

Lost wages are absolutely something that can be part of a liability claim — it's considered economic damages. You'll want to document everything: pay stubs from recent weeks, a letter from your employer stating your hourly rate and the shifts you missed, and any written confirmation from the shop about the parts delay. The more paper you have, the harder it is for them to lowball you. Also, if you have your own auto policy, check whether you have rental reimbursement coverage you can use in the meantime and get reimbursed later.

I just want to flag — even if you weren't physically in the car, the stress from something like this is real and it adds up. If you're losing sleep or feeling anxious, it's worth mentioning that to your doctor and having it documented. Emotional distress from an accident (yes, even one where you weren't hurt) can sometimes be part of a claim. Take care of yourself through this, not just the paperwork.

Went through something pretty similar last year — parked car destroyed, took forever to get answers from the other driver's insurance. The thing that actually moved the needle for me was calling my state's department of insurance and asking what my options were. Just making that call seemed to suddenly make the adjuster a lot more responsive. Might be worth a try.

Stop calling. Start emailing. Every time you have a conversation with the adjuster, follow it up immediately with an email that says 'just to confirm what we discussed...' and summarize what they told you. If they said no rental until repairs begin, get that in writing. It changes the dynamic fast.